#Stories
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5th Annual Partnership Gala Shines Bright
Islamic Relief USA Celebrates Strong Relationships with Fellow Agencies at Annual Partnership Tribute Food insecurity at the forefront Islamic Relief USA’s work in reducing food insecurity, providing aid in the wake of natural disasters, and helping resettle refugees were among the accomplishments made possible by strong partnerships with fellow nonprofit organizations and government agencies, all of which were highlighted in the organization’s virtual 5th Annual Partnership Tribute on Wednesday, Dec 8. In the past year, these pacts have helped address hunger in Ethiopia, fires that broke out in Turkey, and the manifold humanitarian crisis following the pullout of U.S. troops and change in government in Afghanistan. The suffering of the…
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IRUSA Rep Send Dispatch from the IFG20
IFG20 conference features triumphs and challenges recorded by IRUSA staff By Director Public Affairs Christina Tobias-Nahi WATCH WHAT A RELIEF POD INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHRISTINA TOBIAS-NAHI HERE NOW The Interfaith G20 Summit “Time to Heal: Peace among Cultures, Understanding between Religions” took place in mid September in Bologna, Italy and IRUSA was proud to have not only been an advisor to the local organizer of this event FSCIRE (a research institution that publishes, trains, serves, organizes, welcomes and communicates research in the field of religious sciences, with particular regard to Christianity, Islam and the religions with which they have been in contact) but also an active participant…
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World Refugee Day 2021
Addressing the challenge to support refugees By Christina Tobias-Nahi According to the UN High Commission for Refugees 2022 Global Resettlement Needs Report released this month in recognition of World Refugee Day, for the sixth year in a row, Syrian refugees are among those with the highest resettlement needs, followed by refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Eritrea. As a result too of the pandemic, “many of those displaced are now faced with increased poverty, destitution and widespread protection risks, from exploitation, trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, child labor, early marriage, to arrest, detention, deportation, and refoulement.” Islamic Relief USA has long worked tirelessly to…
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Women Entrepreneurs Graduate in VA
Dar al-Hijra graduates another class By Kara Brunson High achievers Islamic Relief USA sponsors the sewing academy, a program launched by Dar al-Hijrah Social Services, to support socio-economic development goals for the local community. Students become certified seamstresses upon completion of 100 hours of hands-on training in the 4-month program. Stacey Picard, Associate Director of Dar al-Hijrah Social Services and Tahhani Gibaran, Director of Dar al-Hijrah Social Services co-led Tuesday’s event, which was notable for a series of firsts. This spring cohort, the organization’s fifteenth since the academy launched eight years ago, was the first to attend the sewing academy in person since social-distancing restrictions were put in place last…
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Manal has Her Eye on Her Dream
A snapshot into a dynamic opportunity women’s empowerment projects provide Original post at ANERA Manal is a passionate wedding photographer from the city of Nablus, in Palestine’s West Bank. She thinks of her profession as a way to bring joy to her clients and their families. “If people are interested, I won’t decline an offer!” At 50, Manal has been honing her craft for the last 25 years. She first discovered a love for photography through her husband, and swiftly mastered the basics. She soon felt in complete harmony with the camera. After her husband died, she picked it up as a profession. In addition to weddings, she began filming other ceremonies…
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Banking on Food Security
Islamic Relief USA, Food Bank of Delaware Remain Committed to Reducing Food Insecurity During Pandemic By: Syed Hassan Powerful Partnerships Our friends at the Food Bank of Delaware have been very busy lately. Unfortunately, that’s largely due to the suffering so many people are experiencing, as the coronavirus pandemic (which this month marks one year) has caused food insecurity to rise dramatically. In normal times, it was a struggle enough to get food for many poor and working-class residents. Some of them reside in food deserts, lacking full-fledged grocery stores. Whatever stores that do exist are likely convenience marts with processed or ready-to-eat foods that are hardly nutritious. The solution…
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Eyes on Yemen: Preventing a compounded Crisis
COVID-19 looms over Yemen As we in the Western world grapple with the realities of just how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our lives. It can be easy to overlook the fact that we may have access to resources that lessen its impact. Some of us have seen this pandemic out, safe in the knowledge that we are protected by a functioning health care system as well as other vital services. Unfortunately, that is not the case for countless brothers and sisters all over the world. In particular, at this point in time, for brothers and sisters in Yemen. Dubbed by many as “The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis,” the situation…
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From Farm to Family: Your Qurbani is an Act of Love
It’s here! It only seems like yesterday we were celebrating Eid-al-Fitr, and fast approaching in the not too distant future is Eid-al-Adha. This truly is a special time of year, for everyone involved, so it’s time to get prepared. The blessings are around the corner. Which means it’s time to start thinking about Qurbani. The act of Qurbani is a time-honoured tradition of significant importance and holds a deep meaning to all Muslims. Each year we sacrifice an animal to feed those in need, honoring the sacrifice that Prophet Ibrahim made with his willingness to sacrifice his son, Prophet Ismail, for Allah. The Qurbani sacrifice takes place during the Eid…
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A Grand Iftar We’ll Never Forget
Communities gather virtually to contribute to IRUSA’s emergency aid Islamic Relief USA held its first-ever “virtual” Grand Iftar on April 26. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the large in-person gathering was unable to take place at a hotel in the D.C.-area as it normally would. While the format was different, the program nonetheless provided viewers/guests an evening of enlightenment, reflection, and several opportunities to support various organization programs around the world. Projects in countries where Islamic Relief has a rather large footprint were highlighted, including Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen. Anwar Khan, president and cofounder of IRUSA, talked about the need to support immediate and long-term programs in Pakistan, particularly Balochistan and Rawalpindi,…
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Revisiting the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Hopes and Frustrations with Marwa Aly
A journal entry from Trinity College Muslim Chaplain Marwa Aly during her time in Jordan with Syrian refugees IRUSA invited a group of dynamic women community leaders on a visit to Islamic Relief USA’s Projects in Jordan serving Syrian refugees. It expose them, and educate them first hand about IRUSA’s women’s empowerment projects in Jordan, as well as the refugee projects. It was an opportunity to not only meet the staff and volunteers who make the delivery of humanitarian aid possible, but to come face-to-face with the very people we serve. How Perspectives can Change Today was both an uplifting and perspective-shifting day as we traveled to both Ramtha and…
