In the early years, the Albukhary Foundation aligned its activities to realize the government's poverty eradication agenda. Education became its top priority, while it also continues to reach out to the needy through a variety of social welfare initiatives.
Rapid industrialization with its accompanying urbanization has caused many Malaysians, particularly the Malays, to be uprooted from kampung (villages) to new townships. There was a need for mosques in these new developments, and the Foundation has responded accordingly.
Success in Malaysia encouraged the Foundation to expand overseas. Its focus on social responsibility, in order to enhance the quality of education serves as the model for its overseas programmes.
1. Education
Albukhary Tuition Programme
Aimed to narrow the divide between urban and rural Malaysia, this nation-wide free tuition programme is conducted to help underachievers in rural schools pass their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (O Levels) examinations. Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the programme was launched in 2001. It consists of a network of 200 tuition centres offering remedial classes in English, Mathematics and Science to approximately 8,000 students annually. Since inception to January 2009, more than 500 schools and almost 80,000 students across the country have benefitted from the Albukhary Tuition Programme.
Albukhary Scholarship Programme
Launched in 2003, this programme offers scholarships to qualified Malaysian and international students who meet the Foundation's requirements to pursue tertiary education at Malaysian universities. A total of RM3.0 million has been allocated each year for scholarships. As at the end of March 2009, 383 students from 46 countries have been awarded Albukhary scholarships; most of them are currently studying at the International Islamic University Malaysia. Future intakes are expected to attend the Albukhary International University in Alor Setar, Kedah which will begin its operations in January 2011.
Albukhary Chair, International Islamic University Malaysia
The Albukhary Chair is at the Faculty of Architecture and Environmental Design in the International Islamic University Malaysia. It was created to undertake research and programmes that enrich knowledge and understanding of Islamic arts and culture.
Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia
The Foundation sponsors some of the activities of the institute, a non-profit organization that highlights the universal values of Islam and its inclusive principles.
Modernising Religious Studies
This consists of structured training programmes designed by Islamic scholars. Fully residential, the courses are conducted over 10 days at the Pusat Ilmu Sharifah Rokiah in Alor Setar.
Langkawi Project
A strong advocate of education as the springboard to a better future, the Foundation supported this Malaysia Chinese Association's (MCA) initiative aimed at uplifting the standard of rural education.
University Tunku Abdul Rahman
The Foundation also responded to the fund-raising drive by the Malaysian Chinese Association to build a new campus for the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman to cater to the needs of its growing student population. This is a non-profit international-standard university established in 2002.
Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University
The Foundation also responded to the fund-raising drive of the Malaysian Indian Congress to build the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University (AIMST University) to meet the demand for medical practitioners and technologists in the country.
Wawasan Open University
The Wawasan Open University in Penang that promotes distance learning received a boost when its tower block was built with a substantial contribution from the Foundation.
2. Social Welfare
Sponsoring Haji Pilgrims
This is one of the earliest initiatives that dates back to 1997. As at the end of 2009, the foundation had sponsored 622 poor Muslims to realize the fifth pillar of Islam - the hajj pilgrimage.
Ramadan Events
Every Ramadan, the Foundation hosts buka puasa (breaking of fast) dinners for the under-privileged across the country. The dinner in Alor Setar is reputedly the biggest function of such in the state. In addition, needy families, orphans, single mothers and Albukhary scholars receive duit raya (monetary gift) or festive gifts during this period