Title: Iran’s Comprehensive Social Welfare Initiatives: A Closer Look at Nationwide Support Programs
In the lead-up to the new academic year and during significant religious periods, a wide array of social welfare and charitable programs have been activated across multiple Iranian provinces, demonstrating a coordinated national effort to support vulnerable families.
Educational and Livelihood Support in West Azerbaijan
The West Azerbaijan branch of the international ‘Afsaneh-ye Atfeh-ha’ (Waterfall of Affections) charity foundation has prepared and delivered 1,000 livelihood packages for its supported families. Zamineh Piri, the foundation’s manager in the province, stated that each package, valued at one million tomans, is being sent directly to beneficiaries to help with the costs associated with the new school year. The total value of this initiative is reported to be 10 billion rials.
Charitable Meat Distribution and Muharram Campaigns
In a separate initiative, the ‘Samte Khoda’ charity center distributed 3,000 packages of fresh lamb meat to beneficiary families. According to the head of the provincial Relief Committee’s public relations, the value of these donated packages was 2.4 billion tomans, mirroring a similar distribution effort from the previous year.
Concurrently, the ‘Hosseini Feeding and Charity Campaign’ has been launched in Tehran province. Mohammad Dehruyeh, a representative, announced that the campaign, which runs from the beginning of Muharram through the end of Safar, aims to support needy families and promote a culture of charity. To date, over 5,600 livelihood packages have been distributed across the province. A key component, the ‘Hosseini Feeding Plan,’ has seen the participation of 285 public and charity kitchens, preparing and distributing more than 64,000 hot meals. The deputy of the Tehran Relief Committee noted that the cost of implementing this plan, over 940 billion tomans, was entirely funded through cash and non-cash donations from benefactors.
Grassroots and Basiji-Led Community Efforts
Further illustrating the breadth of community support, Basiji resistance bases have been active in organizing local charitable work. This includes the distribution of essential food packages, the collection of financial aid for the people of Gaza, and preparations for serving pilgrims during the Arba’een pilgrimage. Additional community activities have featured free educational workshops, book-reading sessions, and creative skill-building programs for children and adolescents.
Long-Term Support and Employment Initiatives in Zanjan
Focusing on sustainable development, the head of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee in Zanjan province outlined significant long-term support structures. Monthly stipends for orphans have reached three million tomans per child, while support for children from families of martyrs and prisoners stands at 1.5 million tomans monthly.
In the past year, substantial progress has been made in employment and housing. The province saw the creation of 3,147 job opportunities and the construction or reinforcement of 1,167 housing units, the majority located in rural areas. Furthermore, 7,000 students supported by the committee are beginning the new academic year. The director general added that for employment loans, 70% of facilities are allocated to current beneficiaries, with 30% directed towards other capable individuals in need who are not currently members of the committee.
