WHO WE ARE
OUR HISTORY
Islamic Relief was founded in 1984 in Birmingham by medical student Hany El-Banna in response to the famine in East Africa. He and a group of other young Muslim volunteers raised Islamic Relief’s first funds through collections at mosques, friends and family and other Islamic associations. The volunteers secured £135,000 and established three international projects in Islamic Relief’s first year of operation. These were two chicken farms in Sudan, a shipment of biscuits and vitamins also to Sudan and a shipment of wheat flour to Mauritania.
In 1985, Islamic Relief’s founders hired a small office in a Birmingham community centre. The office was run by a growing group of committed volunteers who were known to work long into the night on project coordinating and fundraising.
The charity expanded rapidly. Over the next five years we started working in Mozambique, Iran, Pakistan, Malawi, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among others, responding to emergencies and distributing clothes, food, offering health support and beginning the long-term project that is now the one-to-one orphan sponsorship programme.
Today Islamic Relief Worldwide is among the world’s largest relief and development charities. With global headquarters in Birmingham, UK, it is the international office of the Islamic Relief federation, which work in more than 45 countries. In 2023 alone, Islamic Relief helped over 16.8 million people through various aid sectors including emergency, development, food, health, Ramadan, Qurbani, winter, and orphan sponsorship.
The high quality and impact of our work means it is among just a handful of UK-based charities to have been certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS). As full members of the INGO Accountability Charter, Islamic Relief’s excellence in transparency, good governance and social responsibility is recognised.
Islamic Relief Worldwide is signatory to the Red Cross Code of Conduct, which sets ethical standards for organisations involved in humanitarian work and commits us to the important principles of impartiality, neutrality and independence. We are also firmly committed to the People in Aid Code of Best Practice.
This year, Islamic Relief is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a remarkable record of humanitarian interventions and aid throughout its existence. Until now, Islamic Relief has assisted more than 145 million people. The scope of Islamic Relief assistance covers emergency, integrated sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, and advocacy.
ABOUT ISLAMIC RELIEF MALAYSIA
Aspiring to continue Islamic Relief humanitarian assistance in the Asia-Pacific region, Islamic Relief Malaysia was established on 25 June 2004 and was officially launched by the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, YABhg. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, on 3 May 2005 in Kuala Lumpur.
Between 2008 and 2009, the Israel-Palestine crisis reached a critical point, resulting in numerous deaths and casualties in the Gaza Strip. In response to this emergency, Islamic Relief Malaysia implemented some projects including providing artificial limbs for disabled people, support for emergency and intensive care units in hospitals, shelters for people without homes, and counselling for children with support from the Government of Malaysia.
In April 2012, Islamic Relief Malaysia set up our first charity shop, to contribute to fundraising to support Islamic Relief humanitarian projects locally and internationally. In addition, the shop, serves as a centre for community activities.
Our Orphan Sponsorship Programme began in late 2012. By early 2013, we received the first sponsorship for an orphaned boy from Sri Lanka.
Our commitment to addressing community needs extends to our continuous efforts in Malaysia. This includes responding to emergencies like monsoon floods and fires. Furthermore, we are actively involved in diverse international projects, such as establishing a water complex in Balcad, Somalia, in 2017.
In response to the urgent need of the refugee community in Malaysia to access education, we set up an alternative learning centre for refugee children. Called Refugee Intellectual Skills and Excellence (RISE), the centre opened in 2017. With the motto, “With RISE We Rise”, the centre aims to provide a holistic educational program including academic studies, life skills, and ethical values.
Currently, Islamic Relief Malaysia serves as a fundraising and project implementor for local and international projects.
Islamic Relief’s two-decade journey in Malaysia has been marked by relentless efforts and determination to assist the marginalized, empower communities, and promote social justice.
Winning The BrandLaureate CSR BrandLeadership Award in the humanitarian aid category in 2018 and Productivity Champion in the Leader category in 2023 significantly impacted Islamic Relief Malaysia, enhancing its credibility and the public’s trust in its humanitarian endeavors.
