Dear Community Supporter:

We are pleased to announce the creation of Domestic Harmony Foundation (DHF), the one and only independent community based not-for-profit organization located in Long Island, NY providing services in response to the social, emotional, and psychological needs of a growing population of mainly South Asian, Middle Eastern, and Muslim women and children, due to domestic violence and other violations of basic human rights. 

Originally launched as a volunteer-based committee operating successfully as the Domestic Harmony Committee of Islamic Center of Long Island for the past 18 years, the organization faced an upsurge in the demand for its services due to a growing Muslim, Middle Eastern, and South Asian population on Long Island. As our community tries to cope with worsening economic conditions, we often feel under siege.  For many, as minorities and as immigrants, these stresses result in an increase in the number of domestic violence cases and the related emotional and psychological issues cause pain and suffering to everyone in the family. Due to high demand for services, we found that, as a small committee with limited resources, we often had to turn away large numbers of women and children who were in need of shelter from domestic persecution and who, having no options, were forced to go back to their abusers. 

With the creation of Domestic Harmony Foundation as an independent not-for-profit organization, we have the opportunity to take advantage of receiving corporate, government, and community funding to expand our programs and increase services. With the DHC’s experiences over the last decade, we are confident that our new venture in establishing the Domestic Harmony Foundation is the logical next step in the right direction.  Taking care of the most vulnerable members of our community - the women and children in our midst who have been the victims of domestic violence - is an obligation that we all must face as a community.

With your continued support and generous donations, we will serve our community to the best of our ability to fight and overcome this vicious crime against humanity.
 
Sincerely,

Shaida Khan
Executive Director
Domestic Harmony Foundation

Our Team:

Executive Director:
Shaida Khan  ( shaida@dhfny.org )  

Mrs. Shaida Khan graduated from Sophia Polytechnic University in Mumbai, India with a Bachelor's degree in Hotel Administration and Food Technology. Since arriving in the United States with her husband, Shaida has been a valuable member of her community and a dedicated volunteer at the Islamic Center of Long Island (ICLI) in Westbury, NY.

Shaida has a passion for learning about different cultures and religions and has developed a reputation as a bridge builder between the ICLI and other communities of faith.  She is regularly involved in interfaith dialogues and meetings with Mothers group, especially post 9/11. In 2003 she received the ICLI's President's Community Service Volunteer Award.

From 1993-1995, Shaida helped the ICLI sponsor eight Bosnian high school students resettle in the United States. She helped place them with families on Long Island and mentored the students until they graduated from high school.   

Shaida is now the Executive Director of Domestic Harmony Foundation, having served as the Chairperson for the Domestic Harmony Committee of the ICLI from 2000 - 2004. Under Shaida's leadership, DHF has been recognized as a model organization within the South Asian and Muslim communities in Long Island. Her commitment and dedication to end domestic violence has won praise both within and outside of the community.

In 2004, she served as a Board member of the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls, which funds programs for the improvement of lives of women as well as women's philanthropy.

Shaida Khan was the recipient of the County Executive’s 2009 Women of Distinction Award in recognition of her service, dedication and commitment for making a difference in the Long Island Community.

Board of Directors:

From humble beginnings, the Domestic Harmony Foundation has grown into a sizable organization and a known support group for victims of domestic violence.

Working collectively through passion, teamwork and dedication, the DHF Board of Directors help to steer the Foundation’s mission, strategic programming, and growth. Our Board actively assists in DHF’s development through regular meetings, project-based support, brainstorming, and sharing resources. The current Board members enhance DHF’s work by bringing forward a diversity of professional and life experiences. 

Kushalata Jayakar Ahmed, MD 
Kushal Jayakar Ahmed is a pediatrician and psychiatrist, practicing in Long Island and Brooklyn, NY. She was born in India and graduated with an MD degree from Bombay University, India. She completed her postgraduate training in Pediatrics from The New York Hospital of Cornell University medical center, which was followed by training in adult and child psychiatry in New York. Twenty years ago, as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Down State Medical Center, SUNY, she established and directed a program (Brooklyn Family Center) for child victims of sexual and physical abuse. At the Queens District Attorney’s office, Kushal ran a training program for the legal personnel of the Special Victims Unit, dealing exclusively with victims of violence. Kushal was responsible for running a treatment program as a Medical Director for addiction for the adolescents at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry.

Kushal is a consultant at the South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS). She has provided services for the families and survivors of 9/11 for the SACSS and Port Authority of NY & NJ.

Kushal is a remarkable woman and one of the founding members of the ICLI (Islamic Center of Long Island). She also assisted in establishing DHF as an advocacy and treatment program for victims of domestic violence. She continues to be active in this program as a consultant psychiatrist and an educator for the community.

Kushal is happily married and lives in Great Neck, Long Island with her husband, and near her daughter, son-in-law, and two grand children. She has private practices in Great Neck and in Brooklyn.

Nazli Chaudhry 
Nazli Chaudhry has a  Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Calgary, Canada with a double major in Zoology and Molecular Biology. She also completed some credits in a Master of Science degree. She is 42 years old, married to a physician, has two sons and is a resident of Commack.  She is known for her many years of active and passionate involvement with interfaith relations and community outreach on behalf of the Islamic Center of Long Island (ICLI) in Westbury, N.Y. 

A Muslim woman of Pakistani origin, she has contributed locally and nationally - in meetings, conferences and on task forces - to causes that promote peace, understanding and tolerance among different faiths, age groups and genders.  An active member of the Multi-faith Forum of Long Island, she has spoken about Islam at many synagogues, churches, temples and other houses of worship and schools, always emphasizing what principles and practices all faiths and their adherents have in common.  She has lectured about the importance of tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the faiths on Long Island and has been profiled in Newsday several times for her presentations and involvement on behalf of women's rights in Islam and in support of interfaith dialogue and understanding.  She has worked hard to involve the Muslim youth in interfaith activities such as Unity in the Community, an activity that regularly brings together Jewish, Christian and Muslim teenagers, and which is sponsored by the Suffolk Jewish Youth Community Center.  Nazli serves as a Board Member on the Multicultural Advisory Committee to the President of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, a committee set up to advise the University's president on community concerns on campus.  She has served as the Vice Chair of the Domestic Harmony Committee of ICLI, which has become Domestic Harmony Foundation.  Nazli has been described as eloquent, knowledgeable, compassionate, and understanding by many.

Zubeida Lunat 
Zubeida Lunat was born in Bombay, India. She graduated with a B.S. majoring in English and Education. Zubeida is a valued member of the Islamic Center of Long Island. She has served as a Vice-president and Treasurer on the Executive Committee of the ICLI. Currently, she is serving as a Board Member of the ICLI. She is one of the founding members of Domestic Harmony Foundation. She brings years of experience, common sense, and expertise to DHF, and has been an invaluable aid to the organization. Zubeida is a proud mother and grandmother and lives in Long Island, NY.

Homaira Mamoor 
Homaira Mamoor is a graduate of St. Joseph's College in New York majoring in Business Administration and pursuing her executive MBA. Homaira is a member of the Islamic Center of long Island, has served on its Board of Directors, and is an active member of the Domestic Harmony Foundation.

Homaira is a member of a Multi-faith Forum, building bridges with other faiths in Long Island.  Homaira's personal experiences as a woman and mother, and working with her native Afghan women’s community here in the U.S and back home in Afghanistan, inspired her to work for uprooted women's rights.  For seven years, she served as a Board Member of Women for Afghan Women (WAW), a collection of Afghan and non-Afghan women from the New York area who are committed to the human rights of Afghan women.  Her essay, "Building Community Across Difference," was published by Thunder's Mouth Press/Nation Books in Nothing Sacred: Women Respond to Religious Fundamentalism and Terror, and by Global Publishing at St. Martin's Press in Women for Afghan Women: Shattering Myths and Claiming The Future.

Homaira was the recipient of the St. Joseph's College prestigious "Esse Non Videri Award," named after the College's motto: "To be, not to seem," a Non-Violence Award presented annually to individuals who exemplify compassion, social engagement and spirituality in the pursuit of social justice and peace.

Homaira is happily married and the mother of three beautiful daughters, aged 17, 15, and 12 years and lives in West Islip, New York.

Hoda Spiteri
Hoda is a first-generation American. Her grandparents migrated from Egypt in pursuit of the typical American dream. She was raised and educated on Long Island, NY.

Hoda is an Accountant by profession, currently operating a small tax/bookkeeping business from her home-based office. Hoda has been very active and committed to enlightening the misconceptions of Islam and Muslims through dialogue, in hopes of creating a bridge of mutual understanding, friendship, and tolerance. She has been engaged in speaking at various high schools and colleges on Long Island, adult education seminars, radio talk shows, numerous religious institutions, and at peace rallies. Hoda is a mother of four children - three boys, aged 7, 6, 3, and a girl, age 2.  As a mother, Hoda strongly believes that humanistic education of children is an integral part of our peace efforts on the home front, as well as worldwide.

Amal Wahib 
Amal Wahib was born and raised in Port Said, Egypt. She came to Long Island, NY in 1970. In Egypt, she earned an Elementary School Teacher Credential from The Institute of Teachers of Port Said.  Amal has an Associate's degree in Child Care from Nassau Community College.  She received her Bachelor of Arts with a dual degree in Psychology and Visual Arts from SUNY Old Westbury in 1994. In 1996, she earned her Master of Arts degree in Creative Art Therapy from the school of Counseling, Research, Special Education and Rehabilitation of Hofstra University. 
Amal is an EIOD and a Service Coordinator at the Early Intervention Program in Nassau County. As a member of the Domestic Harmony Foundation, Amal specializes in multi-cultural and domestic violence counseling. She had worked as a prenatal coordinator, child health advocate, and educator. She provides art therapy to children, families, and senior citizens.

• Ruksana Ayyub
  
• Naim Dam
  
• Shamita Dasgupta
• Neelofer Chaudhry
  
• Thomas Goodhue
  
• Jean Kelly
  
• Faroque Khan, MD
  
• Arvind Vora
  
• Hazel Weiser

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A donation, in any amount, is the best way you can directly aid DHF's work.
Please make your tax deductable donations to:

Domestic Harmony Foundation
P.O. Box 35, Syosset, NY 11791

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Contact Us
Helpline: (516) 385-8292
Help is available in several languages: English, Urdu, Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, and Bengali

Or Email Us
E-mail: info@dhfny.org

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