Working in industry for many years and creating conditions for over six thousand people to work in the factories and companies he set up did not satisfy Abbas Iravani.

The founder of Ezam Holding yearned for something more. He believed that more people should be members of this extensive family and the result of the round-the-clock action of the factories should have reached a larger group. This became a motivation to work in another sector, which is now called “Social Responsibilities”. For a long time, activities were carried out in building schools, helping orphans, and providing conditions to release some prisoners. In recent years, a new dimension has been added to such activities.

Promises were made to build 1000 school classrooms in disadvantaged areas and so far, more than half of the promises have been fulfilled. The built schools have been provided to kids and teenagers in different cities. Formerly deprived of proper educational facilities, the kids now study in schools built by high standards.

However, building schools was not the end of the story. With the efforts of Abbas Iravani, over 48 thousands of underprivileged children have been subsidized by the Ezam Holding and the number is increasing day by day.

Until now, over 1600 prisoners who were jailed for years due to low amounts of financial debts have been released. Such activities are still going on and are becoming more and more in the Ezam complex. Abbas Iravani’s enthusiasm to help the underserved area remains unabated even today.

These are only part of the solicitousness of the founder of the Ezam Holding. Two years ago, another idea took birth in Abbas Iravani’s mind and since then he could implement it: Education of children from deprived areas in sports. It is a special activity that has never been done in Iran. With the perseverance of Iravani, around 12,000 children in 17 regions of the country have been helped by this plan, a plan that is completed as a sports club named “Mehr-e-Ezam Cultural and Sports Club”, Mehr-e-Ezam meaning the kindness of Ezam.

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Almost two years of Mehr-e-Ezam sports club activity, together with Abbas Iravani, the founder of Mehr-e-Ezam, we reviewed what has happened to the club so far.  

“The idea took birth many years ago,” He talked about how Mehr-e-Ezam was established and the process that has been followed until today.

“In August 2020, we had serious negotiations with Mr. Ali Kafashian, the former president of Iran football federation, which took a practical form by the end of 2021.

“We did not expect to reach here. The first day we didn’t think of working in the way we are doing now! In fact, we wanted to enter the field of sports team management like many other industrial companies which work in this sector. However, after talking about what we desired, God favored us and led us to the path we are in now. We have started something that has already become a model for others,” Iravani added.

Asked about the priorities of Mehr-e-Ezam in 2023, Iravani explained: “Our initial plan was to reach 20 thousand members in 2022. Then the circumstances that occurred made us remain around 12 thousand members.

Last month, we started developing our activities again. My emphasis is to move in such a way that we become active in all provinces. Of course, we have finalized the budget for the next year and we expect to spend a certain amount for each member. Currently, we have budgeted for 12,000 children around the country. Our activity is such that we can increase this amount in the middle of the year.”

Speaking about the goals and plans of the club in 2023, Iravani has a special emphasis on one issue: the necessity of educating and training coaches.

The founder of Ezam Holding, because of his years of management experience and his deep understanding of the Mehr-e-Ezam project, summarized the success secret of the Mehr-e-Ezam club and everyone who steps into this extensive family in one word; “Love; Work in Mehr-e-Ezam requires love,” he confirmed.

“I believe that the most important issue that the managers of Mehr-e-Ezam Club should consider for the next year is the training of coaches. I have emphasized many times that in Mehr-e-Ezam, our concern is not only on sports. It is necessary to plan for children in different ways.

“Health, ethics and education are three things that should be taken into consideration in our plans.

“I don’t accept working on a teenage player’s technical issues when he or she has medical issues. Children should receive sports training, and at the same time they should study, be healthy, and develop morally.

“Educators should pay attention to the fact that when you take a child out of a neighborhood that threatens him with a lot of dangers and you put him under training in one center of our club, we should take care of him in all aspects. We have taken the first step by removing him from social harm. However, we must be concerned with taking other steps. We all have to think that these kids are our children,” concluded Mr. Iravani.

Recognized as the unassuming guardian angel of thousands of underprivileged youth whose lives may have turned out differently, Abbas Iravani modestly says: “I believe that the prayer of these people is the blessing of our lives, from managers to all employees who work in Ezam Group. I have told to my family members, managers and employees that it is our duty to make a positive impact in the lives of other people.”