As we observe International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Islamic Relief is proud to highlight some of the remarkable individuals with disabilities who are building a more inclusive society. Among them is Fatoumata, a determined Malian woman.

Fatoumata lives in the village of Magnambougou, in southwestern Mali. At 47 she has the busy life of a mother of 3 and be a dedicated wife who successfully juggles running a vibrant household with gardening and managing a small retail business to boost her family’s income.

Fatoumata’s life took an unexpected turn when she developed her disability during pregnancy, but she refuses to let this challenge hinder her contribution to her family and community.

“My disability is part of me, but it does not define my limits,” she says.

The way of life in Magnambougou follows a pattern that has lasted for centuries. The mainstays of income for many, including Fatoumata, are agriculture, gardening, and small-scale animal husbandry.

Fatoumata’s days are filled with the kind of activities that sustain not just her family but also the rest of her community: from cultivating her garden with crops like cabbage, tomatoes, and potatoes, to running a small shop that serves the everyday needs of her neighbours. She has transformed her small garden into a source of sustenance and joy.

At the heart of community action

Islamic Relief has had a profound impact on Fatoumata’s life, recognising her potential and empowering her. She now plays a pivotal role in devising projects for women’s advancement and brings the perspective of people with disabilities to the Magnambougou community action team.

The team’s work has had a positive impact, improving protection for vulnerable women and children, tackling gender-based violence, and providing comprehensive training on children’s rights, spousal rights, and the inclusion of people living with disabilities.

The impact of Fatoumata’s leadership is palpable within her community. Islamic Relief’s initiatives, with Fatoumata and other members of the community action team at their heart, have significantly reduced the violence and abuse once commonplace in Magnambougou. The efforts of faith leaders and community action teams have helped to improve harmony within families and communication between children and parents, leading to a more inclusive and supportive village environment.

Sustainable development in action

With a grant from Islamic Relief, Fatoumata bought a water pump, which has revolutionised the way she irrigates her garden and has improved both the yield and quality of her crops. This, in turn, has bolstered her small business, allowing her to record profits that contribute significantly to her family’s income.

“These activities are not just for financial gain,” Fatoumata says proudly, “They are a symbol of what people with disabilities can achieve with the right support.”

A call to deepen our commitment

This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Islamic Relief reaffirms its commitment to inclusivity and the empowerment of people living with disability. Fatoumata’s story is among many that demonstrate our commitment to lifting women out of poverty and helping them achieve financial autonomy.

By donating to Islamic Relief, you can help extend the reach of empowering projects that enable more people like Fatoumata to lead fulfilling lives. Your donation can break down barriers and build bridges toward a more inclusive future.

Help us to continue our vital work to change the narrative around women and disability, ensuring vulnerable women are empowered to transform their lives: please donate now.

As world leaders meet at COP28, Islamic Relief says the summit must finally deliver an unequivocal agreement to phase out the use of fossil fuels and limit global heating to 1.5 degrees.

This year has been the planet’s hottest year on record and climate change is plunging billions of people all over the world into poverty and increasing disasters that wipe out lives and livelihoods. 

Yet rich nations continue to approve new oil, gas and coal projects and producers seek more deals to increase demand and reliance on fossil fuels – despite previous commitments to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, beyond which the impact will be devastating and irreversible.

The UN Environment Programme warned last week that the world is now headed for a nightmare scenario of an increase of 3 degrees by the end of the century, as the richest and highest-polluting nations have failed to curb emissions. Countries need to cut emissions by at least 42% to meet the 1.5 degrees target.

Jamie Williams, Islamic Relief’s senior advisor on climate change, says:

“A rise in temperature of more than 1.5 degrees will be absolutely catastrophic. It is hard to believe that in the face of such clear scientific evidence, world leaders are repeatedly failing to take action and deliver on their promises, and in some cases continue to approve projects that will make things even worse. The world is fast running out of time – at COP28 we need to see real action not more empty words. The future of humanity is at stake. We must see a clear plan and timeline to phase out the use of fossil fuels.”

Islamic Relief is one of many organisations around the world to sign up to the call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty that halts the expansion of fossil fuels, phases out their use, and manages an equitable and just transition to sustainable energy sources that benefits the poorest in society.

Islamic Relief believes in climate justice – the highest-polluting nations who are most responsible for climate change must pay to protect people from its devastating effects. The world’s poorest and most marginalised people are the ones who are least responsible for climate change and yet are most affected by it.

At COP28 the highest-polluting nations must finally deliver on previous promises to help the poorest countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. At COP26 two years ago, world leaders pledged to double financing for adaptation yet since then funding for the poorest countries has actually decreased. Now even doubling is not enough, as tripling or more is needed to close the adaptation gap. And it must go to the right places – the 14 most affected and poorest countries, which have contributed least to global heating, are currently the 14 most underfunded for adaptation.

We are also calling for rich nations to ensure that the new Loss and Damage Fund is adequately funded, with clear annual targets and transparent and fair allocations. The fund must be comprehensive, addressing both economic and non-economic loss and damage resulting from extreme weather events and slow-onset disasters.

This climate financing must be in the form of grants, not loans that trap the poorest countries in even more debt. We are also calling for world leaders to ensure that adaptation plans are locally led.  

Jamie Williams says: “The COP28 discussions between countries shut out the people who are most affected. Yet adaptation efforts are most effective when they are led by and informed by local communities and their experiences and knowledge. The impact of climate change is exacerbated by structural inequalities and the world must do much more to ensure that women, youth, children, Indigenous people and other marginalised groups are at the heart of adaptation plans.”

Islamic Relief is calling for the Global Goal on Adaptation to be fully operationalised, with clear global targets and a permanent item on the agenda for COP and its subsidiary bodies, as well as a roadmap to at least double adaptation finance and support to help poor countries prepare and implement their National Adaptation Plans.

Shahin Ashraf, Islamic Relief Worldwide’s Head of Advocacy, says: “Justice demands that those with the means and responsibility must lead the way in finding urgent solutions. Funding the new Loss and Damage Fund is not merely an economic calculation but should be a moral obligation to address the deep injustices at the heart of the climate crisis. The cries for justice from the most affected communities across the world must be heard and answered. What meaningful justice can there be for those who have lost their lives in disasters that would not have happened on such a destructive scale if it were not for the actions of a few major polluters. As long as industry and governments continue to invest in oil and coal extraction, they are prioritising profit over people.”