About Al Sabeel Institute
Who are we?
Al Sabeel Institute is a New York-based 501(c)(3) education nonprofit building a thriving community through Arabic language, learning experiences and educator development.
Why Al Sabeel was established
Al Sabeel was founded with a deep desire to give back to our community and to respond to the educational needs that many families continue to face. Language-enriching programs are often too expensive, hard to find, or too short-lived to create a lasting impact. Many community initiatives struggle to find educators who are both prepared and available. Al Sabeel was created to help close those gaps with meaningful, accessible, and sustainable learning opportunities.
Vision
Build a thriving community rooted in faith and culture, connected through language, and empowered through meaningful learning experiences for sustainable growth
Mission
Cultivate learning, connection, and growth by designing holistic educational programs that develop educators, offer faith-based STEM learning, and strengthen Arabic language education as a critical community asset.
Educational philosophy
At Al Sabeel, we believe education is more than the transfer of knowledge. It is a journey that shapes the whole person’s intellect, character, practice, and service. Guided by an Islamic philosophy of education as a cultural grounding framework, our approach nurtures learners who are thoughtful, grounded, and ready to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Our full circle model reflects the heart of what we do at Al Sabeel. We invest in educator professional training, develop thoughtful curriculum, bring learning to life through community teaching, and celebrate growth through student experiences, including educators, showcases, and our annual conference. With every cycle, we learn, improve, and strengthen the programs that serve our community.
OUR TEAM
The people behind Al Sabeel
Al Sabeel is led by women whose hearts are in this work: building learning spaces rooted in care, purpose and community.
Aya Isaac
PRESIDENT
An educator and Ph.D. candidate in the School of Education at SUNY Albany, guided by a vision of learning that goes beyond textbooks and tests: experiences that help children grow in knowledge, confidence and purpose, while strengthening families and communities.
Dr. Jamila A. Benmoussa
VICE PRESIDENT
A physician, community advocate and homeschooling mother who believes education should nurture identity as much as intellect, and that children thrive when they are rooted in who they are.
Saba Anwar
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
An educator with more than 15 years of homeschooling and creating holistic learning experiences for youth, with strong experience in budgeting, bookkeeping and building sustainable, mission‑aligned programs.
Mayce Saleh
PROGRAMS CONSULTANT
Holds a master’s degree in teaching mathematics and brings years of homeschooling experience, with a calm, grounded approach to learning that is practical and responsive to children’s needs.
PAST PROGRAMS
What we’ve done
JULY 2026
Business–STEM for Youth
A four‑day intensive where youth designed and built their own product prototypes, then presented them at a student showcase on July 5. Parents and community members evaluated each venture, from herbal wellness products to a youth sporting club.