THE POWER OF FAITH

Islamic Relief recognises the role faith leaders have to play in campaigning and acting for a fairer world for people of all faiths and none. They are often trusted community leaders, viewed with legitimacy and entrusted with moral authority. We work with faith leaders to bring about positive change in their communities and are extremely proud of our interfaith partnerships with other international faith-based NGOs, which we continued to strengthen in 2023.

In many cultures HIV/AIDS is shrouded in taboo, and discussion, especially in public places, is avoided. In Kenya’s Garissa County, Islamic Relief and UNAIDS are pioneering conversations that challenge deeply entrenched myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS. Faith and community leaders are stepping forward to engage in open dialogue, breaking down one of the barriers that has held back progress in combating the epidemic.

Ahmed Omar, an imam, includes HIV/AIDS in discussion in the Friday sermons at his mosque says attitudes towards the diseases and those who suffer from them are changing. “We have discussed prevention and care of those ailing from the disease. More people now know that AIDS is not a curse. A person can live long when on medication [and with] spiritual and physical nourishment. To demonstrate commitment and take a brave step using the faith-led approach, we are now encouraging HIV testing for couples before marriage,” he says.

Elsewhere in Garissa, Reverend Lazaro Musyoka is also advocating for change within the Christian community. “A person living with HIV/AIDS could previously be denied certain services from religious institutions. Knowledge from the workshops we’re running has reduced our fears of handling people living with HIV/AIDS. The workshops also provided an avenue for faith leaders to create rapport about an issue affecting our community,” Reverend Lazaro says. “By accepting and understanding HIV/AIDS, it is easier to convey the message and change people’s mindset so that people living with HIV/AIDS live with dignity without facing discrimination. We are informing them about the importance of knowing their status and avoiding transmission to others.”

This joint project with UNAIDS, also involves teachers, students, women leaders and radio hosts, who have all committed to raising awareness around HIV/AIDS in their communities.

In 2023, Islamic Relief’s seasonal programmes continued to feed vulnerable people around the world.

During Ramadan, we distributed 162,190 food packs to families in need in 32 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

As people worldwide grappled with rising food prices, we doubled the size of our food packs in many of our local offices. This change provided families with enough food for the entire month of Ramadan.

Later in the year, we successfully implemented our worldwide qurbani programme, which offers donors a chance to fulfil their religious obligations while ensuring access to fresh halal meat for vulnerable communities uncertain of where their next meal is coming from.

In 2023, the programme ran in 29 countries, delivering a total of 607,402 qurbani meat packs to families in need – reaching more than 3.4 million individuals.

2023 also saw country offices receive specialised training to enhance programme quality and a mandatory qurbani checklist for accountability, elevating project standards still further.

Islamic Relief has been working with the Church of Sweden and HIAS (the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) since 2019 to develop a network of local faith leaders and activists across Europe active in protecting and welcoming refugees and migrants into their communities.

This network, dubbed A World of Neighbours, shares best practices, knowledge and skills amongst practitioners, reaching beyond national borders and religious and ethnic identities, ensuring also that refugees and migrants have a seat at the table when policymakers and other leaders are making decisions about their lives.

In June 2023, A World of Neighbours held its second annual members meeting (pictured) in Budapest, Hungary.

This year, Islamic Relief joined hands with Arigatou International, which promotes children’s rights and wellbeing across different religions and cultures, in Pakistan. Together, we produced a comprehensive set of materials to ensure children grow up in a safe environment where their spiritual development is nurtured. Toolkit: Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years is designed to support parents, caregivers and educators. It provides critical tools and resources, including those designed to equip faith actors to engage actively in the protection of children in their communities from violence.