KHUJAND, June 5, 2014, Asia-Plus -- Imam Khomeini''s Relief Committee (also Imam Khomeini''s Relief Foundation) has opened two training centers in the Tajik northern city of Isfara.

“IKRC has opened the computer basics center and the sewing training center in the Vorukh jamoat,” said Firdavs Ashourmatov, representative of the Sughd regional administration told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, the Committee has handed over five computers and eight sewing machines to those centers.  “Residents of neighboring Kyrgyzstan can also attend these centers,” Ashourmatov added.

To-date, IKRC has reportedly opened 26 free training centers in the province.

IKRC has operated in Sughd since 2007 and over the past seven years, 8,500 local young people have taken training courses at the IKRC’s centers and the majority of them have found permanent jobs.

Imam Khomeini''s Relief Committee (also Imam Khomeini''s Relief Foundation) was founded in March 1979 as a charity organization to provide support for poor families.  IKRC has also provided support to regions outside of Iran, including Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Palestine, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Kosovo, Chechnya, Comoros, Iraq, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Syria, Lebanon.

This foundation is supported by Iranian government and also receives the Islamic taxes of Khums and Zakat, as well as Zakat al-Fitr.  Also, the foundation has charity boxes installed all across the country to gather donations.

IKRC has operated in Tajikistan since 1998.  Since 2007, the Iranian relief foundation has opened training centers for women in Dushanbe, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa, Vahdat, Khorog, Khujand, Rasht and Nourobod.