About Mona

Mona Mahmoudnezhad

The work of the Mona Foundation is inspired by the example of Mona, a 16-year-old high school girl who was devoted to service to humanity and who was executed in 1983 because she was a Bahá'í. Mona was a beautiful and popular girl in her high school, and her teachers and friends cried when she was expelled from school because she was of a minority Faith during the revolution in Iran.

Mona loved children and in addition to teaching children Sunday classes, she volunteered twice a week in an orphanage from the age of 12 to age 15. Mona's mother relates that the only time she saw Mona cry in prison was when she talked about “her children” at the orphanage.

The full story can be read in the book Olya's Story. She said a prayer for unity and prosperity of mankind before she was hung.

Is Mona Foundation a religious organization?

No. We are a 501 (c) (3), tax exempt public organization supporting social and economical development projects that build capacity at the grassroots and help people help themselves.

While many of the Mona Foundation volunteers and supporters are inspired by Mona and the Bahá’í teachings regarding service to humanity and the right of all to recieve an education, there are many who are not Bahá’ís. Our support extends to all children without regard to religion, gender, nationality, race or economic status.

Ultimately, our purpose is to go beyond the artificial barriers that so sadly afflict our societies, and bring together people of all backgrounds around one common principle of indiscriminate service to the world of humanity.

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