Imam Abdul Matin: A Leader of Influence

Meet Imam Abdul Matin. He’s one of over 21,000 participants who have taken part in The Asia Foundation’s Leaders of Influence (LOI) program since 2007. Designed with the knowledge that community and civil society leaders are in a unique position to help advance national development goals at the grassroots level, LOI has reached a diverse group of participants, including Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian leaders, as well as imams, local elected officials, community service members, women and youth leaders, and professionals such as lawyers, doctors, educators, business-people, and journalists. Working with local NGOs through a series of orientations and workshops, LOI has helped familiarize these varied community leaders with USAID-funded development projects and practices in their communities in the areas such as health, education, religious harmony, environmental conservation, and women’s empowerment.