Islamic Relief

Education provides the key to a better future, helping people to increase their skills, fulfil their potential and pursue their goals. But this basic human right is denied to millions of children and adults in poor communities throughout the developing world. Poverty, a lack of infrastructure and poor access to schools are some of the obstacles that stand in the way of a child’s education. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that around 100 million children of primary school age are currently not in school, and many have to stay at home to support their families.

Our strategy for 2009 focused on getting more children into school by building new schools and rehabilitating existing ones, making regular attendance a realistic option for them, training teachers and providing educational materials. We prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable people, including children, and those living in conflict areas and rural regions. We also focus on adult education and vocational training. By working directly with local communities, we ensure that our educational projects are relevant to their needs, offering them new skills and realistic work opportunities as a way out of poverty.

Supporting schoolchildren in Gaza

Mahmoud Aldous is 12 years old and attends the Al-Zohoor school in the west of Gaza. His school was seriously damaged during the fighting and is now being repaired by Islamic Relief.

“When I went back to school after the war I found the windows were broken and the walls were damaged,” said Mahmoud. “Then I went to find my friend who I used to sit next to, but he wasn’t there anymore because he had been killed. The days of war were very frightening and I really wish I could live in a safe place.” The conflict has seriously affected all the children in Mahmoud’s school, many of whom had their homes destroyed. The teachers say many are suffering from trauma and find it difficult to concentrate or have behavioural problems, such as being violent towards each other.

After the war, Islamic Relief provided psychosocial support to thousands of school children in Gaza to help them deal with the trauma they had experienced. We also mended the windows, repaired the walls and painted the bathrooms of the schools we work in. Having a pleasant place in which to study is even more important for children living in such an unstable environment. As Mahmoud said: “We had to take our exams but we couldn’t study surrounded by such destruction. But the new school environment makes us feel motivated and we all want to study now. My favourite subject is English and when I’m older I want to study abroad.”

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