Islamic Relief Victoria held a family fun day event in late-February. The main objective was to raise awareness about our programs and projects and provide the community with an opportunity to bond under the Islamic Relief values and morals. It also aimed to raise awareness about the importance of community support and how it contributes to changing vulnerable people’s lives, here in Australia and overseas.

The event had something for everyone – young, old and in-between –  from clothing stalls, perfume stalls to games and Henna art.  Attendees also enjoyed the delicious food  with food trucks offering a range of snacks, coffee and crêpes.

It was children who had the most fun – bouncing around in the jumping castle,  taking part in a drawing competition, enjoying popcorn and fairy floss, and learning some new skills in a taekwondo session!

Islamic Relief Victoria hopes to host another community event once  we overcome the current coronavirus crisis insha’Allah.

On the 19th of May, Islamic Relief celebrated the ongoing support of its high donors during an Iftar held at The Emporium.  

Individuals and organisations from all walks of life are the reasons why we can design effective projects creating positive changes in vulnerable communities around the world.  

Some of these projects include supporting emergency projects, orphans around the world and sustainable projects such as out Zakat For Prosperity project. The Zakat for Prosperity project has supported communities in West Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat, through the introduction of simple adaptive farming mechanisms. 

The Sydney community supported us in the unfolding of the event, you can find their names by clicking on their hyperlinks, florals from French Inspired, name cards by Designed by A, Balloons by Rana , strawberry tower by Doms Strawberry Delights, rose hearts by Adorn roses, and the stylist of the event under the impressive work of Rima at Mrs H Events. 

We thank all our donors, stakeholders, local partners and our volunteers for dedicating their time in creating positive changes locally and around the world.

PRESS RELEASE

A group of charitable Victorian Muslims will be lacing up their boots and strapping on their helmets in a bid to help raise funds and awareness for refugees around the world.

Islamic Relief Australia (IRAUS) in partnership with the Ali Davidson Motorcycle will be kickstarting their Harleys in the ‘Melbourne – Sydney Six-Day Charity Ride’. The two-wheeled enthusiasts will begin their challenge in Roxburgh Park on Wednesday, February 13 and visit regional towns en route to Sydney.

Ali Davidson is aiming to raise $50,000 to protect refugees, children and vulnerable families living in dire conditions affected by war, earthquakes, floods, winter, drought – all in the name of saving lives.

According to a UNHCR and UNRWA report published last year, there are currently 68.5 million people who have been forcibly displaced worldwide.

In 2018, Ali Davidson also took part in the Melbourne-Sydney motorcycle challenge raising funds for IRAUS.

In 2019 The group is using online crowdfunding site which can be found here, whereby participants and observers are able to make their own accounts and raise funds online for the general humanitarian campaign.

IRAUS community engagement coordinator Baha Yehia said the six-day journey could in some way reflect the life of a refugee, fleeing from one safe-zone to another, constantly on the run.

“It is a tough journey to be on a bike for six consecutive days. It takes a lot of physical and mental strength. Obviously, it’s no comparison to what refugees and asylum seekers go through, but it’s a good start to begin to understand just how difficult their lives can be. We know where our5 next stop and meal will be, the reality is… they don’t,” he said.

“We wanted to raise funds in a way that is different, bring a positive to bikies and attract attention for a good cause.”

IRAUS was established in 2011 and consists of a team of Australian volunteers, supporters and staff who address injustice and empower communities, as inspired by Islamic values.

IRAUS reflects on its Australian values and identity through its focus on local and regional issues in the aid and development space, while drawing upon the wealth of expertise and support of the global Islamic Relief family in the work it does.

The group will continue raising awareness and funds through the towns and cities they visit along the way, meeting with locals and youths including; Shepparton, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Wollongong, Auburn and Padstow.

You can catch us on our Facebook Event Page or Instagram page.

Meet and Greet Locations:

MELBOURNE
Shepparton 12:30pm – February 13th

SYDNEY
Wagga Waga 7:30pm – Wednesday, February 13th
Young Mosque 12:30pm – Thursday, February 14th
Masjid Salam Wollongong 7:30pm – Thursday, February 14th
Jum’aa Location (to be confirmed) – Friday, February 15th
UMA Padstow Youth Night 5pm – Saturday, February 16th

For more information please contact IRAUS Melbourne’s community engagement coordinator Baha Yehia.

For more information via

mob: 0430 465 445

email: [email protected]

Last Monday the 15th of October, Islamic Relief Australia (IRAUS) attended the launch event for the World Bank’s 2019 Development Report. The Australian launch came off the back of the annual meeting between World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund on Thursday in Bali. The launch focused on the changing nature of work as technology continues to reshape the future. 

“How much human capital will a child born today expect to attain by age 18, given the risks to poor health and poor education that prevail in the country where they live?” 

We need to be ready to serve a changing global economy

The response of governments need to be directed into investing in people as the traditional nature of firms, jobs and employment contracts is rapidly changing. Technological innovation has created firms that no longer need a shop front, jobs that require higher skills and employees who are independently contracted.  

WDR 2019 Report Photo Cover

By investing in health and education, the next generation will be ready for a new global economy. The differences in learning between developing and developed countries are massive. As many as 60% of students in developing countries in the East Asia and Pacific region are disadvantaged because of poorer performing learning systems. 

Islamic Relief Bridging the Gap

Islamic Relief Australia is committed in bridging this gap in a way that will be sustained for the long term so that the children of the next generation will also be able to reap the benefits from our development projects. In 2018, we have launched two development projects in Indonesia and Niger that are centered on primary education for children. 

In Niger, we are expanding our Orphan Sponsorship Program so that they are set up for today and tomorrow. We have set up two community-based organisations that will earn regular income from animal husbandry and preserving cereals. Through this project, orphans and their families will become financially independent and resilient. We have also committed to train 45 primary school teachers, and distributed 700 school kits to promote interest in school. 

We hope to continue our development projects to be in line with the World Bank findings and approach. 

Find out more on their ‘Human Capital Project’ – http://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/human-capital 

With over 71 million people being displaced the current level of resources to assist and protect refugees are simply not enough.

This World Refugee Day, we urge national governments to take meaningful actions to resettle a larger numbers of refugees, and collaborate with faith groups in welcoming them to their country. 

Islamic Relief’s report “The Needs for Justice and Protection for Refugees” highlights key policies and best practice to address gaps in refugee protection. Increased funding, increasing the numbers of refugees resettled, quality education provision, psycho-social support, addressing sexual and gender-based violence and xenophobia are amongst the wide ranging recommendations.

Elements of these recommendations have been conducted in countries such as Kenya and Lebanon.

In the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, Islamic Relief Worldwide is managing 18 primary schools which caters for over 50,000 children. Improving the level of education infrastructure to cope with the numbers of children has been a key priority, with training over 100 teachers with new teaching approaches, renovation of over 30 classrooms and providing over 2,500 girls with sanitary pads with guidance from qualified nurses to educate the girls on personal development and hygiene and opening the opportunity for continued schooling.

In Gaza, where 70% of the population are refugees, the focus has been the critical gaps in humanitarian support, such as supporting children under five, children with disabilities, renovating schools and providing a social safety net for the most vulnerable families due to the dire economic situation. The current blockade is limiting the access to basic food supplies, school uniforms, or even nappies. One family has even resorted to selling the food they do have to pay rent. The social safety net is there to provide essentials and even home appliances so that food can be kept and stored safely.

CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, Naser Haghamed said,

“Collectively as an international community we are failing refugees all around the world. This is a case where those countries that have the means to support refugees, need to step up and make a commitment to do so. This report shows Islamic Relief’s programmes have shown the wealth of human, cultural, spiritual and social capital that mosques and local faith communities offer to refugees. Governments aren’t expected to do this alone and faith communities can provide a faith sensitive approach to the resettlement of refugees in countries all over the world.”

You can find a copy of the report The Needs for Justice and Protection for Refugees here.

Islamic Relief has been responding to forced migration crises since its beginnings in 1984. It is currently assisting refugees and internally displaced people in 26 countries around the world.

Between 2015 and 2017, Islamic Relief supported over 1.3 million refugees through 140 projects in 26 countries.  The organisation delivers both immediate life-saving assistance to refugees, by providing food, medicine, shelters and clean water, and long-term interventions, for example enabling refugee orphans to attend schools or providing displaced widows with livelihood opportunities.