It gives me great pleasure to be able to welcome you to Islamic Relief’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations.

Islamic Relief has come a long way since our humble beginnings in 1984, when we opened our first office in the UK with a few dedicated volunteers to having over 100 branches in 40 countries worldwide with over 2,000 employees today. And this is all because you made it happen. You, the volunteer, the donor, the employee, the beneficiary, the supporter… it is you who has brought us to this credible juncture in our history.

Despite the many changes that have taken place over the past 25 years, our mission remains the same; to alleviate the poverty and suffering of the world’s poorest people while staying true to our core values of accountability, humanitarianism, inclusiveness, integrity, cooperation and neutrality. Our theme for 2009 and for our 25th anniversary centres on empowerment. We strive to empower our beneficiaries to lead sustainable livelihoods while becoming less reliant on aid.

I am proud of our experienced and dedicated staff, humanitarian workers, donors, volunteers and supporters who have enabled us to deliver emergency relief and implement sustainable development programmes in over 20 countries worldwide.

I would like to thank our Partners across the globe as their help has allowed us to make a significant difference in so many peoples’ lives. None of this would have been possible without our donors who in 2007 helped us to generate £28.9 million due to the catastrophic Tsunami and Kashmir earthquake. Most recently in 2009 we delivered over $3 million worth of aid to the people of Gaza and approximately 1000 victims of the earthquake in L’Aquila received food, clothing and hygiene kits.

Islamic Relief will continue to strive to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals while accomplishing the six aims we set for ourselves in 2007:

• Caring for orphans and vulnerable children
• Responding to emergencies
• Supporting education
• Providing access to healthcare, water and sanitation
• Promoting sustainable livelihoods
• Campaigning and advocacy

Together, with your help we can achieve our shared vision of a caring world where the basic requirements of people in need are fulfilled.

Thank you for supporting us in reaching our goals.

I hope you will continue to support us over the next 25 years and together we will continue to make it happen and serve humanity.

Saleh Saeed

CEO of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief believes in a caring world where the basic requirements of people in need are fulfilled. For 25 years we have been working in partnership with local communities to provide them with support during and after natural and man-made disasters.

We also work to ensure that communities can become self reliant and no longer have to rely on aid. We do this by promoting sustainable development through programmes in education, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, and income generation.

Emergency relief and disaster preparedness

Islamic Relief has provided emergency relief after some of the most devastating humanitarian disasters in recent years. The organisation provided swift and effective relief after many disasters such as the tsunami in 2004 and the South Asia earthquake in 2005, as well as man-made crisis such as the Darfur crisis and the Iraq conflict.

Islamic Relief helps people affected by disasters by providing them with emergency food, clean water supplies, shelter and medical care. After the emergency phase has passed it helps communities to rebuild their lives so they can become self sufficient once again. By helping communities to effectively prepare for future disasters, we can also help to minimize their impact.

Sustainable livelihoods

Islamic Relief aims to ensure that those we work with have the skills and support necessary for them to make a sustainable income. We do this by providing training, interest free loans, cash-for work schemes and by supporting the development of small businesses.

Education

Islamic Relief believes that each child, both boys and girls, have the right to a decent education, no matter where they are from. By building schools, training teachers, providing free school lunches and school equipment such as books, uniforms and stationery Islamic Relief helps ensure this right is fulfilled.

Healthcare

Islamic Relief is committed to improving maternal and child health, and ensuring that all people have access to decent healthcare services. This is achieved by building and equipping health clinics, training health workers and mid-wives and working to reduce child malnutrition.

Water and sanitation

Islamic Relief works to provide communities with access to clean, safe water and sanitation facilities. By digging wells, building water supply systems, constructing latrines and providing health and hygiene training, we are helping to reduce the spread of disease. Support for vulnerable children Through our One-to-One sponsorship scheme, Islamic Relief is currently supporting 27,000 orphans. This programme allows individual donors to support vulnerable children, ensuring that they have adequate food, clothing, healthcare and shelter and that they can continue at school. Campaigning and advocacy Islamic Relief acknowledges that it is the duty of the organisation to speak out about the issues that affect the people it works with in order to tackle the root causes of poverty. Islamic Relief works with other NGOs, local communities, supporters and the national and international media to create awareness and help push for positive change.