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From One Idea, Many Toys — And Many Smiles
Two weeks ago, on Eid, trucks headed out across the country, filled to the brim with colorful gifts packaged at Islamic Relief offices—making Eid brighter for thousands of children. Islamic Relief USA’s fourth annual toy drive brought together close to 150 volunteers in 16 cities to organize events collecting more than 3,000 toys for children who might not receive gifts otherwise … and it all stemmed from the initiative of one 11-year-old boy, just three years ago. Rauf’s family was sitting together one night in their brightly decorated living room, enjoying the Ramadan atmosphere and looking forward to Eid. The subject turned to the many new refugees in their community…
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Water Wells Help Keep Peace, Improve Living in South Sudan Villages
Nada Shawish Communications Specialist for Islamic Relief USA Reports from Tigili Village. “Your responsibility is cleanliness,” reads a sign posted to a tree that an Islamic Relief hygiene and water source management session is being held under. The teacher is local Islamic Relief staff, who has good working knowledge of Tigili village in South Sudan, and a good relationship with the people here–because he’s from the area himself. Nadu Hamney is one of the village elders and he described some of what they’re learned in the free education sessions. “We learned hygiene training, we learned how to keep the water point clean, and how to solve disputes between us concerning…
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Positive Community Centers Invigorate Inner City Youth in Addis Ababa
Nada Shawish, Communications Specialist at Islamic Relief USA, reports from Ethiopia. Graduating from higher education is a great accomplishment and should be a milestone for a young person. But like many of my friends in the United States who were not able to get jobs after graduation during the last economic downturn, youth in Ethiopia have had to deal with this reality since they were born. Tawfiq Dandeir is 24 years old and he worked hard to get his education. But like many other students, there were no jobs to be found when he was done. When he got the opportunity to become manager of the Lidita Youth Center in…
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A Change of Plans: Ramadan Packages for Yemeni Refugees in Hargeisa
Nada Shawish, Communications Specialist at Islamic Relief USA, reports from Somaliland. A woman grabs my arm to get my attention. Behind her niqab her voice elevates, “I have something to say.” She pulls me in and turns to Ridwan Adhami, Creative Director of Islamic Relief USA, who is holding the camera. “I would like to speak to you,” she says sternly into the barrel, unwavering. I am Samia …” she said, “I am 24 years old.” And she presses her abaya down to reveal a fully formed stomach. She’s pregnant. Hargeisa, a town in Somaliland, the region north of Somalia, has become a refuge from war nearly overnight for Yemeni…
