VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 7 | FEBRUARY 2014
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Have mercy to those on earth, and the Lord of the Heavens will have mercy upon you.� Sunan Abu Dawud
Cover Photo: Muslim Aid receives the International Charity Award for its strategic development programmes and impact.
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As 2014 begins, we say farewell to a year that saw many parts of the world undergo dramatic change. Conflict and unrest raged through Syria and Burma, and more recently the Philippines was struck by a super typhoon which claimed many thousands of lives. In response to such adversity, it was our resolve to collectively ‘Be the Change’ to better the lives of those affected by conflict and disaster. 2013 was a year in which our Ramadan Feed the Fasting programme reached people in 42 countries across the world, including those fasting amid the turmoil in Syria. Our spend of £458,000 meant that we had increased expenditure on the programme by more than 27% compared to 2012. The response to our Qurbani campaign was also hugely encouraging. We raised over £500,000 and helped to feed more than 225,000 people. We called upon our donors to join us in being the change, and we were certainly not left alone in this mission. In 2013, our aid effort in Syria expanded from the refugee camps to directly within the country itself. Elsewhere, our projects also reached new heights. In Somalia we added more Tuberculosis clinics to include 11 so far; in Sri Lanka we have
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SYRIAN CHILDREN AT A CAMP
established more schools. Thus, after a year in which we worked tirelessly for positive change around the world, it was a huge honour to be presented with the International Charity Award at the Charity Times Awards 2013. This only encouraged us to work even harder for development, and is testament to the hard work of our staff, volunteers and the unwavering support of our donors. As we enter the coldest months of the year, we’re now faced with the challenges brought forth by the winter chill. As in previous years, we hope to aid those most vulnerable to the ill effects of the cold weather through our Warm Hearts Winter Campaign. We also can’t wait to begin working on 2014’s campaigns. With water scarcity, street children and maternal healthcare on our agenda, we’re hoping to expand our efforts to tackle even more areas of poverty around the world.
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“THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING JOURNEY” - RABIYA
In 2013, our mission to once again conquer the great heights of Ben Nevis gathered over £17,000 for water projects in Africa. Standing at 1,344 metres above sea level, around 35 enthusiastic Muslim Aid climbers took part in the ascent. For one volunteer, Rabiyah, the journey to the top was a much bigger accomplishment than she had imagined: “The purpose of this climb was in memory of my beautiful niece, who sadly passed away to a rare illness. Not only do I have a sense of peace at the accomplishment,
I have been left with a sense of purpose for life. “I volunteered to climb Ben-Nevis with no expectations, but left with an overwhelming sense of joy, sorrow and comfort. This has been the most rewarding, humbling and reflective journey I have made. I met the most wonderful people; you have all inspired me to increase my imaan, and insha’Allah, find out more about my deen, so I am sincerely grateful for that.”
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are very proud of Jumima and extend our biggest thanks to her and her family.
For little Jumima, her desire to help the children of war-torn Syria led her to raise an impressive £578. At only 11 years of age, Jumima from the Quwwatul Islam Girls School said; “I heard the more acts you do the more reward you get. I saw children in Syria suffering when watching TV and I wanted to help.” Armed with conviction, she baked cupcakes and sold them in two local mosques with the help of her sister and cousin. She visited MA HQ and presented the donation saying, “I felt so happy to raise this money and I also feel proud that I can help people.” Indeed the MA team
Our honoured Community Liaison Officer, Mr. Mohammed Walayat Khokhar MBE,
JUMIMA WITH HER YOUNGER SISTER
attended the Queen’s annual Garden Party held at Buckingham Palace in May, 2013. Invited in recognition for his outstanding contribution to community work, Mohammed said; “this was by far the most colourful event I’ve ever been to. People came from all walks of life and flew in from all over the world. It was wonderful to meet so many people who have been recognised for their work.”
Omar and Yusuf, both 15, were motivated by their desire to help people suffering. Omar explained he couldn’t just sit back without doing anything.
Students from the London East Academy, raised almost £700 in donations for Muslim Aid’s Emergency Appeal in Syria.
Emphasising the need to be more humanitarian, he said: “We wanted to give back, especially to the children out there. We are children ourselves and we feel great empathy for them.” Muslim Aid would like to thank them both and everyone at the London East Academy.
10 miles on a treadmill that was set up at the GPU event. Needless to say, it was certainly a difficult challenge, especially after eating all of the delicious food on offer! Nonetheless, our runners pushed on. From volunteers to members of the public, young and old, all did their part to secure the money for this special project. MA RUNNERS TAKE ON THE LYCATEL CHALLENGE
Did you catch us at the Global Peace and Unity event? If you did, you may have caught a glimpse of our desert themed stall where we were raising awareness on global water scarcity. On a day that was jam packed with entertainment, food and fun, our team were kept on their toes by a challenge that was set to us by telecommunications company Lycatel. In return for £6,200 to build a well in Sudan, Lycatel set us the task of running
And we did it! True to their word, Lycatel will be giving us £6,200 for the construction of a shallow well with a hand pump, which can provide between 5001000 households with water. This was a truly amazing achievement, and a brilliant example of a collective act of Sadaqah Jariyah, or recurring charity. This is because whilst those who helped us only had to run a short while, the water they helped to provide will continue to run through the hands of those benefitting from the well that will be built, Insha’Allah.
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THE TEAM THAT HELPED SAIQA RAISE OVER £5000
Beginning as just a pledge to raise £3,000 for charity, Saiqa Shabir from Manchester, decided to gather a small group to raise at least part of her target – “the whole year went by and Ramadan was quickly approaching. I began to think I have got to do something to fulfill this pledge!”, she stated on her JustGiving sponsorship page. Organising a climb to the top of Mount Snowdon, Saiqa achieved more than she had hoped for when a total of 29 people – some, complete strangers – signed up to join her. The team almost doubled her target, raising a total of £5,500. Fellow climber, Sabrina Kazmi, who had heard of the mission through word of mouth, traveled from London to
Manchester to be with the group, who then made their way to Wales for the challenge. “I didn’t know Saiqa before this but finished the climb having met so many wonderful people”, she said. “It was also perfect timing as the climb was on the same day as Malaysia’s independence day – I’m half Malaysian, so I climbed Snowdon with a huge Malaysian flag around me in celebration! I would highly recommend others to climb Snowdon for a worthy cause – when you feel like you’ve given up hope and your legs can’t carry you anymore, knowing you’re helping someone in need motivates you to move that one step closer to the top. It was worth every step”.
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Muslim Aid are the proud winners of the International Charity Award. Judged by an independent panel of experts, Muslim Aid was initially shortlisted into the final six nominees before being announced as the winner on the night of the awards ceremony. Judges commented that Muslim Aid’s work is “strategically balanced and highly effective in terms of their programme, activities and impact.” Professor Alex Murdock, Head of the Centre for Government and Charity Management, presented the award to Muslim Aid
MOHAMMED KHOKAR ACCEPTS THE AWARD
representative Mohammed Khokhar (MBE) on the night.
Walayat
In July 2013, Muslim Aid Birmingham volunteers spent the day at Anand House, a home that supports elderly people. Serving lunch to all 70 residents at the centre, volunteers also joined them for food, whilst also spending time to talk and socialise.
MA BIRMINGHAM ENJOY A CUP OF TEA AND CHIT-CHAT
Residents of Anand House expressed their gratitude for having received guests, some rarely receiving any at all, whilst volunteers returned humbled by the experience.
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CHARITIES UNITE AT THE BIG IF
More than 45,000 people gathered at Hyde Park on 8 June 2013 to rally against world hunger. On the day, Muslim Aid united with other charities, including Save the Children and Oxfam, to demand
G8 action on the causes of global hunger. A petition was signed by those who attended, who also gave messages in support of the IF campaign.
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and other essentials to the homeless and elderly in London, Manchester and Birmingham. In partnership with homelessness support centres, we were also able to provide 500 sleeping bags, a telephone advice service, and contribute to a hardship fund that helped 1,463 people. Our current Warm Hearts Winter Campaign will build upon our past success, and with your support will reach out to even more vulnerable people. It is the beginning of a new year; and whilst the bright lights and bustling shopping centres all compete for our attention, it often becomes easy to overlook the fact that there are still many thousands across the country whose winter will be far from enjoyable. It is easy to take for granted the small things that ensure that we are kept safe and warm through this season. A warm blanket. A hot drink. Even just a pair of socks. Lacking these basics, many vulnerable people, particularly the elderly and homeless, will face the coming cold at risk of illness and even death. It’s a sad fact that each year, around 30,000 people in the UK die due to illnesses related to the cold weather. Without help or support, these illnesses can go unnoticed and untreated, until it is sometimes too late. With your help, however, we hope to reduce the unnecessary suffering faced by many during the winter freeze. Through our Winter Campaign in 2012/13 we were able to distribute 2,208 Keep Warm Kits containing scarves, blankets, hats, heaters
We will be distributing our Keep Warm Kits around the country, as well as opening a soup kitchen in Walthamstow, for those in need of a warm winter meal. In London, we will be working in partnership with other charities to hold distributions on five different dates. Similar programmes will also take place in Manchester and Birmingham. You can help share the warmth this winter by donating to our Warm Hearts Winter Campaign. For ÂŁ50, you can provide a vulnerable person with a Keep Warm Kit containing: For the Homeless One sleeping bag, one blanket, a pair of socks, a fleece, one pair of gloves, one woolly hat and a food parcel. For the Elderly One blanket, a pair of bed socks, a pair of gloves, a scarf, one woolly hat, a thermometer and a hot water bottle Donate to our campaign and help to warm a heart this winter.
WARM A HEART THIS WINTER
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For just £50, provide a Keep Warm Kit for the homeless and the elderly and bring a little warmth in their lives this Winter.
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Almost a year after my first visit to HMP Send, I was back in the chaplaincy at the women’s prison in Surrey visiting the sisters as they prepared for another Ramadan behind bars. Seeing some familiar faces, I learnt of how some were moving closer to life outside, whilst others were just facing another day, of many, in prison. Gathering in a circle, the group listened as Imam Zahid spoke about prison and procedures during Ramadan. “We’ve all sinned”, he said. “It’s just that some of us haven’t been caught out”. Hearing his words, I thought back to my first experience visiting the prison, and the perspective I had gained in meeting the girls. “Thank you for visiting us”, they said, repeating themselves constantly. “Pray for us, please.” I thought about the lessons I had taken home from each person I had met that day - their intense focus during prayer; their unity as a group; the gratitude they displayed in having met new people. “If I complain about my situation, then I’ll never be content”, one of the girls said to me, currently facing a life-sentence. “It’s better for me to not complain. Then I can’t be unhappy.” I thought about how my life could benefit
ILLUSTRATION BY NUR HANNA WAN
from some of the attributes I had seen spending each day confined to nothing but four walls, alone with just thoughts, some had exhibited characteristics I have rarely come across in the outside world. Whatever had landed them behind bars, in genuine sorrow and regret, lessons had manifested, for others to learn and gain from. That day, I was reminded of the virtue of patience. By Nur Hannah Wan The Prisoners Project is part of Muslim Aid’s UK Development Programmes
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MA VOLUNTEERS MAKE NEW FRIENDS AT SIFA FIRESIDE
up with Sifa Fireside in Birmingham, a charity that tackles homelessness and alcohol misuse, to provide hot food and a warm environment for those struggling with homelessness.
As part of the Feed the Fasting programme, Muslim Aid has teamed
At Sifa Fireside, which sees visits from over 125 homeless people twice daily, the MA team served hot biriyani and vegetable curry, whilst also enjoying a cup of tea and chit-chat with guests.
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FOREED REACHES FOR THE SKY
Volunteers Officer, Foreed Islam is known to talk the talk as the face of MA live appeals, but this spring, we’ll see if he can walk the walk. On 13 April 2014, Foreed will be the first person to run for a Muslim organisation at the Virgin Money London Marathon. This Spotlight, we talk to him about transformation, training and trading biriyanis for a healthier option… What do your colleagues at MA think of you taking part in this run? People were shocked, they said: ‘The London Marathon?’. I told them: ‘There’s only one marathon that I know of’. My mother doesn’t believe I’m doing it! She started giving me advice on how to do a marathon – I told her: ‘Mum, everything else in the world, I agree with you, but the
marathon…maybe not!’ What’s the furthest you’ve ever run? I’ve been jogging once or twice with a few friends, but generally, the best I’ve ever done is running on the football pitch! What made you want to do this challenge? I want to raise money for our maternal healthcare projects. When women are affected, children are affected and they are the two that suffer most in poverty. From my travels and years working in the charity sector, this is the one thing that has touched me Have you ever done anything like this before? I’ve hiked Ben Nevis and Snowdon and
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every time I climb I think I’m never going to do it, and then all of a sudden I decide to do it again! But this is a step up - that was good, but the marathon is going to put me back into shape. So, for the next few months, no more biriyani… Nope! What I’ve had so far has always been grilled food. I do spoil my self here and there sometimes - someone brought
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in a cake the other day and I couldn’t deny it. I have cut down though. Any final words? Yes, donate! I’m putting my body through extreme pain, I’m doing things against the odds, I’m overweight according to what they recommend… and I’ll be vlogging everyday, so you’ll be able to see the changes I’ve made to my lifestyle. Ultimately, donate for the cause.
OUR GOOD FRIENDS RETURN BEARING GIFTS FOR SYRIA
Once again, our good friends from The Ramadan Club have come together to raise much needed funds for Muslim Aid’s Syria Emergency Appeal. Raising over £600, the children appealed to friends and family for generous donations. Visiting
the office during Ramadan to deliver their kind contributions, the children - the youngest of them four-years-old - handed their brightly decorated jars, boxes and yoghurt pots to our donations team. In recognition of their hard-work and enthusiasm for charity-giving, they were presented with a Muslim Aid certificate. A huge thank you to The Ramadan Club! We hope you all continue in your efforts to help those in need all over the world, insha’Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “He is not a believer whose stomach is filled while the neighbour to his side goes hungry.� Sunan Al-Kubra Al-Bayhaqi
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VILLAGERS IN SHAHAD KOHT WITH THEIR NEW HAND PUMP
One hundred and fifty hand pumps and fifty latrines have been constructed in Shahad Koht, Sindh, one of Pakistan’s flood affected communities. This will give access to clean drinking water and reduce the risk of infection and water-borne diseases. In 2010, 5.2 million people were affected by floods in 22 districts in Sindh,
whereby communities had their homes, livelihoods and possessions destroyed. As well as providing emergency relief, Muslim Aid has since been working to rebuild affected communities, which includes the construction of ‘Model Villages’ which offer permanent shelter, healthcare, education, skills development and livelihood support.
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2013 was a year for progress and change. In a year that saw heightened conflict and natural disasters take place globally, our donor’s showed incredible support for our campaigns, allowing us to continue vital life saving work for millions facing abject poverty and hardship. Our field offices reported exceptional progess in 2013. What’s important to note is the ripple effect a project has on communities. Not only do the beneficiaries receive support but their families too, resulting in healthy, flourishing communities. Our mission is not complete, and 2013 will be a benchmark for us to work harder for those in need in 2014. The following overview is a snapshot of what some of our field offices have achieved in 2013 with your generous donations. A simple thank you is not enough, but keeping you on track with our journey to serve humanity with your donations, is the most important message we would like to deliver to you.
Bangladesh A staggering 875,220 beneficiaries in Bangladesh were served by Muslim Aid in 2013. The team in Bangladesh has been active in delivering education and child protection, maternal healthcare, food security and nutrition, agriculture and livelihood, disaster management, microfinance and water and sanitation programmes.
• Provided ongoing teaching and training at our technology institutes in Jessore, Rangpur, Chittagong and Dhaka and informal education to 8,332 students • Our community hospitals in Pabna, Kulaura, Pirojpur and Dhaka served 146,000 patients with free healthcare and medicine
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• We reached 143,129 people affected
by disasters including last year’s factory disaster, Cyclone Mohasen and the cold wave with emergency aid and care
• Our Qurbani programme reached 239,300 people • Water and sanitation programmes ensured access to clean water and hygiene systems for 184,250 people • Our school food support programme provide food to 268,000 school going children on a daily basis
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people benefitted from our education, water and sanitation, economic empowerment, microfinance, housing and shelter, refugee care, Ramadan and religious programmes and projects in 2013 alone
• We ran 4 eye clinics which benefitted 5,925 people • Provided livelihood support for disadvantaged families which meant our health programmes reached 6,135 people in Mullaitivu, Anuradhapura and Trincomalee • At a time when the Myanmar crisis hit the headlines, MA was responsive and timely providing emergency assistance to 582 Myanmar refugees at a Colombo care centre • Supported 323 children through our Rainbow Family programme and constructed 2 libraries and renovated a further 3 for schools in different districts
Sri Lanka Our reach in Sri Lanka was tremendous. With a spend of £1,830,000, over 66,000
• Constructed a water supply system for a school in Mannar. Overall that’s nearly 5,000 happy school children and teachers!
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• 10,443 people benefitted from our formal and informal educational programmes • Constructed 125 permanent houses for the poorest families
• One community well built, giving 1,610 people access to clean and safe water
• 4,032 people were helped with microfinance programmes
• 1,999 people were given access to better water and sanitation facilities • 5,271 people lifted out of poverty with microfinance
Indonesia
Cambodia Over 60,000 people benefitted with education, water and sanitation, emergency relief, economic empowerment disaster risk reduction, rainbow family programme, dig a well, qurbani and religious dues. Around £389,399 was spent on the projects and programmes in 2013.
• 230 children were sponsored last year • Qurbani programme reached an average of 19,000 people
A total of £406,425 was spent last year in delivering projects related to microfinance, water and sanitation, child sponsorship, agriculture and disaster risk management in Aceh, Jogyakarta and Padang.
• With £159,442 invested into delivering
microfinance projects, 4,686 people had their lives turnaround, positively lifting them out of poverty
• 12,321 people were given access to clean drinking water and safe hygiene facilities, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases • 577 people were helped with our emergency response to the floods in Padang
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• Our child sponsorship programme helped 495 orphans and vulnerable children through education, health and food assistance
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• Blankets and clothes given to 9,900 Syrian refugees through our winter campaign • 5,750 Syrian refugees given Qurbani meat
Jordan
Muslim Aid has been working in more than 50 countries. These are a few examples of our work. Your donations are changing the lives of the most poorest communities for the better. Together, we can shape the way we want the world to be; free from poverty and education for all. Thank you.
The Syrian crisis has led to a mass exodus of refugees flowing into bordering countries. Our reach in Jordan targeted Syrian Refugees living in camps. We provided them emergency aid and food, informal education and through our winter campaign, warm clothes and household goods to keep them warm and safe.
• Emergency food aid given to 5,800 Syrian refugees in different camps • Sanitary and health items distributed to 1,700 Syrian refugee families • Baby products given to 2,500 Syrian refugee children under 2 years of age • Education supplies given to 1250 Syrian children in public schools
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What stories can you share with us?
In November, our Major Gifts and Corporate Manager, Salman Mujtaba travelled to Sri Lanka to monitor the progress of our work out there. Tell us about your visit? I went to inspect the completion of 50 houses we recently built for internally displaced people in the eastern province of Batticoala, who lost their homes during the civil war. I also monitored the progress of our existing programmes in Water and Sanitation, Livelihood and Microfinance and the Rainbow Family programme. A lot of IDPs are still living in makeshift houses made out of straw huts and aluminium sheets, lacking adequate water and sanitation facilities. Muslim Aid are committed to restoring security for families through the provision of housing. In 2011, we already completed permanent housing for 104 families in the Andankulam village. The two bedroom houses can accommodate a family of 10 and also include a separate outdoor bathroom. The houses are constructed out of solid brick and are able to withstand extreme weather conditions. All the beneficiaries I spoke to expressed their delight and were very thankful to MA. We’ve housed Muslims and Hindus alike. It was great to see our ethos, ‘serving humanity’ regardless of faith, in action.
One particular woman I met was a testament to our success. We gave her household goods to sell. She set up shop, and sold them to the public. She started off with 2,000 Rupees a day and now earns 5,000 Rupees. Furthermore by expanding her business, she employed 2 other people who in turn have been able to change the fortune of their own families. Microfinance and livelihood programmes have positive rippling effects, bringing about a great degree of self sufficiency. There was another woman I met, whose life changed with the livelihood programme. Her husband works in the UAE as a labourer. When she was given seeds and tools to cultivate a 1 acre land, she was able to sell her crops and expand her business, buying an additional 2 acres of land. Her husband will now return from the UAE to help her with the business. It’s stories like these, that really strike a chord and make you realise how a small loan or even simple training and tools can change the lives of many for the better. Can you tell us how our WASH and Rainbow Family programmes are doing? They are doing exceptionally well. I met with a young boy called Arslan, who through our RF programme, has excelled at school to become the no.1 top student in the borough. He told me of his vision to become a doctor to help his own family out of poverty. I also visited a village where we built a well which benefits 200
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families, but also the local school uses that well for the children. Imagine just one well can provide clean safe water for thousands of people. What message would you like to share with us after your visit? Visiting our field office in Sri Lanka and the projects we have completed was an encouraging experience. I also felt
A FORMER IDP FAMILY HOUSED BY MUSLIM AID
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humbled by all the beneficiaries I met, who were all very grateful but wanted to share one message – they want the tools to help them sustain a life outside of aid. Our Microfinance, Livelihood and educational programmes are doing just that. I would encourage our donors to keep donating – seeing all the projects first hand is firm proof that your donations really do matter and make a difference.
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With over 200 sponsored children, Muslim Aid’s Rainbow Family Programme in Johannesburg, South Africa, assists both orphaned and nonorphaned children through education, healthcare, food and clothing. On a monitoring visit to the city in June, Rainbow Family Programme Officer, Akik Noor, meets the new “role models of their communities”. Now 17, Aruna lost both his parents when he was 5 years old. He was selected for Muslim Aid’s Child Sponsorship Programme as his new guardian could not afford to send him to full-time education. “Before this, things were hard for me,” he tells Akik. “Because of the Rainbow Family Programme, I was able to go to school and attend the madrasa (Islamic school). Now people are calling me imam (Islamic leader)! Some people are calling me hafiz (a person who memorises the Qur’an). When I wake up in the morning, I thank Allah for giving me a new day. And I thank those who help me for being there.” On hearing Aruna recite from the Quran, Akik says: “It was humbling to hear such
rich recitation from someone so young. I felt pleased to see the difference our programme has made to his life.” With his knowledge, Aruna dreams of travelling the world and teaching others what he has been blessed to learn. Meeting the Coordinator of the Rainbow Family Programme, Mr Abdullah Mufumbe, who is known affectionately by others as Papa Filli (‘Father of all’), he tells Akik how the programme has impacted the children: “They are growing holistically,” he says. “They are becoming the role models of their communities”. Whilst supporting children through school, Muslim Aid also runs communitywide skills-based projects for older members of the family, who can then be better equipped to find work. Speaking about the Umowaja Community Restaurant Project, funded by Muslim Aid with the aim of training and employing local people to work within the food and catering industry, Akik says it was encouraging to see the long-term impact the project was having. “Employees were really thankful to Muslim Aid. They told me that without it, they would be at home and unable to find work. Now they have confidence to go out and earn a living.” Returning to the UK, he has more determination within his role. “The trip made me realise that the work I carry out here – no matter how insignificant it may seem – makes a huge difference to the lives of children like Aruna.”
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ILLUSTRATION BY OMAR HERNANDEZ
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WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING IN KHARTOUM SOUTH DARFAR
COMPLETION %
KASSALA STATE
90%
65%
40% DIG A WELL SOUTH DARFUR
KASSALA WATER PROBLEM RESPONSE
GANDI WATER & SANITATION PROJECT
SPENT ON
10,400 QURBANI
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
KASSALA STATE
SAKALI IDPS CAMP
IN
RAINBOW FAMILY
OVER
£17,500 SPENT
FEED THE FASTING
FEED THE FASTING
0
£91,00
32
ORPHANS BENEFITED IN KHARTOUM
£55,000
SPENT ON EMERGENCIES
Healthcare + Sanitation Project Sakali IDPS Camp
SPENT ON HEALTHCARE
£26,000+
KARTOUM STATE MICROFINANCE PROJECT
60% Completed Khartoum Flood Relief Project Completed
£23,000+ GANDI LIVELIHOOD PROJECT
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The silent killers
YOUR ÂŁ3 A MONTH can make a difference between life and death
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and stunts development. Access to free healthcare – a luxury? Also crucial to the wellbeing of a community is access to free, high quality healthcare. We believe that access to good quality healthcare should not be a luxury, but should be something open for all to benefit from. Unfortunately, around the world millions still die and suffer needlessly from easily preventable and treatable diseases, simply due to lack of funds or access to medical care. This Issue: Healthcare and Nutrition Good nutrition and access to healthcare are central to the survival of individuals and their communities. With these two vital pillars in place, communities have the potential to sustain themselves and build a better future. What is the impact of poor nutrition? Malnutrition, which simply means poor nutrition, weakens immunity, increases susceptibility to disease and impairs physical and mental development. Around 870 million people across the world are currently malnourished through simply having not enough to eat. The future prospects of malnourished children are especially bleak, right from birth. For those who trudge through infancy and childhood with their stomachs yearning, trying to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities is an uphill struggle. Undernourishment sustains the vicious cycle of poverty as it hinders productivity
In 2012, 6.6 million children died before the age of five, with the majority of those deaths caused by diseases that are easily treated and prevented. With access to treatment, however, such a needless loss of life could be cut dramatically. What is Muslim Aid doing to improve healthcare and nutrition around the world? As well as providing emergency relief, Muslim Aid is constantly working on long-term initiatives to support sustainable growth in the world’s poorest communities. We build hospitals, administer medical clinics, train doctors and provide field and hospital medical equipment. We also develop health awareness programmes as part of our mission of giving communities a real chance of future success. In 2012, we established clinics in Bangladesh that saw over 256, 000 patients. Through these clinics, many thousands of mothers are able to care for and nurture their children whilst they go
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through the crucial early stages of life. In the same year, we also opened our 11th clinic serving Tuberculosis (TB) patients in the town of Eyl in Somalia. Because TB affects the most productive groups in society, the opening of a clinic is crucial to the economic and social progression of a community. Elsewhere, we funded eye clinics, opened mobile clinics for refugees and held first aid courses and educational sessions. These are just a few examples of the work we are doing around to world to improve healthcare and nutrition in the world’s poorest communities. With your support we will continue our work as part of our aim to give communities the help they need to become self-sustaining and prosperous . Sources: WFP, WHO MA CONSTANTLY WORKS ON LONG-TERM INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
Muslim Aid, in partnership with UNFPA and the Ministry of Women’s Development and Social Affairs have set up the Maato-Kaal centre in Puntland, Somaliland for victims of violence. The centre was established to provide marginalised and victimised women with an outlet for support and will offer services such as medical treatment, counseling, legal aid and information.
UNFPA COUNTRY DIRECTOR WITH MA STAFF
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FARMERS IN ACEH BESAR IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS AND RECIEVE NEW TOOLS
Farmers in Keueung village, Aceh Besar, have received Organic Plantation and Waste Management training through Muslim Aid Indonesia, which will better their skills and improve their technical knowledge for producing high quality crops. Known by locals as the Garden Farming System, the farmers will produce vegetables such as spinach, chick peas, squash and sweet corn, using organic fertiliser, which will then be sold in Banda Aceh’s main market. Farmers also received new farming equipment, seeds and capital funding.
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With 11 Tuberculosis clinics set up in Somalia , Muslim Aid has taken further steps to ensure the disease is managed. MA Somalia are installing the Gene Expert MTB/RIF in one of the TB clinics in Mogadishu - a cartridge based automated diagnostic test that can identify mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and resistance to rifampicin (RIF), a drug used to combat TB. The team also attended a
TB review meeting in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss the issue of drug resistance to TB medication, which is on the increase. The good news is that MA will take a leading role in minimising the risk of the disease spreading, by having a special site at the national TB hospital unit in Mogadishu. Two health staff members have also recently been trained by MA to deal with HIV screening and patient referrals.
Muslim Aid Bosnia, in partnership with NGO, Orphan Smile, has empowered
20 widows under its Beekeeping project aimed at drawing income through the sale of honey. The project, which is the first of its kind, will help widows in the Mostar region of Bosnia and will create 14 beekeeping businesses that will allow income generation opportunities. The first stage will involve training and the second stage, assistance in beekeeping and the production of honey, pollen and propolis. The women were also given tools and equipment to get their business started.
INCOME GENERATION PROJECT EMPOWERS WIDOWS
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Muslim Aid Day was commemorated with a range of activities for school children in Bosnia and members of the Rainbow Family. On 28 October 2013, children from the village of Krizevići Municipality of Zvornik marked the day by cleaning a small river bank next to their school and attending a lecture about importance and preservation of clean water.
are reducing, especially as waste waters from houses and factories end up in the streams. Another big problem is the inadequate sewage system and poor sanitary conditions which affect the quality of the water. Muslim Aid Day was a perfect opportunity to raise awareness among children about the importance of the environment they live in.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has many rivers, streams and lakes. Due to inadequate treatment, however clean water resources
After cleaning it was smiles all around as children received a nutritious packed lunch.
Since the devastating Typhoon struck the Philippines in November, last year, Muslim Aid has helped thousands to receive relief items to help them survive through the difficulties. The UN estimates that 11 million people have been affected and other reports place the number of displaced victims at 673,000. The death toll now stands at over 2,300, with that number expected to rise. Through our emergency appeal and thanks to the generous support of our donors, MA’s recent work on the ground includes
distributing over £40,000 worth of shelter kits and other food and non-food items for the typhoon affected people in the Philippines. In Barangay Abucay and Apitong, areas affected badly by the Typhoon, MA also distributed 500 relief packs. The MA team on the ground are conducting a needs assessment and partnering with international NGOs and local Government for a coordinated and effective response to the disaster. The current priorities include shelter, hygiene and water and educational support.
Reuters/Mohamed Azakir courtesy Trust.org - AlertNet
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Muslim Aid’s mission, guided by the teachings of Islam, endeavours to tackle poverty and its causes by developing innovative and sustainable solutions that enable individuals and their communities to live with dignity and by supporting initiatives that promote economic and social justice. Vision: The alleviation of poverty, education for all, and the provision of basic amenities for those in need and so create a world where charity and compassion produce justice, self reliance and human development.
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