This article was first Published on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at – :
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2008/03/turkey-muslim-conference.html
İstanbul to host World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/yorumYaz.do?kn=136088
İstanbul is preparing to host the first assembly of the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists (WCMP), which will run from March 22 to March 24 at the Swiss Hotel under the theme of “Facing Challenges and Finding Solutions.”
Several NGOs and philanthropists from around the world will attend the WCMP 2008, which is expected to offer opportunities to exchange ideas, explore new concepts and promote new collaborative relationships among individuals and institutions.
The congress aims to explore the changing aspects of philanthropy in the Islamic world in conjunction with globalization, providing examples as well as inviting philanthropists and academicians to brainstorm on the matter.
Several problems will also be highlighted during the congress, which also aims to solidify the relations between philanthropists from different parts of the world.
The Nonprofit Improvement Group and Hayat Health and Social Services Foundation in Turkey are the two partners of the US-based WCMP; they are working to provide more efficient philanthropy in the needy regions across the world.
Some of those slated to attend the congress are Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, the secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Peter O’Driscoll, the executive director of ActionAid International US, founder of Zeytuna Institute Hamza Yusuf Hanson and several businessmen such as ÇLAIK Holding Chairman Ahmet Çalık and Tamek Holding Chairman Melih Sipahioğlu as well as several Turkish NGOs such as Denizfeneri (Lighthouse) Foundation and Turkish philanthropists.