The Islamic Relief Australia (IRAUS) Annual Retreat is a milestone event for reflection, collaboration, and future planning.   

Spanning over three days, the 2024 retreat was filled with gratitude, learning, and strategy-setting. It was an event that truly highlighted our commitment to continuous improvement and impactful service delivery, for our donors, rightsholders, and community.  

Day One: Building Foundations of Unity and Growth 

The retreat began with an engaging communication workshop facilitated by Br Naser Haghamed, the previous CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.  

The workshop set a collaborative tone for the retreat, emphasising transparency and trust. Key elements for strengthening not only internal team dynamics but also relationships between us and our donors, our community and the broader Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) family.  

Br Naser’s interactive approach encouraged our team to share insights and actively participate in discussions. He fostered in us a shared sense of purpose from the outset, and a determination to do better for our donors and community.  

The session concluded with practical exercises designed to address communication barriers within teams. These exercises highlighted the importance of empathy, active listening, and constructive feedback in our daily work, which we strived to implement immediately during and after the retreat.  

Day Two: Celebrating Progress and Discussing Challenges 

Our CEO, Br Samir Bennegadi, opened the second day with a rousing speech, reflecting on IRAUS’s remarkable growth and journey. He highlighted our organisation’s expanding impact and ambition, which is grounded in shared trust and commitment to our rightsholders and the community.  

Br Samir likened IRAUS to the pencil, which symbolises our team’s collective strength. While departments function independently, we unify to achieve extraordinary results. To bring the best care to our rightsholders. And ensure our donors’ kindness and support reaches them wholeheartedly.  

This metaphor framed discussions about IRAUS’s budget, ambitious goals, and departmental presentations. Br Samir emphasised that just as pencils need sharpening to function effectively, so too do teams need regular reflection and refinement to stay aligned and impactful, especially for the sake of the rightsholders and our supportive community.  

Insights from Presentations and Collaborative Discussions  

A key feature of the retreat was the series of presentations delivered by various departments. These sessions showcased IRAUS’s achievements, shared challenges, and outlined our vision for the future. The teams who presented include:  

• Supporter Care Team: Reporting key findings about our donors and how we can better support them.  
• Fundraising Team: Demonstrating innovative approaches to donor engagement and sharing inspiring stories of impact.  
• Programs Team: Presenting updates on ongoing humanitarian projects, with a focus on sustainability and empowerment for rightsholders.  
• Digital Marketing: Highlighting creative campaigns and the potential of digital tools to expand IRAUS’s reach, benefiting more of the community. 
• Corporate Services: Outlining advancements in operational efficiency and compliance to support organisational and community growth.  

These presentations not only celebrated the progress made. But also inspired collaborative discussions on aligning efforts and leveraging strengths across teams.  Highlights from the presentations included… 

Strengthening Connections 

The team explored opportunities to deepen relationships with our donors and the community, focusing on cultivating meaningful connections and understanding diverse motivations for giving. Strategies to enhance outreach and improve retention were discussed, ensuring that all supporters feel valued and engaged.  

Celebrating Campaign Milestones 

Key campaigns were celebrated for their impact, with reflections on how to amplify future initiatives. We recognised the importance of balancing immediate humanitarian needs with sustainable development programs, aligning efforts to maximise long-term benefits for rightsholders.  

Enhancing Community Presence 

Discussions highlighted IRAUS’s growing role within local communities. It emphasised the importance of IRAUS being a reliable support system for donors, families and partnering community organisations.  

Ideas were shared for extending outreach and developing programs that cater to unique regional needs, fostering inclusivity and local empowerment.  

Innovating Fundraising Approaches 

The team celebrated innovative fundraising methods that have driven significant growth and strengthened our partnerships, while also acknowledging areas for improvement.  

Emphasis was placed on ensuring equitable resource allocation for each of the communities IRAUS serves. As well as fostering creativity by engaging with donors and the community through meaningful events and innovative technology.  

Advancing Digital and Marketing Strategies 

The marketing team shared insights into the evolving landscape of online engagement. By embracing diverse platforms and adapting to challenges, we were able to find and explore more meaningful ways to reach and engage with new audiences and better support the community.  

Operational Excellence and Streamlining Processes 

Updates from corporate services underscored the strides IRAUS made in enhancing efficiency, compliance, and teamwork through tools like project management software. These improvements ensure that our team can deliver on our mission with greater agility and precision for our rightsholders and donors. 

Day Three: Planning for 2025 and Beyond 

Reflecting on 2024 as a year of challenges and growth, the team set ambitious goals for 2025, including: 

• Enchancing Donor Care and Community Support: Innovative campaigns aimed at engaging new demographics, such as young professionals and digital natives. As well as better support and engagement for our current audience.  
• Strengthening Local and International Partnerships: Deepening collaborations with grassroots organisations to amplify impact through mutually beneficial initiatives.  
• Enhancing Storytelling: Using multimedia to convey the tangible impact of our donors’ support, such as video testimonials from rightsholders and more regular impact reports.  
• Strategic Growth in Untapped Regions: Establishing a physical presence in Australian states beyond NSW, Victoria or Queensland, connecting with more community organisations and expanding our outreach. 

The retreat concluded with team-building activities designed to unite departments and reinforce the shared mission to best benefit and empower rightsholders and connect them to the community. This allowed us to focus and reflect on:  

Building Trust and Engagement 

The retreat underscored our commitment to transparency and gratitude, ensuring that every supporter feels the tangible impact of their contributions.  

During the planning stage, we refined our approaches to engagement and outreach, striving to deepen bonds with our donors, by providing more impact reports, dedicated events, and faster responses on feedback.    

Elevating Voices and Delivering Impact 

The retreat had a strong focus on innovative strategies and sustainable development for rightsholders.  

During the planing stage, we ensured that aid programs addressed both the immediate and long-term needs of those most in need. Aligning internal processes even more closely with rightsholders’ aspirations, amplifying their voices and expanding pathways for enduring change. 

Expanding Our Influence 

Last, but not least, the retreat emphasised the importance of leveraging innovation, collaboration, and digital strategies to broaden outreach.  

As our organisation grows locally and globally, we become better equipped to tackle emerging challenges and seize opportunities to deliver impactful humanitarian aid – a collective vision shared by the team, donors, and rightsholders. 

Following participating in brainstorming sessions and collaborative planning exercises, we left the retreat with clear action plans and renewed enthusiasm. Ready to engage with donors and bring even more positive change to the world’s most vulnerable.  

Final Reflections 

The 2024 IRAUS Yearly Retreat was a testament to the power of collaboration and shared purpose. By coming together to reflect, celebrate, and strategise, we reaffirmed our commitment to delivering impactful humanitarian aid and driving meaningful change.   

IRAUS stands poised for greater impact in 2025, continuing our role as a trusted leader in the NGO space. As the retreat underscored the power of unity, resilience, and shared vision, setting the stage for another year of transformative work.