MALAWI, 1 April 2026 – Hujan lebat berterusan antara 15 hingga 19 Mac telah mencetuskan banjir besar di beberapa daerah termasuk Daerah Chikwawa yang paling teruk terjejas.

Di Chikwawa, peningkatan paras air di Sungai Shire dan Sungai Mwanza telah mengakibatkan kehilangan nyawa, perpindahan keluarga, kemusnahan rumah, serta gangguan kepada laluan akses utama.

Jalan Chikwawa–Nsanje di Bereu Trading Centre masih tidak boleh dilalui, sekali gus mengehadkan akses bantuan kemanusiaan kepada komuniti terjejas.

Keperluan mendesak di lapangan termasuk tempat perlindungan sementara seperti kanvas (tarpaulin), khemah dan helaian plastik, selain bantuan makanan seperti tepung jagung, kacang, minyak masak, garam dan gula.

Keluarga yang terjejas juga memerlukan barangan keperluan asas bukan makanan seperti peralatan dapur, selimut, kelambu, sabun, klorin serta tandas kecemasan. Sokongan air, sanitasi dan kebersihan (WASH), khususnya bantuan sanitasi dan rawatan air, turut amat diperlukan.

Usaha respons oleh Islamic Relief sedang giat dijalankan. Pasukan Tindak Balas Kecemasan sedang melaksanakan penilaian keperluan lanjut dengan kerjasama Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS), serta menyertai penilaian antara agensi yang diketuai oleh Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) bersama rakan-rakan PBB.

Antara aktiviti yang dilaksanakan termasuk pengesahan isi rumah terjejas, pemantauan berterusan terhadap situasi semasa, serta perancangan untuk agihan bantuan makanan dan barangan bukan makanan.

Families in Lebanon are trapped in appalling conditions after being forced to leave their homes under bombardment and Israeli military evacuation orders, Islamic Relief says.

Hundreds of thousands of people – including elderly and sick people and young children – have been ordered to leave the south of the capital city, Beirut, and large parts of southern Lebanon and head north. Public shelters in communal buildings such as schools are becoming desperately overcrowded. Waves of intense airstrikes have hit homes and shops and turned parts of southern Beirut into rubble.

Mohammed Taleb, an Islamic Relief aid worker in Beirut, said:

“People are terrified and fleeing in panic, but the conditions in the shelters are appalling. Up to 25 people are sleeping in a classroom, there’s only one hour of electricity a day, rubbish is piling up, and there isn’t enough water. There are no locks on doors, which puts people at risk, especially women and girls. There is no heating and the nights are cold. We went to one shelter that can officially host 75 families, but 120 have already arrived. But these families are the lucky ones – many more people spent the night on the side of a road.”

Families forced to flee urgently require food, drinking water, hygiene kits, mattresses, blankets, and fuel for generators. Islamic Relief teams are delivering aid to displaced families but supplies are likely to run out in the coming week if the attacks and forced displacement orders continue.

Islamic Relief is calling for urgent de-escalation across the Middle East. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, in accordance with international law. People must not be forced to leave their homes, and must be assured safe access to humanitarian assistance.

The displacement orders issued by Israel yesterday mirror those previously seen in Gaza, where civilians were forced to immediately leave their homes without knowing whether they would ever be able to return. Many who did return found their neighbourhoods completely flattened. 

KAJANG, 23 Januari 2026 – Seramai 100 murid Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kajang, Bandar Kajang menerima set bantuan persekolahan menerusi program Cheer To School (CTS), satu inisiatif tahunan bagi membantu pelajar daripada keluarga memerlukan.

Program ini ditaja sepenuhnya oleh Maybank Islamic dengan kerjasama Islamic Relief Malaysia (IR Malaysia) sebagai rakan pelaksana. Penerima manfaat terdiri daripada murid Tahap 1 dan Tahap 2 yang dikenal pasti memerlukan sokongan dari segi kelengkapan persekolahan.

Antara barangan yang diterima oleh setiap murid ialah beg sekolah, set alat tulis, fail, botol air, pensil warna, bekas pensil, bekas makanan serta baucar bernilai RM100 bagi pembelian keperluan tambahan seperti pakaian sekolah, kasut dan stokin.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Islamic Relief Malaysia, Siti Fadilah Mohd Hood berkata, program ini diharap dapat meringankan beban ibu bapa serta memberi suntikan semangat kepada pelajar untuk terus cemerlang dalam pelajaran.

“Kami berharap bantuan Cheer To School ini dapat memberi kelegaan kepada ibu bapa serta membuka ruang kepada pelajar untuk memulakan sesi persekolahan dengan lebih yakin dan bermotivasi,” katanya.

Beliau menambah, selain kelengkapan sekolah, baucar yang diberikan memberi peluang kepada keluarga untuk melengkapkan barangan persekolahan anak-anak mengikut keperluan masing-masing.

Sementara itu, Penyelaras Unit Bantuan dan Kebajikan SK Kajang, Wan Zuraifah Wan Abdullah berkata, majoriti murid di sekolah tersebut datang daripada keluarga asnaf dan berpendapatan rendah.

“Anak-anak ini memang bersungguh-sungguh untuk belajar, cuma mereka berdepan kekangan kewangan. Ada yang masih memakai baju dan beg sekolah abang atau kakak, dan ada juga dalam kalangan mereka adalah anak yatim,” katanya.

Menurut beliau, sumbangan itu jelas membawa kegembiraan kepada murid-murid yang menerimanya.

“SK Kajang sangat berbesar hati dan mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada Maybank Islamic serta Islamic Relief Malaysia dan semua pihak yang terlibat,” tambahnya.

Seorang penerima maanfaat, Amira, murid Tahun 3, meluahkan rasa gembira menerima kelengkapan sekolah tersebut.

“Mak saya kerja pengasuh budak, ayah kerja penjaga. Saya seronok sangat dapat barang-barang sekolah ni. Boleh kongsi dengan adik,” katanya.

Secara keseluruhan, Maybank Islamic menaja seramai 1,450 pelajar di lima negeri iaitu Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah dan Sarawak, melibatkan lebih 30 buah sekolah.

Program CTS terus menjadi antara inisiatif penting bagi IR Malaysia dalam memastikan akses pendidikan yang lebih saksama kepada pelajar daripada golongan kurang berkemampuan di Malaysia.

TIRANA, 12 Januari 2026 — Islamic Relief telah menggerakkan respons kecemasan susulan banjir besar yang berlaku akibat hujan lebat berterusan di beberapa wilayah di Albania sejak awal Januari.

Banjir tersebut telah menjejaskan Durrës, Lezhë, Fier, Vlorë dan Gjirokastër, mengakibatkan jalan raya, kampung serta kawasan pertanian ditenggelami air, sekali gus mendorong operasi pemindahan dan menyelamat oleh pihak berkuasa tempatan.

Angkatan Tentera Albania dan struktur Kecemasan Awam turut digerakkan bagi menyokong pengurusan banjir, usaha pemindahan serta tindak balas infrastruktur di kawasan terjejas.

Dengan paras air sungai yang masih tinggi serta risiko banjir kilat berterusan, Islamic Relief Albania bekerjasama rapat dengan pihak berkuasa tempatan untuk menilai keadaan dan mengenal pasti keperluan kemanusiaan yang mendesak.

Pasukan Islamic Relief Albania telah mengunjungi Durrës, Vlorë, Shkodër dan Gjirokastër, dan mula menyalurkan bantuan kepada keluarga terjejas melalui pengagihan 180 pek makanan dan 180 kit kebersihan.

Walaupun keadaan telah mula stabil di beberapa kawasan berikutan pemberhentian sementara hujan, Durrës kekal sebagai kawasan paling terjejas, dengan banyak rumah dan jalan raya masih ditenggelami air akibat masalah sistem saliran, dan Islamic Relief Albania terus mengutamakan bantuan kecemasan kepada keluarga yang terkesan di kawasan tersebut.

In a crisis that has stripped millions of their basic rights, Khatmala’s community kitchen proves that humanity survives even when systems collapse.

In Gedaref’s internally displaced persons camps, Khatmala runs a ‘takaaya’ – a community kitchen – where she provides and shares food and drink, that have become lifelines for those who have lost everything.

“I fetch water, get the ice ready, and then people start coming,” she says. “My joy never fades. I just keep talking with people, I don’t like to sit idle.”

In a nation where more than 12 million have been displaced and over 30 million people need humanitarian assistance, Khatmala’s takaaya has become something extraordinary – the difference between life and starvation for people in Sudan.

What happens when every right disappears

The long running conflict in Sudan has created what the UN calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Over 80% of healthcare facilities are closed, food production has collapsed and there famine-like conditions being reported from multiple regions.

For women and girls, the conflict has been devastating.

More than 12 million live at risk of gender-based violence. Sexual violence has become a systematic weapon of war with widespread and horrific reports of women being forced into sexual slavery, gang rapes and the assault of children.

Simply being female in Sudan, as UN Women puts it, is “a strong predictor of hunger, violence and death.”

The fundamental rights in the Universal Declaration – life, security, food, shelter, freedom from torture – have been obliterated for millions.

This is the context in which Khatmala serves tea each morning.

A true community kitchen

Takaayas in Sudan represent something profound: when institutions fail, communities become the last line of defence.

“Every Friday, I cook breakfast and sometimes lunch,” Khatmala explains. Camp police help when they can. Neighbours contribute what little they have. “Everyone comes and eats. You have to extend your hand to others.”

Before Islamic Relief’s support, conditions were harsh.

“When it rained, I sat there soaking wet,” she remembers. The organisation brought a tent, sheeting, supplies. “Now I’m covered. Now I can do more.”

The support represented more than materials, it was recognition. Her work matters.

“I can’t ignore a hungry person. If I see a neighbour’s child who hasn’t eaten, I share what I have. That’s just God’s mercy.

“I try to give what I can, so I don’t forget the blessings I receive,” she reflects. “When you eat from what God gives, remember those who have less.” 

When the world looks away

Islamic Relief’s first ever intervention was responding to famine in Sudan in 1984 – Over 4 decades later and we are still here. In the past 2 years alone, Islamic Relief has reached more than 1.2 million people with vital humanitarian aid including food, water, medical support, dignity kits, and support for initiatives like Khatmala’s kitchen.

The gap between need and response is catastrophic, however. Without urgent action, Sudan risks total state collapse, a nightmare with massive regional consequences. Without proper funding and without political will to end the conflict, millions more will be pushed past the brink.

When asked what message she would give to people beyond Sudan, Khatmala says: “I just want to tell people: do good. We don’t need to brag – just say, ‘Alhamdulillah, we helped.’ Even a handful of dirt, if given sincerely, is valuable to God.

“Whatever you can give, we accept with open hearts. We just want your kindness, your good words, your prayers.”

The work that cannot wait

Khatmala’s story offers an urgent reminder: human rights aren’t abstract principles. They are fundamentals. They are the difference between life and death.

This Human Rights Day marks the end of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, we need to celebrate and support community leaders like Khatmala. We need to ensure women’s participation in peace processes and hold perpetrators accountable. Transform pledges into resources that actually reach people.

Crucially we need to view people like Khatmala clearly, not as helpless victims, but as architects of their own survival, deserving partnership and support.

Islamic Relief has been supporting vulnerable communities in Sudan for over 40 years. To support our lifesaving work and help women like Khatmala continue serving their communities, please donate to our International Emergency Appeal today.

Dr Masih Farahimi leaves for work each day fearing arrest simply for being a woman. Yet she continues to show up, knowing that pregnant mothers and newborns depend on her presence. Her story reveals both the crushing weight of gender-based restrictions and the unbreakable spirit of Afghan women refusing to disappear.

“Every day when we leave the house, we despair that we might be arrested for being a woman and not returned back.”

Dr Masih Farahimi speaks these words with quiet intensity. A medical doctor working as a midwife with Islamic Relief’s Hira Project since March 2020, Dr Farahmi embodies a paradox that defines life for countless Afghan women: continuing to serve her community whilst living under restrictions designed to erase her from public life entirely.

As the world marks 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, Dr Masih’s reality demands our attention. One in 3 women around the world experience violence, but for Afghan women, the violence isn’t just physical. It’s systemic, structural, and suffocating.

The daily calculation

Dr Masih works full time in a maternity ward, focusing on antenatal care, postnatal care, and family planning services. Basic healthcare that saves lives. Yet reaching work requires navigating a maze of restrictions that would break most people.

She is forced to travel with a mahram (a male guardian) almost everywhere; There is a constant dress code to adhere to; Training or meetings outside the province are often forbidden.

Dr Masih has to make the same mental calculation each morning: is the risk worth it?

“We don’t have security,” she explains simply. The understatement masks a profound truth. Since August 2021, Afghanistan has implemented increasingly severe restrictions on women.

In December 2024, authorities banned women from studying medicine, nursing, or midwifery, closing some of their last pathways to professional healthcare roles. Earlier that year, a new law formalised existing restrictions and introduced fresh ones, including prohibiting women from speaking aloud in public.

For female health workers like Dr Masih, these restrictions create impossible situations. Nearly 90% of medical staff in earthquake-affected regions are men. When disasters strike, women and girls comprise over half the casualties but face critical barriers accessing care. Male doctors cannot examine them under strict social codes. Female doctors are vanishingly rare and increasingly restricted.

 What keeps her going

“The need of the people, especially women and children, motivates me,” Dr Masih says. “Many of them depend on our presence for basic healthcare and awareness. Knowing that I can make even a small difference gives me strength to keep going.”

“Even then, it’s hard.” She adds.

The mental and emotional toll of working under such conditions is immense. Female-friendly spaces where women could gather and support each other have closed. Dr Masih copes by staying home when mentally exhausted, spending time with other women, sitting with family, and trying to think positively.

“I believe that the situation will eventually change for the better, inshallah,” she says, her faith evident, despite everything.

The ripple effects

The restrictions don’t only harm female health workers. They devastate the entire healthcare system and the communities it serves. Afghanistan now has 1 of the world’s largest workforce gender gaps. Just 1 in 4 women is working or seeking work, compared to nearly 90% of men.

Dr Masih shares an example: “I know a woman who suffers from haemorrhoids but is not allowed to go to the hospital because there is no female doctor or surgeon available. Her husband also refuses to let a male doctor examine her.”

The woman suffers in silence, denied care because of her gender.

It is a story repeated across Afghanistan, where women’s access to healthcare has become increasingly difficult. Fear, mobility restrictions, education bans, and systemic discrimination keep women and girls from getting the care they need.

A different kind of violence

This is gender-based violence. Not always physical, but violence, nonetheless. It is the deliberate erasure of women from education, employment, and public life. The systematic denial of their autonomy, their voice, their right to exist fully in society.

The UN has stated these restrictions may constitute crimes against humanity. Yet women like Dr Masih continue showing up, providing care, refusing to be erased.

Dr Masih’s requests are straightforward: more flexibility around travel restrictions and access to training, safe transportation options for female staff, more community sensitisation and an increase in mental health support.

“These would make a big difference,” she states.

But her deeper hopes go further.

“I hope all these restrictions will be lifted and women will be allowed to make decisions about their own lives. Schools and universities should reopen. We should not be punished further simply because of our gender. I want my rights to be respected as a human being and not to be deprived of my basic freedoms.”

The strength to continue

“I am a very strong woman, alhamdulillah,” Dr Masih says.

This is not bravado. It is survival. It’s the strength of every woman who continues working despite restrictions designed to stop her.

Islamic Relief continues to support healthcare workers like Dr Masih through projects like Hira, providing safe and supportive work environments despite enormous challenges. The organisation tries to create inclusive environments for female staff, ensuring they work with dignity and respect even as the broader context makes this increasingly difficult.

“Despite the current restrictions, I find the Islamic Relief workplace relatively safe and supportive,” she reflects. “My team always ensures we work with dignity and respect.”

In a country where being a woman in public can lead to arrest, where speaking aloud is forbidden, where education and employment are systematically denied, Dr Masih continues to serve. Not because it’s easy. Not because it’s safe. But because lives depend on it.

That’s not just resilience. That’s revolutionary hope in action.

As we mark the 16 Days of Activism, Dr Masih’s story reminds us that solidarity requires more than sympathy. It demands action. Afghan women haven’t given up. Neither should the international community.

Islamic Relief stands with women and girls facing violence and discrimination worldwide. During the 16 Days of Activism and every day, we remain committed to supporting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of all people. Support our work today and donate.

The morning routine begins early for Iman in Grozny, Chechnya. When most teenagers hit snooze on their alarms, 15-year-old Iman is already awake, performing her upper body exercises before logging into her online classes. Confined to a wheelchair due to spinal trauma, Iman has structured her days around what she can control – her education, her determination, and now, her flourishing career as a nail artist.

“The main challenge I face in my daily life is the inability to walk and be self-reliant in the simplest activities that other people can afford without any efforts,” Iman says. “I am greatly obliged to my parents for their patience and love.”

Yet this young woman from Chechnya is rewriting what independence looks like.

A turning point

A friend had shared information about Islamic Relief’s free vocational training programme for people with disabilities through WhatsApp, Iman saw the opportunity and never looked back.

For a family where the sole breadwinner is Iman’s 21-year-old brother Muslim (who works in airport security) and where medical expenses for Iman’s regular rehabilitation courses and operations constantly strain resources, this felt almost destined.

“I like it very much to draw, that’s why we decided that I should take manicure classes,” Iman explains. Her mother Razet called Islamic Relief for details, and soon they were invited to the first lesson. “It was great!” Iman recalls.

From student to business owner

What Islamic Relief provided went beyond the expected. Iman didn’t just acquire manicure and pedicure skills – she received all the equipment and materials needed to open her own studio. Income from Muslim’s salary, Iman’s disability pension, and her mother’s small carer’s allowance are often not enough to cover monthly costs, this support from Islamic Relief helped transform possibility into reality.

“It is a great thing to be able to work and earn something yourself!” Iman says with pride.

The work demands excellence. Building a client base requires not just technical skill but trust, reliability, and the ability to deliver results that keep customers coming back. For someone who must navigate daily life from a wheelchair, each client appointment represents a small victory – over societal assumptions, over logistical challenges, over the limitations others might impose.

Iman’s first income – 6,900 roubles (approximately RM415) – represents far more than its monetary value. It’s proof of capability, evidence of independence, and validation that her worth isn’t defined by her disability.

The power of belief

“Our teacher is a great person, she inspired us so much and welcomed all our efforts,” Iman remembers. “This made us sure we would succeed”

This belief – from her instructor, from her family and supported by Islamic Relief – has been transformative. In a world where people with disabilities face unemployment rates as high as 80% in some countries and assumptions about capability often precede any assessment of actual ability, Iman’s story challenges every limiting narrative.

She studies online in Year 9, managing her education despite regular interruptions for medical treatment. She maintains morning exercise routines. She builds a business. She does all of this whilst relying entirely on others for basic mobility.

“I saw many people who cannot use their legs, but they use their brain and hands to be useful to the society,” Iman reflects.

Building community, not just business

For Iman, the vocational training programme delivered unexpected gifts alongside the practical skills. “I have gained skills and met many good friends! I have received a lot of good memories!” she says.

This social dimension matters profoundly.

“I don’t like it to be alone, I like people and communication,” Iman explains.

The programme created what all good disability inclusion initiatives should: not a separate space for people with disabilities, but an environment where they could learn, grow, and build community together whilst developing skills.

Looking forward with hope

“Insha’Allah, I will continue to work as a nail master, since I like it very much,” Iman says of her future. Her aspirations are to continue doing the work she loves and to maintain the independence she’s worked so hard to build.

She’s practical about improvements too, suggesting that training facilities could benefit from more spacious rooms and stationary ramp entrances – the kind of accessibility features that demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusion.

Her message to Islamic Relief carries the gratitude of someone who understands exactly what was given: not charity, but opportunity. “I would like to thank people in the Islamic Relief who thought of this kind of project. Such attitude gives people with disabilities a chance to become more skilled and make their dreams come true!”

 What real support looks like

As the world marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Iman’s story reminds us that leadership comes in many forms.

Sometimes it looks like a 15-year-old girl in Grozny, building a business from a wheelchair, proving that determination and opportunity can overcome obstacles that once seemed insurmountable.

Her hands may create beautiful nails, but her story paints an even more beautiful picture – of resilience, of family support, of organisational commitment, and of a young woman refusing to let disability define the boundaries of her life.

This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Islamic Relief Worldwide celebrates individuals like Iman who lead through their courage, determination, and refusal to accept limitations. Their leadership lights the path towards a truly inclusive and sustainable future for all. Support our work and help us provide opportunities for more people like Iman, donate today.

The scorching sun beats down on Camp-4 in Kutupalong, Bangladesh, home to more than 35,000 Rohingya refugees who fled unspeakable violence in Myanmar. Among them is 36-year-old Nasima, whose story reveals the particular vulnerabilities women face in humanitarian crises.

As we mark 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we share the story of Nasima, a Rohingya refugee whose journey from persecution to resilience reminds us why safe shelter is a fundamental right for all women and girls.

When home becomes a memory

In December 2017, Nasima’s world collapsed. The Myanmar army’s brutal campaign against the Rohingya forced her family to make an impossible choice: stay and face persecution, or flee into the unknown. Like nearly 1 million others, Nasima chose survival, but it came at a devastating cost.

During their desperate escape, Myanmar soldiers opened fire on Nasima’s family. The bullets found their mark, leaving her with severe injuries that would alter the course of her life. The physical wounds were profound, but the invisible scars ran deeper still. The trauma shattered not only her body but her sense of safety in the world.

Today, Nasima lives with her 6-year-old daughter Yasmin in a refugee camp where nearly 8,000 families grapple with the daily struggle for survival. With no source of income and limited mobility due to her injuries, Nasima embodies the vulnerabilities that women in humanitarian settings face – vulnerabilities that the 16 Days of Activism campaign seeks to address.

The weight of unsafe shelter

For 2 years, Nasima and Yasmin were forced to live in a deteriorating bamboo shelter. The structure, ravaged by weather and termites, offered little more than a symbolic roof over their heads. Damaged tarpaulins provided scant protection against the region’s punishing sun and monsoon rains. The flimsy fencing was no barrier at all.

“I used to live in a small bamboo shelter, and I was always sceptical about its durability,” Nasima recalls. “Whenever there was a strong wind, I feared that the shelter might not withstand it.”

This constant state of fear is something women in crisis settings know well. When your home cannot protect you from the elements, you are vulnerable to everything. For women like Nasima – living with physical disabilities and mental trauma – an unstable shelter exacerbates the daily challenges of camp life and increases exposure to gender-based violence.

The dignity of safe shelter

Hope arrived in January 2023 when Islamic Relief launched the Integrated WASH and Shelter Assistance Project (InSAP) in Camp-4. Through careful assessment, Islamic Relief identified the families most in need – those whose shelters had become dangerous rather than protective. Nasima qualified for the programme, receiving more than just materials.

Islamic Relief built a new shelter for Nasima. Strong bamboo replaced rotting posts. Secure tarpaulins replaced tattered sheets. A proper structure replaced a precarious assemblage. For the first time since fleeing Myanmar, Nasima and Yasmin had a home that could protect them.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from Islamic Relief Bangladesh,” Nasima says, her voice carrying relief. “This new shelter provides a sense of security and comfort we haven’t experienced in years. It’s a life-changing intervention that we won’t forget.”

Islamic Relief also provided mosquito nets to protect against disease, Qurbani meat during celebrations, winter clothes against the cold, and Ramadan food parcels. But as this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign reminds us, women’s safety requires sustained investment and commitment.

The transformative power of aid

As we observe the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Nasima’s journey from a bullet-riddled escape to a safe shelter reminds us of our collective responsibility. Nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide experiences violence in their lifetime. In humanitarian emergencies, these risks intensify.

Safe shelter is both practical intervention and powerful statement: every woman and girl deserves protection, dignity, and the chance to live without fear. Nasima’s resilience shows us what becomes possible when humanitarian assistance recognises the specific vulnerabilities women face and responds with comprehensive, compassionate support.

Shelter to Nasima and Yasmin represent more than walls and a roof, it symbolises a future where safety for women is not a luxury, but a fundamental right.

This 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Islamic Relief Worldwide stands with women and girls facing violence, displacement, and insecurity worldwide. Together, we can build a future where every woman has access to safety, dignity, and hope. Donate now to help women and girls like Nasima and Yasmin.

Editor’s note: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault and violence that some may find disturbing.

In Kapoeta North County, South Sudan, Nanyait carries a story that thousands of women know too well – a story of violence sanctioned by culture, trauma compounded by rejection, and survival that demands more courage than most will ever need.

At 34, Nanyait is rebuilding her life a small step at a time. But the journey to where she stands today, as an independent businesswoman and mother, required surviving what no woman should ever endure.

When culture condones violence

Married at just 14 years old, Nanyait spent decades in a marriage marked by abuse and hard labour. As she grew older, her husband grew tired of her. What happened next reveals the brutal reality of harmful practices that masquerade as tradition.

Her husband arranged for 2 men to sexually assault her – a cruel practice in some Toposa communities where older wives are sometimes given to other men. In Nanyait’s case, it wasn’t consensual. It was orchestrated violence.

When Nanyait discovered she was pregnant as a result of the assault, her husband’s response was to cast her out completely – abandoning her while pregnant and denying her access to their 3 children. When she fled, the children followed her, trying to stay with their mother, but her husband threatened her and forced her to stay away from them.

She returned to her family’s home with nothing, carrying not just a child but the weight of a community’s judgment.

“I had lost hope,” Nanyait recalls. “At my age, returning to my family house was really shameful, but I had nowhere to go.

“Worst was my husband refusing me to have access to my kids. I’m even talking to you because you’re not one of the community members. I have become a laughingstock. People call me names.”

In South Sudan’s patriarchal communities and particularly among pastoral groups in Kapoeta, women have no voice. Deep-rooted beliefs that view women as property and sources of wealth fuel forced and early marriages. When violence occurs, women are blamed. When they speak out, they face being cast out.

A space to heal and a chance to rebuild

A neighbour’s referral changed everything. At Islamic Relief South Sudan’s Women and Girls Friendly Space, Nanyait found what her own community had denied her: safety, dignity and support.

The project’s staff provided crucial counselling and connected her with antenatal services. During routine testing, Nanyait discovered she was HIV-positive, another devastating blow, but this time she wasn’t alone. She received ongoing counselling and was enrolled in skills-building classes.

“To everyone I was a laughingstock, but Islamic Relief and this place is the only place I feel comfortable in because we are many women and we share our stories,” Nanyait explains.

“We cry together and laugh together. When I’m here I feel so happy, so I don’t miss any classes.”

At the centre, Nanyait developed practical skills, like knitting bedsheets and creating beadwork. More importantly, she found her voice again. She started to sell her handmade items, then used the income to open a small shop selling cooking oil, salt, onions and other essentials. Today, she supports herself and her young child independently.

Why this work matters more than ever

Nanyait’s story is sadly not unique. Across South Sudan, harmful cultural practices continue to devastate women’s lives. Gender-based violence thrives in communities where men hold absolute power and women are systematically marginalised in decision-making and denied access to resources.

Through the PROGRESS II project, Islamic Relief South Sudan has reached 13,500 individuals across Kapoeta North County and Kapoeta East County communities ravaged by successive droughts and conflicts. The project has provided gender-based violence awareness to more than 1,970 women, and case management services to 150 survivors.

But awareness alone isn’t enough. Real change requires challenging social norms, working with faith and community leaders, and advocating alongside government partners to dismantle the structures that enable violence against women.

“I thank Islamic Relief for loving us and making us feel human again when our own people left us,” Nanyait says.

Women subjected to violence don’t need pity – they need safe spaces, practical support, economic empowerment and communities brave enough to name harmful practices for what they are.

As we mark the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, Nanyait’s transformation from victim to survivor to independent businesswoman reminds us that change is urgent but possible. When women are given the tools, support and space to rebuild their lives, they don’t just survive – they reclaim their power.

Every woman deserves what Nanyait found: a place where her voice matters, her trauma is acknowledged, and her future belongs to her alone.

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BANGI, 15 November 2025 – Islamic Relief Malaysia (IR Malaysia) hari ini telah melangsungkan acara Finale of Charity Week Malaysia 2025, bagi meraikan pencapaian para sukarelawan serta institusi yang terlibat sepanjang pelaksanaan kempen Charity Week tahun ini.

Majlis diserikan dengan kehadiran Dato’ Sri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman, Pengerusi Lembaga Pemegang Amanah IR Malaysia, bersama ahli Lembaga Pemegang Amanah iaitu Datuk Nur Iskandar A. Samad dan Profesor Dato’ Ir. Ts. Dr. Hj. Othman A. Karim.

Turut hadir, Siti Fadilah Mohd Hood, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif IR Malaysia, barisan pengurusan kanan IR Malaysia serta wakil Charity Week Malaysia diketuai Nur Athirah Sharim, Pengarah Charity Week Malaysia bersama pasukan Team Shura Charity Week Malaysia 2025.

Charity Week: Gerakan Global, Misi Menyatukan Ummah

Charity Week merupakan sebuah kempen global yang digerakkan sepenuhnya oleh sukarelawan dengan satu visi besar iaitu menyatukan Ummah melalui aktiviti kebajikan.

Bermula pada tahun 2003 di sebuah universiti di London, inisiatif ini kini berkembang menjadi gerakan antarabangsa yang disertai peserta dari seluruh dunia.

Pada tahun ini, Charity Week berjaya menggerakkan sukarelawan dari 9 negara, termasuk Malaysia, Qatar, Jerman, United Kingdom, Amerika Syarikat, Kanada, Afrika Selatan, Pakistan dan Ireland demi membantu anak yatim dan kanak-kanak yang memerlukan.

Di Malaysia, sebanyak 17 institusi telah menyertai Charity Week 2025 dan melaksanakan pelbagai aktiviti kreatif seperti charity sale, charity hiking, fun walk, fun run, charity sport, paddle for hope dan pelbagai inisiatif komuniti melibatkan keluarga, rakan-rakan, kumpulan serta organisasi setempat bermula 20 hingga 26 Oktober 2025.

 

Dana Disalurkan untuk Membantu Anak Yatim dan Kanak-Kanak Memerlukan

Dana yang dikumpulkan melalui Charity Week akan disalurkan kepada projek-projek yang memberi manfaat kepada anak yatim dan kanak-kanak yang memerlukan dalam sektor pendidikan, kesihatan, perlindungan dan kebajikan.

Pada tahun 2024, dana Charity Week Malaysia digunakan bagi menyediakan Keperluan dan Peralatan Pembelajaran dan Pemudahcaraan (PdPC) di SK Nanga Kesit, Lubok Antu, Sarawak termasuk portable speaker dan stand, mikrofon, Android TV, Smart TV, skrin putih dan projector stand.

Dato’ Sri Syed Saleh dalam ucapannya berkata, “Sumbangan Charity Week Malaysia akan diperuntukkan bagi membina jeti terapung di SK Logongon, Nabawan, Sabah, bertujuan memudahkan perjalanan harian 96 pelajar, 15 guru dan kira-kira 600 penduduk kampung ke sekolah dengan lebih selamat.

“Kita mencari rezeki melalui apa yang kita dapat, tetapi kita membina kehidupan melalui apa yang kita beri. Itu impaknya lebih hebat, lebih luar biasa.

“Saya percaya seluruh waktu kita bersama sepanjang Charity Week selama tujuh hari, telah merealisasikan kata-kata hikmah ini.”

Beliau turut merakamkan penghargaan kepada semua sukarelawan, institusi, rakan kerjasama dan masyarakat yang telah menjayakan kempen tahun ini.

Selain projek tempatan, sebahagian dana Charity Week Malaysia juga disalurkan kepada kempen Rayuan Palestin IR Malaysia bagi membantu penduduk Gaza.

Antara institusi atau kumpulan yang menyertai Charity Week Malaysia 2025 ialah DBE BAK Kolej Vokasional Beaufort, Kelab Harmoni UKM, Incredible Hearts, Kelab Penyayang UiTM Shah Alam, Kelab Penyayang USIM, Masjid Al Falah Shah Alam, MPP & BAI Kolej Vokasional Beaufort, Pizzan Pizza, Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Al Aziz Shah, ICEPS, Sea Gypsies T20, Darwish Clan, Sumo Wonder, Sukarelawan Zakat UiTM Melaka (SUZA), Uni Charity Society, Family Hauk dan MY Shura.

Penghargaan dan Anugerah Charity Week Malaysia 2025

Majlis turut menyaksikan penyampaian sijil penyertaan dan cenderahati kepada semua institusi serta penyampaian empat anugerah utama:

• The Fresh Impact Award: Kolej Vokasional Beaufort, Sabah
• Inspiring Future Award: Kelab Penyayang USIM
• The Most Hyped Award: Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
• Best Display of Unity Award: Sukarelawan Zakat UiTM Melaka (SUZA)

 

Berkat kesungguhan dan dedikasi para sukarelawan, keseluruhan jumlah dana yang berjaya dikumpulkan tahun ini ialah sebanyak RM14,054.72.

Perjalanan Seorang Penggerak Charity Week

Bagi National Director Charity Week Malaysia, Nur Athirah Sharim, beliau turut berkongsi pengalaman, “Saya bermula sebagai peserta Charity Week pada 2023. Dengan berbekalkan apa yang ada, saya dan rakan-rakan empat orang, kami menjual keropok roda RM1 satu pek kepada rakan-rakan sekelas setiap hari, dan dalam tempoh seminggu, kami berjaya mengumpul lebih RM400.

“Tahun 2024, saya diberi amanah sebagai Institution Support, dan tahun ini saya menggalas amanah sebagai Pengarah Charity Week Malaysia.

“Alhamdulillah, saya melihat semakin ramai yang mengenali Charity Week dan penyertaan institusi baru juga meningkat. Saya berharap tahun hadapan gerakan ini akan berkembang lebih besar dan terus membuka mata masyarakat untuk prihatin dan membantu mereka yang memerlukan.”

Lima Tahun Charity Week di Malaysia

Charity Week Malaysia 2025 merupakan pelaksanaan tahun kelima sejak diperkenalkan di Malaysia pada 2021. Dengan sokongan para sukarelawan, institusi pendidikan, rakan komuniti dan masyarakat, kempen ini terus menjadi platform yang menyatukan Ummah melalui kasih sayang, perpaduan dan kepedulian.

IR Malaysia mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan kepada semua pihak yang telah menjayakan kempen ini. Semoga usaha murni ini terus menjadi asbab kebaikan yang berkekalan.