Organization one of the fastest-growing NGOs in Canada today
Mennonites
can help the world’s needy through Mennonite Central Committee. Lutherans in
the can respond through Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
Baptists, Presbyterians,
Christian Reformed, Catholics and other groups have their own relief and
development arms.
Canadian
Muslims can also extend a hand to the world’s poor through their own agency—Islamic Relief Canada.
Founded
in 1984 in Great Britain
in response to the famine in Ethiopia, today Islamic Relief has chapters in a
number of countries, and provides assistance in 40 developing nations around
the world.
The Canadian chapter was founded in 2007. In 2009, it received
$1.2 million in donations. Last year the figure was over $28 million, making it
one of the fastest-growing international relief and development groups in the
country.
A lot of the money it
receives comes during Ramadan, which took place this year from May 26 to June
24. In addition to fasting and prayer, it’s a time when Muslims especially remember
those who are hungry and needy.
“We get half of our annual
income that month,” says Reyhana Patel, who heads up media and external
relations for Islamic Relief.
For Muslims, one of the
five pillars of their faith is the zakat, or the obligatory sharing with the needy.
Most Muslims tend to give it during the month of Ramadan, since they believe
giving during that holy month provides the giver with a double reward.
In addition to giving their zakat, Muslims also give another special
donation in Ramadan during an iftar, the meal that breaks their daily fast.
The ancient formula for how much to give was two kilograms of
either flour, wheat, barley or rice for each person in the household. In Canada
today, Muslims typically make a gift of about $10 per person for everyone at
the meal.
Some
of that money is donated to Islamic Relief through what it calls Share Your Blessing.
Through it, Canadian Muslims are invited to sign up to host an iftar with their
family and friends, using the occasion to break the daily fast and raise money
to help needy people around the world.
Islamic
Relief provides a package of materials for each host to share with guests about
its work, along with pledge forms so people can make donations. Last year, one
iftar in Canada raised $90,000 for the charity.
Once
misconception about the organization, Patel says, is where the money goes.
“Although
most of our programs are in Muslim countries, our assistance is available to
all, not just to Muslims,” she says, noting that the organization provided help
after the Haiti earthquake, the typhoon in the Philippines and for people
affected by the Fort McMurray wildfires. It also funds a program in Toronto for
disadvantaged youth.
“We don’t only
help Muslims,” she adds. “We give to whoever is in need, just like other NGOs.”
As well, she
notes, “anyone can donate to Islamic Relief, not just Muslims.” All donations
are tax deductible.
Current
appeals include for the famine in Africa and Yemen, as well as for victims of
inter-communal violence in Myanmar and refugees from the fighting in Syria.
Ongoing
programs include orphan sponsorship, and health, education, medical and water
projects.
In addition
to donations, the organization also gets grants from the Canadian government
for its work overseas. It is also part of the Humanitarian Coalition, which
brings together Canada’s major relief agencies to respond to emergencies in the
developing world.
For
Idris Elbakri, past president of the Manitoba Islamic Association, supporting
Islamic Relief is a good way for Muslims to help those in need.
“Through
it Muslims in Canada can realize their obligation to help others both locally
and globally,” he says.
Beyond
the good work that Islamic Relief is doing around the world, it also means a
lot to the Muslim community in Canada.
“The
respect and recognition it gets from other NGOs, and the Canadian government,
shows how Canadian Muslims are in the mainstream of Canadian values,” he says.
From the June 17 Winnipeg Free Press.
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