Mona Foundation
The Mona Foundation is a United States based Bahá’í inspired organization that works to support grassroots educational initiatives worldwide.[1] It is specifically focused on supporting the education of children, the empowerment of women and girls, and fostering a sense of ethics and service in youth.[2] It partners with forty-one organizations in fifteen countries in its work including several Bahá’í inspired schools.[3]
Background[edit]
The Foundation provides grants to fund the provision of scholarships and development of infrastructure to improve access to education, training of teachers to improve the quality of education, and the facilitation of programs to promote the empowerment of girls. It also provides grants to cover school meals and educational materials and supplies for students, and furniture and equipment required for educational programs.[4]
It was established in 1999 by Mahnaz Aflatooni Javid,[2] who founded the organization to honor Mona Mahmudnizhad, a Bahá’í youth who was martyred in Iran, and her commitment to promoting education and social justice.[5] Initially the Foundation had a budget of $5,000 and supported the education of four students at the Anis Zunuzi School in Haiti and the Badi School in Panama.[5]
Currently the organization is guided by a Board of Directors and supports the education of over four million students. It aims to support the education of ten million students by 2030.[5]
