Wheelchairs, crutches or other visual indicators of disabilities are often the first thing to come to mind when we talk about disability. But what about people with disabilities that are not so immediately apparent? The challenge of living with ‘invisible disabilities’ is something with which Haya, 19, is very familiar.

Haya, who lives with her family in Gaza, was diagnosed as being deaf-mute at two-years old. Growing up she experienced many challenges, especially when it came to communicating with people.

“When most people first approach me they think I am like them,” says Haya. ”There is always an awkward pause when I don’t talk back”.

As a child, she did her very best to be like other children but over the years she has grown in confidence.

“Unlike others, my disability is not on display, but I also don’t hide it. It sounds corny, but I don’t want to pretend. This is me, I have a disability, deal with it.”

Passionate about education, she was disappointed when she learned that she couldn’t pursue a degree in Press and Media at her local university.

“I have always loved photography, and when I was told I would struggle due to my disability, it made me more determined to prove everyone wrong. I eventually enrolled in a specialist photography training course at another university, and I am proud that I didn’t let the naysayers hold me back,” adds Haya.

Today Haya is an inspiration to many girls in Gaza and is now doing a traineeship with Islamic Relief Palestine.

“Islamic Relief has granted me a six-month training opportunity in their media department. I was so happy when I first heard the news. But then I got a bit afraid because I knew that no deaf-mute person had worked with Islamic Relief Palestine before. But the opportunity to further develop my photography skills outweighed my fears, and I decided to teach my colleagues sign language to break our communication barriers”.

Haya continues to advocate for more inclusion and visibility around disabilities. Based on her own experiences, Haya knows that when girls are educated, they become more aware of their rights. So she is pushing for more opportunities for people with disabilities and women and girls, as she strongly believes this benefits society as a whole.

“Training at Islamic Relief has enhanced my self-confidence and I am now able to say to the world that people with disabilities are no different from anyone else, we have purpose and are able to contribute at work. My experience in the Islamic Relief media department is evidence of that.”

Islamic Relief hopes that offering trainee programs to people like Haya shows the importance of inclusion and help change preconceptions about people with disabilities.

For women with disabilities this is even more important, as they face double discrimination. They are seen differently because of their disability and because of their womanhood. Islamic Relief is working incredibly hard to challenge that.

“I can’t fight with words as my voice does not exist, but my spirit has always been stronger than my disability. I want to show girls that we should never be limited by anything, whether it is physical or societal,” says Haya.

The United Nations had declared the 3^rd of December to be the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an annual celebration of people with disabilities.

Through advocacy, campaigns and community outreach Islamic Relief changes attitudes and ensures people with disabilities can access inclusive, quality education, work opportunities and care.

Would you like to support our work, so that we can make more dreams like Haya’s possible? Support now.

Nermina, who lives in Gracanica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, experienced many years of domestic abuse. Here the 43-year-old reveals how Islamic Relief has helped her and why she speaks out to empower others.

My husband was an alcoholic and I had a difficult marriage for the 15 years I was married to him.  We all suffered. The memories I had of him all involved him coming home drunk and hitting me and my children.

His presence in the house in the house frightened us. His threats and physical abuse became more frequent over time, especially after he lost his job due to his alcohol abuse.

I struggled a lot as a mother and a wife. I became the main breadwinner. I had to protect my children from my husband – he used to hit me in front of them whenever I objected to his drinking or his demands for my oldest son to walk for miles so he could feed his addiction.

Sometimes we would slip away from home very early and take shelter with my parents until he calmed down. He had extremely volatile emotions and I was afraid of what he might do to me and my children.

But I learned to cope – I had to. At the beginning I didn’t have the strength to leave. I was young when I married him, and since we were going through a war in Bosnia I gave him many chances to change. I confronted my husband after he beat me severely when I was pregnant with my oldest child. No one intervened and I felt so alone.

Still I always threw myself into fights with him to protect my children. I just didn’t want to see him pound their heads against the wall or break their bones.

My husband eventually died, but he left a long lasting effect on my family. My eldest son in particular has psychological issues that stem from living with his father. I have tried to push him to go see someone, but I haven’t been successful. My only desire is to see my children happy and successful.

We give ourselves a voice

I have gained hope by talking to other women who suffer from domestic violence. Many of my friends and neighbours have also suffered a lot from gender-based violence. And that’s why Islamic Relief is so important to me, because they empower women through various projects so that they can escape from abusive situations. I have received Islamic Relief support through working on greenhouse projects and receiving sponsorship for my young son.

But most importantly, I have been able to get mental health support through Islamic Relief’s psychosocial programme. I have never gone to therapy before and now I speak about what I have been through and even though I get emotional through Islamic Relief I now realise that I am not alone. It’s important to stand up for yourself and not normalise violence, especially given the current climate the world is in at the moment.

I keep hoping that people will open their eyes and see that we can live in a different way. When you talk with people, you realise so many are going through abuse, whether it is mental or physical.

I draw my strength from other strong women, and my children. Without them, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today. They have been very supportive and they have given me a reason to move on with my life.

Global estimates published by WHO indicate that about 1 in 3 (35%) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. This abuse happens in every region of the world, in every community.

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to this horrific violation of human rights.

Across Eastern Europe and beyond, Islamic Relief is working to end to all forms of violence against women and children.

Learn more about Islamic Relief’s work protecting women against violence and promoting the rights of women and girls.

TURKEY, 2 November 2020 – A powerful earthquake struck the Aegean Sea in Izmir resulted in the casualties of 85 citizens and left 994 others injured.

It is reported a total of 1,225 aftershocks following the quake, including 43 that were above four in magnitude.

774 citizens who were injured have been discharged, and the treatment of 220 citizens continues.

Search and rescue work is being carried out in eight buildings.

The schools have been closed for a week. Meanwhile, the entrance to the city has been limited by the government.

A total of 7,888 personnel, 25 search and rescue dogs, and 1,058 vehicles from Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), Gendarmerie General Command (JAK), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), as well as municipalities were assigned for the ongoing intervention and improvement works in the region.

Search and rescue operations to search for survivors through the rubble of collapsed buildings are currently ongoing, and government ministers are providing assistance.

The priority needs are food include ready-to-eat food, hygiene kit, sleeping bag, blanket, and sanitizer.

Islamic Relief is currently in continuous contact with multi-sector in aligning its response to ensure immediate support to the affected people.