The loss of a mother or father does not only leave an emotional impact on a child. In many families, the death of a main breadwinner can have far-reaching consequences on the daily lives of every family member.

Children may struggle to access sufficient food, continue their education, receive healthcare, or live in a safe and secure environment.

For families living in poverty, conflict, or prolonged crises, losing a caregiver can make existing challenges even more difficult to overcome.

This is where orphan sponsorship can play a vital role.

Through MyYateem Sponsorship, Islamic Relief Malaysia works to support orphaned children in countries where they are most in need. However, the impact of a sponsorship does not end with one child. When a child’s basic needs are supported, the burden carried by mothers, caregivers, and the entire family can also be eased.

What is MyYateem Sponsorship?

MyYateem Sponsorship is an orphan sponsorship programme that helps meet the needs and improve the well-being of children who have lost one or both parents.

This year, Islamic Relief Malaysia aims to ensure that 5,000 orphaned children across more than 10 countries receive sponsorship and ongoing support, including orphaned children in Palestine, Jordan (Palestinian refugees), Somalia, and Sudan.

Currently, 127 orphaned children are receiving sponsorship through the programme across 18 countries, including Palestine, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Chechnya, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

The support provided covers several important aspects of children’s lives, including:

• Regular health check-ups
• Education and school-related needs
• Basic necessities
• Housing support
• Food and nutritional needs

Depending on local needs and circumstances, this assistance can also help improve access to healthcare and vaccinations, provide essential educational materials, and offer emotional support to children experiencing trauma.

For some children, the support also creates opportunities to gain practical skills through vocational training, including in information technology and language skills, helping them build better opportunities for the future.

Why is orphan sponsorship important?

A child needs more than immediate assistance to survive. They also need the opportunity to learn, receive medical treatment when they are unwell, and grow up in an environment where they feel safe and supported.

For a mother or caregiver who has lost a spouse or source of income, meeting all of these needs alone can be an incredibly difficult struggle.

That is why sponsoring an orphaned child can provide benefits that extend beyond the child themselves and help bring greater stability to the entire family.

When a child’s education costs are eased, families may be able to use their limited resources to purchase food. When a child receives support for healthcare or basic needs, the financial pressure on their caregiver can also be reduced. When children are able to continue their education, families can have greater hope for the future.

Osama’s story: An orphaned child in Yemen

The impact of sponsorship support can be seen through the story of Osama, an orphaned child living with his family in Hodeida, Yemen.

After the death of his father, life changed completely for Osama and his family. His mother, Elham, is now responsible for caring for her six children on her own, including Osama and two other children who have intellectual disabilities and require ongoing care and treatment.

Without a stable source of income, the family relies heavily on Ahmed, her fourth child, who works part-time at a fish market. However, his small income is not enough to cover the needs of the entire family.

Almost every day, the family could only eat bread and drink tea. Even then, there was not always enough for every family member.

In these extremely difficult circumstances, accessing sufficient water was also a daily challenge. Osama’s family lives in a very small rented house and has limited access to basic necessities such as electricity and water.

A health burden the family cannot carry alone

The challenges faced by Osama’s family are even greater because Osama, his brother, and his sister require regular medical treatment and medication.

For Elham, finding enough money to buy food is already a daily struggle. The additional cost of medicine, treatment, and other needs places an even heavier financial and emotional burden on her.

As a mother caring for her children without sufficient food and basic necessities, Elham faces challenges that are far from easy.

Before receiving support, the children’s education was also affected. Elham could not afford all their school supplies or cover education-related expenses.

In situations like this, poverty can affect almost every aspect of a child’s life.

A child who does not have enough food may struggle to concentrate at school. A child who requires medical treatment faces additional challenges in daily life. Children who grow up in conditions of deprivation may also lose their sense of security and hope for the future.

A sponsorship programme that brings change

Through MyYateem Sponsorship, Osama and his family began receiving support that helped them meet some of their basic needs.

The financial assistance provided through the sponsorship programme helps Osama’s family cover important expenses such as food, medicine, and education.

During Ramadan, the family also received food packs from Islamic Relief, while Qurbani meat during Eid al-Adha gave them the opportunity to enjoy more nutritious food.

For some families, this may seem like an ordinary part of life.

But for Osama’s family, who had lived with deprivation for a long time, having enough food or being able to eat meat again after many years carried enormous meaning.

More importantly, the sponsorship gave Osama and his family something they had struggled to find before: a greater sense of stability and security.

They now know that they do not have to face every challenge alone.

For Osama, the sponsorship helps him continue receiving the care and education he needs. For Elham, it provides strength and hope to keep going.

Creating opportunities for a better future

Immediate assistance is essential in helping families like Osama’s overcome the challenges they face today. However, consistent support can also help children build a better future.

Through education, healthcare, and skills development, children can gain opportunities that may otherwise be difficult to access.

For children living in areas affected by conflict, poverty, or humanitarian crises, the opportunity to continue learning can be an important step towards breaking the cycle of hardship.

Emotional support is equally important.

Many children who lose a parent also experience trauma, grief, and uncertainty. For this reason, a child’s well-being must be viewed holistically, not only by ensuring they have food, but also by supporting their health, education, safety, and emotional development.

One sponsorship, a mountain of hope

Osama’s story is just one of many stories of orphaned children facing immense challenges after losing a mother or father.

Some need support to continue their education. Some need access to health check-ups and medical treatment. Others live in families struggling to provide enough food.

Yet every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthier, safer, and with dignity.

Through MyYateem Sponsorship, the support provided helps meet the needs of orphaned children while creating a wider positive impact on their families.

If you would like to be part of a meaningful change in the lives of orphaned children and their families, join MyYateem Sponsorship with Islamic Relief Malaysia. Your sponsorship can help provide vital support in education, healthcare, basic needs, and overall well-being, while opening opportunities for children to build a more dignified and hopeful future.

What does it mean to love the Prophet Muhammad SAW? Following his example of compassion towards orphans

Every year, as the month of Rabiulawal arrives, Muslims around the world once again remember the great person we love most – the Prophet Muhammad SAW.

There are many ways to reflect on his life and mission. We increase our salutations upon him, share and reflect on stories from his life, and gather to commemorate Maulidur Rasul as an expression of our love for him.

Yet, have we ever asked ourselves:

What does it truly mean to love the Prophet Muhammad SAW?

Is our love for him expressed only through sending salutations and commemorating Maulidur Rasul? Or should that love also to be reflected in our character, our actions and the way we treat others?

The Prophet Muhammad SAW did not only teach his followers through his words but also demonstrated through his actions how to be compassionate, caring and attentive towards those in need.

Among those who receive special attention in Islam are orphans.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW was an orphan

Before he was chosen as a prophet, Prophet Muhammad SAW himself experienced life as an orphan. His father, Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib, passed away before his birth, while his mother, Aminah bint Wahb, passed away when he was still a young child.

Allah SWT reminded him of this part of his life in the Quran:

“Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter?” – Surah al-Duha, 93:6

Growing up as an orphan became an important part of the Prophet Muhammad’s SAW life journey. He understood the pain of loss and the need for a person to receive love, protection and support from those around them.

It is therefore no surprise that Islam places such great emphasis on the wellbeing and protection of orphans.

How did the Prophet Muhammad SAW show compassion towards orphans?

The Prophet Muhammad SAW taught Muslims to protect the rights of orphans, never to wrong them and to help fulfil their needs.

In fact, the status of those who care for orphans is so highly regarded that the Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

“I and the one who cares for an orphan will be like this in Paradise.”

He then gestured with his index and middle fingers held close together. – Hadith narrated by al-Bukhari

This hadith highlights the immense reward for those who care for and support orphans. Caring for an orphan is not simply about providing material assistance, but also about showing compassion and fulfilling a social responsibility that is greatly honoured in Islam.

Love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW should be reflected in our character

Loving the Prophet Muhammad SAW means striving to follow his character and teachings in our daily lives.

He taught us to show compassion towards the vulnerable, help those in need and never leave someone to face hardship alone.

When it comes to orphans, there are many ways we can translate our love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW into action.

We can care about their needs. We can support their education. We can share our blessings to provide food and basic necessities. We can also support initiatives that help them build better lives.

For an orphan, the support we provide may seem small to us, but it can make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Orphans need more than financial assistance

When we think about helping orphans, the first thing that may come to mind is financial assistance.

However, a child’s needs go far beyond that.

They need opportunities to receive an education. They need sufficient and nutritious food. They need access to healthcare. They need a safe place to live and protection from harm.

More importantly, they also need love, attention and emotional support.

That is why efforts to support orphans should be viewed from a long-term perspective. Assistance is not only about meeting their needs today, but also about helping them build a better future.

This is the approach taken by Islamic Relief Malaysia through the MyYateem #CareForOrphan campaign.

MyYateem: Turning compassion into action

Through MyYateem #CareForOrphan, Islamic Relief Malaysia seeks to support orphans and their families affected by conflict, natural disasters, poverty and chronic illness.

The support provided is not intended to be temporary. Islamic Relief Malaysia focuses on long-term support that addresses education, food, healthcare, protection, as well as support for their families and communities.

Through MyYateem Care, contributions help improve the quality of life of orphans and their families, including through education, healthcare, basic food needs and family livelihood assistance.

For those who wish to provide ongoing support, MyYateem Sponsorship offers the opportunity to sponsor an orphan with a contribution of RM350 per month for a minimum of two years. This helps support essential needs such as food, education, shelter and healthcare.

Every contribution is part of an effort to give these children the opportunity to enjoy a better quality of life.

Rabiulawal: A time to revive the compassion taught by the Prophet Muhammad SAW

The month of Rabiulawal offers us an opportunity to reflect on the life of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and renew our love for him.

But perhaps this year, we can look at Maulidur Rasul from a slightly different perspective.

Instead of simply asking:

“How many salawats have we sent upon the Prophet?”

We can also ask:

“Which of the Prophet Muhammad’s SAW qualities have we tried to embody?”

If he taught us to care for orphans, have we taken the opportunity to support them?

If he taught us to show compassion towards those in need, have we shared some of the blessings Allah SWT has given us?

And if we say that we love the Prophet Muhammad SAW, can that love be seen in the way we treat the people around us?

We may not be able to do something extraordinary.

But a single contribution, a helping hand or one small act of sincere kindness could be the reason a child’s life takes a better turn.

Let love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW become an act of kindness

Do not let our love remain only in words. Let it be reflected in our character and actions. This Rabiulawal, let us follow the compassion of the Prophet Muhammad SAW by caring for and supporting orphans.

We may never have met the Prophet Muhammad SAW, but we still have the opportunity to follow his character and compassion through every act of kindness we choose to do.

Let us express our love for the Prophet Muhammad SAW through an act of kindness today.

Support MyYateem #CareForOrphan and join us in building a brighter future for orphans.

Imagine a water well has just been completed. Water begins to flow, and the community starts using it for their daily needs.

But does the project end there?

Actually, it does not.

Providing a water source is only one step towards ensuring that communities have access to safe and sustainable water. Behind a seemingly simple well, there are many aspects that need to be considered to ensure its benefits continue long after construction is completed.

From ensuring water quality and maintaining the facility to providing communities with the knowledge and awareness they need and ensuring proper maintenance, all these elements play a role in making a clean water project truly impactful in the long term.

Clean water is about more than providing a water source

For communities facing water shortages, having a safe and accessible water source closer to home can transform their daily routines.

Water is needed not only for drinking, but also for cooking, washing clothes, maintaining personal hygiene and meeting household needs.

When water is difficult to access, family members may have to spend more time and energy collecting it. This can affect many aspects of their lives, including education, health and livelihoods.

For this reason, clean water projects should not be viewed simply as the construction of a physical structure. They are part of a broader effort to improve the well-being and resilience of communities.

1. Ensuring the water is safe to use

One of the first priorities after establishing a water source is to ensure that the water is suitable and safe for the community to use.

Access to water alone is not enough if its quality cannot be guaranteed. Water sources need to be assessed and monitored to reduce the risk of contamination and give communities greater confidence in using them.

At the same time, the cleanliness of the surrounding area must also be maintained. Good hygiene practices help protect water sources from contamination and support better community health.

This is why efforts to improve access to clean water should go hand in hand with education on hygiene and safe water use.

2. Helping communities learn how to care for their water source

A well may be built for community use, but its long-term benefits depend on how the facility is used and maintained.

Communities need to understand practices such as keeping the area around the water source clean, using the facility properly and knowing what to do if damage or other problems occur.

As part of a sustainable development approach, communities are not simply recipients of aid. They also play an important role in caring for and managing the facilities provided.

They are given appropriate training to operate and maintain the well, helping to ensure that the facility remains useful and accessible to the community.

When people have the knowledge and sense of responsibility to care for their water source, the facility has a better chance of continuing to benefit the community in the long term.

3. Maintenance keeps the benefits flowing

What is the point of building a well if it can no longer be used when something goes wrong?

Like any other facility, water infrastructure requires care and maintenance. Even minor damage, if left unaddressed, can affect a community’s access to water.

Maintenance is therefore an important part of ensuring that a clean water project remains functional.

This may involve monitoring the condition of the facility, identifying problems early and ensuring that repairs can be carried out when necessary.

This is the difference between simply building a well and establishing a water source that can continue providing meaningful benefits over time.

4. Communities are part of the solution

Sustainable aid is not simply about giving something to a community. It is also about ensuring that communities have the knowledge, capacity and opportunity to play a role in managing the resources they depend on.

Community involvement is important because local people understand the needs and challenges of their own communities best.

When communities are involved in caring for their water sources, it creates a greater sense of ownership of the facilities. This helps ensure that the water source continues to be used appropriately and that its benefits can reach more people.

This approach also supports efforts to empower communities so that they are not solely dependent on external assistance, but have the capacity to manage their own needs.

5. The impact of a well goes beyond water

When we talk about water well projects, it is easy to think about their impact simply in terms of the amount of water they provide.

In reality, the impact can go much further.

When a water source is closer and easier to access, the time previously spent collecting or carrying water can be used for other activities.

For children, this time can be spent learning and attending school.

For women, the time saved can be spent with their families, working or engaging in income-generating activities.

For the wider community, better access to water can support improved hygiene, health and daily living conditions.

A well, therefore, does more than provide water.

It also provides time, opportunities and space for communities to build better lives.

6. Water, health and a better quality of life

Safe water is one of the foundations of a healthy life.

It is essential for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene. Without access to safe water sources, communities can face greater challenges in maintaining cleanliness and protecting their health.

That is why efforts to improve access to clean water often go hand in hand with hygiene and sanitation education.

A seemingly small change, such as having a more accessible water source, can make a significant difference to a family’s daily life.

From washing hands to preparing food, clean water plays a role in almost every aspect of everyday life.

7. From a single well to greater change

A well may seem like a simple facility.

But for communities that have long struggled to access water, it can become a starting point for greater change.

Access to water → time saved → improved hygiene → better health → greater opportunities to learn and work → more resilient communities.

This is why clean water projects need to be viewed in a broader context.

They are not simply about building wells or providing water facilities. They are about creating conditions that enable people to live safer, healthier and more dignified lives.

And the journey does not end when construction is completed.

It begins when the water starts flowing and continues as it benefits people’s lives, day after day.

What happens after a well is built?

So, what really happens after a well is built?

• The well is constructed.
• The water source is established and assessed.
• The community uses the facility and learns how to care for it.
• Maintenance is carried out to keep it functioning.
• The community benefits from improved access to water.

Most importantly, these benefits can hopefully continue to be felt, day after day.

Because the true purpose of a clean water project is not simply to build a well, but to ensure that water continues to benefit people.

Make your contribution part of the change

Every contribution to a water project carries a meaning far beyond the amount given.

It can be part of an effort to provide a water source for a family. It can help reduce the time needed to collect water. It can support better hygiene, health and daily life for an entire community.

Through the Dana Wakaf Sistem Air (DWAS), Islamic Relief Malaysia provides an opportunity for Malaysians to support efforts to improve access to clean water for communities in need in Somalia and Bangladesh.

For many of us, water is just the turn of a tap away.

But for those who still struggle to access water, a reliable water source can bring meaningful change.

Make your contribution part of a source of life that keeps flowing. Support the Dana Wakaf Sistem Air (DWAS) now.

In Edilpur village, Madhupur, Tangail district, 49-year-old Shaheb Ali has lived a life defined by hardship, chronic illness, and quiet resilience. As a daily wage labourer struggling with failing health, earning even a modest income is a daily battle, leaving his family trapped in a cycle of poverty.

Shaheb’s burdens run deep. Years ago, he lost his first wife to cancer because he couldn’t afford the medical treatment that might have saved her. Today, Shaheb lives in a small tin-roofed home with his second wife and their three young children. Despite his best efforts, his fragile income barely puts food on the table.

Yet, poverty was not their only trial, they had no access to safe drinking water.

The heavy burden of unsafe water

Without a clean water source nearby, Shaheb’s family faced an exhausting daily ordeal. Fetching water meant walking long, tiring distances, an unbearable strain on Shaheb’s weakened body, as well as on his wife and young children.

“The nearest tube well was too far… Walking long distances daily to fetch water was an unbearable burden for my family.”

Access to clean, safe drinking water isn’t just a convenience, it is a fundamental human right. Yet for Shaheb and thousands like him, it was a daily struggle for survival.

A lifeline of hope: Islamic Relief’s intervention

Recognizing the urgent need, Islamic Relief Bangladesh conducted a community consultation to identify households most in need. Supported by local elders and community members, Shaheb’s family was selected alongside nine others for a life-changing intervention.

Following a thorough needs assessment, Islamic Relief Bangladesh installed a deep-set pump tube well right near Shaheb’s doorstep. Today, 10 families enjoy immediate, daily access to clean, safe, and arsenic-free drinking water.

“The pain of walking far for water is gone,” says Shaheb, his voice filled with relief.

“My heart feels lighter now. It may seem like a small thing, but for us, this water has brought comfort and dignity into our lives. I am truly thankful to Islamic Relief. May Allah reward them for their kindness.”

Sustainable impact: The FWAB-V Project

Shaheb’s story is part of a larger mission. Through the “Facilitating Water Access in Northern Bangladesh (FWAB-V) Phase V” project funded by Islamic Relief Malaysia, vital water infrastructure was brought to two of the most water-stressed unions (Aushnara and Beribaid) in Madhupur Upazila.

To ensure long-term sustainability, the project delivered:

• 20 Inclusive Deep-Set Pumps: Providing safe, arsenic-free drinking water to disaster-vulnerable communities.
• Caretaker Training: 40 local caretakers were trained and equipped with repair toolboxes to maintain the water points independently.
• Hygiene & Sanitation Awareness: 200 community members participated in hygiene promotion sessions, raising awareness on safe water storage and handwashing practices to protect long-term public health.

Bring a ray of hope with your sadaqah jariyah

Shaheb Ali’s story is just one of millions. Across the globe, countess vulnerable families, women, and children still walk miles every day just to fetch a bucket of water that is often unsafe and contaminated.

Donate to the Dana Wakaf Sistem Air (DWAS)

Through the water system waqf fund, DWAS by Islamic Relief Malaysia, you can help build sustainable, long-lasting water solutions such as deep-set tube wells, solar-powered water systems, and filtration units for communities desperately in need.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was asked:

“Which charity is the best?” He replied: “PROVIDING WATER.”

(HR Abu Dawud)

Why Support the DWAS Waqf Fund?

• Continuous Sadaqah Jariyah: Earn ongoing rewards for every single drop of water used by families, children, and livestock.
• Restoring Health & Dignity: Protect poor families from waterborne diseases and relieve them of the exhausting daily burden of fetching water.
• Sustainable Community Impact: Allow children to attend school and parents to earn a living instead of spending hours searching for water.

Give you waqf and provide the gift of clean water and transform a life today.