As the Syria crisis enters its 12^th year, the plight of the Syrian people continues to worsen.

Previously described as the “worst man-made disaster the world has seen since World War II,” by then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the crisis has devastated the people of Syria.

The crisis has forced an unprecedented number of people to flee their homes in what has become the largest displacement crisis in the world. Nearly 5.6 million registered refugees – including more than 2.6 million children – now live in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Türkiye.

Meanwhile 1.3 million Syrians are seeking safety in Jordan, including Osama, who is from Homs in Western Syria.

Part of a big family

Osama was living as part of a large family unit with his 8 brothers and 3 sisters. But when the crisis began, the close knit-family were ripped apart as they fled the country.

“You lose everyone – not losing them to death, [but because] we were all displaced.” Osama tells us. “I do not wish for any other country go through harm [like that in Syria], because its people go through difficult days.”

Osama initially struggled with life in Jordan.

“We went through a cold winter with heavy rain, and strong winds. As I am a person with a disability, going through those phases was very hard on me, but I had it in me to make it.”

It also took Osama time to get to grips with the differences in the language between Syria and Jordan, but through patience and hard work he was able to settle in Al-Karak and pursue his passions.

Inspiring others with disabilities

Since an early age, Osama’s passion in life has been acting:

“Acting is my passion and my hobby; you will always see me in theatre where I have volunteered alongside humanitarian organisations. When others notice my work coming from someone with a disability, someone who is working, directing, and writing a professional way with a meaningful message to spread, they eventually fall in love with my work. My goal is to give motivate and inspire others with disabilities.”

To fund his passion, Osama took a job working in a shoe shop but still life in Jordan is tough. Sometimes he struggles to afford rent and medication, often Osama is forced to sell items on the street to be able to afford the basics.

During this time, Osama also got married. He now has 2 children, with another on the way.

“I will do anything in my power just to make my family happy, to have a normal life like everyone else and to take them away from all the destruction that I have experienced.”

Due to the spiralling costs of education for his children, Osama needed more help and thankfully, a friend passed along details of the work Islamic Relief is doing to support refugees in Jordan.

Much needed support

Osama had the idea of setting up a home appliance store, where he could sell household items like teacups, plates, trays and cutlery.

After filling out an application form and attending an interview, Osama was accepted into the ‘Enhancing Access to Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods Opportunities for Women and Youth’ programme.

“Directly after the interview they called me and asked me to come for training, can you imagine that? They care about people.

“Islamic Relief train you on how to build your project. We took a course delivered by very intelligent people and we received funding for the project itself, after my work plan was approved. We held a completion ceremony where we received certificates for completing Talal Abu Ghazalieh’s Training Academy.”

After completing his training and receiving funding from Islamic Relief, Osama opened the ‘Rose for Home Appliances’ store, named after his sister, “Although she’s far away from me now, my sister is so dear to my heart.

“In the end, I want to thank Islamic Relief from the bottom of my heart. My wish is that Islamic Relief never stops supporting people – not just for me, but some people are still in need for support and help.”

Islamic Relief remains a lifeline to vulnerable people as Syria marks 12 long, terrible years of crisis. With your support, Islamic Relief will continue our vital work: donate to our Save Syria now.

As the Syria crisis enters its 12^th year, the plight of the Syrian people continues to worsen.

Previously described as the “worst man-made disaster the world has seen since World War II,” by then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the crisis has devastated the people of Syria.

The crisis has forced an unprecedented number of people to flee their homes in what has become the largest displacement crisis in the world. Nearly 5.6 million registered refugees – including more than 2.6 million children – now live in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Türkiye.

Meanwhile 1.3 million Syrians are seeking safety in Jordan, including Osama, who is from Homs in Western Syria.

Part of a big family

Osama was living as part of a large family unit with his 8 brothers and 3 sisters. But when the crisis began, the close knit-family were ripped apart as they fled the country.

“You lose everyone – not losing them to death, [but because] we were all displaced.” Osama tells us. “I do not wish for any other country go through harm [like that in Syria], because its people go through difficult days.”

Osama initially struggled with life in Jordan.

“We went through a cold winter with heavy rain, and strong winds. As I am a person with a disability, going through those phases was very hard on me, but I had it in me to make it.”

It also took Osama time to get to grips with the differences in the language between Syria and Jordan, but through patience and hard work he was able to settle in Al-Karak and pursue his passions.

Inspiring others with disabilities

Since an early age, Osama’s passion in life has been acting:

“Acting is my passion and my hobby; you will always see me in theatre where I have volunteered alongside humanitarian organisations. When others notice my work coming from someone with a disability, someone who is working, directing, and writing a professional way with a meaningful message to spread, they eventually fall in love with my work. My goal is to give motivate and inspire others with disabilities.”

To fund his passion, Osama took a job working in a shoe shop but still life in Jordan is tough. Sometimes he struggles to afford rent and medication, often Osama is forced to sell items on the street to be able to afford the basics.

During this time, Osama also got married. He now has 2 children, with another on the way.

“I will do anything in my power just to make my family happy, to have a normal life like everyone else and to take them away from all the destruction that I have experienced.”

Due to the spiralling costs of education for his children, Osama needed more help and thankfully, a friend passed along details of the work Islamic Relief is doing to support refugees in Jordan.

Much needed support

Osama had the idea of setting up a home appliance store, where he could sell household items like teacups, plates, trays and cutlery.

After filling out an application form and attending an interview, Osama was accepted into the ‘Enhancing Access to Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods Opportunities for Women and Youth’ programme.

“Directly after the interview they called me and asked me to come for training, can you imagine that? They care about people.

“Islamic Relief train you on how to build your project. We took a course delivered by very intelligent people and we received funding for the project itself, after my work plan was approved. We held a completion ceremony where we received certificates for completing Talal Abu Ghazalieh’s Training Academy.”

After completing his training and receiving funding from Islamic Relief, Osama opened the ‘Rose for Home Appliances’ store, named after his sister, “Although she’s far away from me now, my sister is so dear to my heart.

“In the end, I want to thank Islamic Relief from the bottom of my heart. My wish is that Islamic Relief never stops supporting people – not just for me, but some people are still in need for support and help.”

Islamic Relief remains a lifeline to vulnerable people as Syria marks 12 long, terrible years of crisis. With your support, Islamic Relief will continue our vital work: donate to our Save Syria now.

In Ethiopia, many women face poverty and limited resources due to a lack of educational and job opportunities. Through our work, Islamic Relief is making a significant impact in the country by providing opportunities for women to challenge traditional gender roles and strive for equality.

Amina is a 48-year-old woman from Ewa Woreda, in the Afar region of Ethiopia, who struggled with poverty and limited resources.

With the help of Islamic Relief, Amina’s life has been transformed, and she has become an inspiring example of how providing women with opportunities can help create equity and equality.

Creating a positive ripple effect

Islamic Relief endeavours to empower women, with Amina one of 25 women selected and trained on how to work together as a group to generate a living. She established an association and cooperative institution for trading coffee and tea at the centre of Ewa Woreda, with the help of Islamic Relief.

Despite the challenges posed by civil unrest and conflict in the region, Amina refused to give up on her dream of running a successful business. With the support and guidance of Islamic Relief, she was able to rebuild her business and even make it stronger than before.

Amina’s determination to succeed was fuelled by her desire to create a better future for herself and her community. She saw her business not just as a source of income, but also as a way to empower other women in her community. By working with local women and creating a support network of fellow female entrepreneur, Amina was able to create a ripple effect of positive change.

As Amina’s business grew, so did her commitment to promoting women’s empowerment and equality in her community. She became a vocal advocate for women’s rights, challenging harmful traditional practices and norms that held women back. Through her work, she inspired other women to follow in her footsteps and pursue their own dreams of entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.

Today, Amina is a respected leader in her community. Her success serves as a powerful example of what is possible when women are given the support and resources they need to succeed. Amina’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination of women in the face of adversity, and a reminder that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible.

Empowering women in Ethiopia

Around the world, men tend to have greater access to resources and opportunities than women, and organisations like Islamic Relief aim to level the playing field. By providing opportunities for women to learn and generate their own income, Islamic Relief is helping to break down barriers to equality in Ethiopia and beyond.

Islamic Relief’s mission in Ethiopia needs continued support to ensure that women like Amina can achieve their dreams and aspirations. Every little bit of support counts when it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty and gender inequality.

Please donate now to help us sustain our crucial efforts to shift the narrative around women’s empowerment and empower marginalised women to take control of their lives.

Celebrating International Women’s Day (8 March), we share the inspiring story of Almira, a widowed mother who has transformed the lives of children with disabilities in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Almira, a 51-year-old woman from the small village of Priluk, has faced many challenges in her life. One of the most significant was the birth of her twin sons, 1 of whom, Meris, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just 7 months old. Meris had to undergo 8 surgeries due to his condition.

As her sons grew older and started attending school, Almira’s husband tragically passed away, leaving her to raise their children alone. A difficult time for Almira was complicated further as Meris was unable to continue in regular education as he got older and required more assistance. Despite the challenges, Almira refused to let her son’s condition limit his potential. She refused to let him lead a life confined to 4 walls and instead encouraged him to pursue his dreams.

Almira’s daily routine revolves around taking care of Meris, who requires constant support and care. Despite the physical and emotional fatigue that comes with her responsibilities, Almira finds happiness in the situation. Meris’ world has become her world, and the specialist institute that Meris now attends, and its community, have become their family.

 

Almira once felt isolated and alone in her struggles to care for Meris, but she recognised the need for a supportive community where parents could connect, share their experiences, and seek guidance from one another.

Through her research, she discovered that there were no such social clubs in their area and decided to take action and create her own with the help of other parents.

A long and arduous journey

Through a social club that she set up, Almira was able to bring together parents who had been feeling isolated and disconnected from others. The club provides a safe and welcoming space where parents could share their experiences, give and receive emotional support and offer practical advice to one another. This has helped to alleviate some of the stress and loneliness that many of the parents were experiencing.

Almira’s determination to make a positive impact did not stop at founding the social club. She had a personal goal to create a new programme at the institute Meris attends that would provide vocational training for the children. But establishing the programme was not easy.

The process to gain official accreditation for the programme was long and arduous, spanning 3 years and with many obstacles along the way. However, Almira remained persistent and, with the joint effort of parents, the institute, and the government, was eventually successful.

A helping hand

While working to get the programme established, Almira was in desperate need of financial and emotional support. Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme provided Almira with a lifeline, offering not just financial aid for her Meris, but also the emotional and mental support that she so desperately needed.

While the sponsorship helped to cover Meris’ everyday needs, Islamic Relief also stepped in to help pay for an expensive operation the child needed.

Almira had been spending a significant amount of money on Meris’ treatment, leaving her with only a minimum pension for basic necessities, but with the help of the organisation’s greenhouse project that provide space for growing plants indoors, she was able to start her own business from home.

Now, she sells a variety of produce such as peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers, providing her with extra income and a sense of independence, while allowing her to stay by Meris’ side.

Overcoming adversity

Almira’s story is one of overcoming adversity and making a positive impact in her community. Her hard work and dedication to her son and his future, as well as those of other children with developmental disabilities, is a testament to the strength of women. Almira’s story also shows that it is possible to create change and make a difference, even in the face of great challenges.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Islamic Relief encourages everyone to support and empower women like Almira who are making a difference in their communities.

Whether it is through sponsorship programmes, education, or providing opportunities for growth, we can all play a role in supporting and uplifting women. Join us in making a difference and empowering women around the world.

Please donate now.