At Islamic Relief we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished over the years. We will be sharing what we believe are some of our major achievements. As the number 25 is central to our celebrations, we’ve picked out 25 recent triumphs that we hope you will appreciate. Here you’ll find out who at Islamic Relief has received awards and why. We believe that you will feel proud of our successes also, encouraging you to continue providing us with your support.
Our timeline will present Islamic Relief’s most important events of the past 25 years. You will be able to take a trip down memory lane with images of our humble beginnings and IR staff that will surely bring up some nostalgic memories.
1) In 2009, the Charity 250 Index that measures the voluntary income from individual donors placed Islamic Relief Worldwide top of the list of all charities with published accounts. IRW raised more funds between 2005 and 2007 than any other mid-cap UK charity, with an annual income of £40 million.
2) Islamic Relief runs 360 projects in 35 countries worldwide.
3) In 2002, Islamic Relief received an award for merit in Egypt at a ceremony where Egyptian figures were honoured for their work in medical, political, religious and social activities. Islamic Relief was recognized for its dedicated work in humanitarian relief.
4) In 2002, the President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr. Bakili Muluzi praised Islamic Relief for its agricultural and irrigation projects, which were described as “timely and overwhelming.”
5) In 2004, Islamic Relief’s President Hany El Banna, received the “Ibn Khaldun Award” for his efforts in promoting understanding between global cultures and faiths. The award was presented at the Muslim News Awards Ceremony, which aim to honour both Muslim and Non-Muslim achievements in British society.
6) Islamic Relief initiated the Humanitarian Forum in 2004, with the aim of developing and fostering partnerships between charities in Muslim countries, the West and the multi-lateral systems. In 2007, projects were implemented in Yemen, Sudan, Kuwait and Indonesia to effectively perform partnerships and mobilise civil society.
7) In 2005 Islamic Relief joined the Disaster’s Emergency Committee, an umbrella organisation of 12 charities that launches a national fundraising appeal in the UK in response to major disasters.
8) In 2006, Islamic Relief was awarded third place in the Charities Online Accounts Award by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). Islamic Relief was recognized for the high technical quality and transparency of its 2005 Annual Audited Accounts.
9) In 2006, the Kenyan M.P., Hon. Billow Kerrow, personally thanked Islamic Relief for its aid efforts during the droughts in Mandera that caused food shortages to up to 15 million people. Islamic Relief workers distributed 30 tonnes of food and 14 000 litres of water every other day.
10) Islamic Relief Pakistan was recognized for its hard work during the 2005 earthquake and was awarded the Sitar- i- Isaar ‘Star of Dedication’ award by Pakistan’s president General Pervez Musharraf.
11) In 2007, Islamic Relief USA was awarded for the fourth consecutive year a 4 star rating by Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in the United States. Islamic Relief received the high rating for the transparency of its financial reports and efficient allocation of its finances. As of February 1st 2007, only 4% of the 5 131 charities that were evaluated received four consecutive 4 star ratings.
12) In November 2007, Islamic Relief donors were sponsoring 25 000 orphans in 21 countries worldwide.
13) His Excellency Wang Guoliang, Deputy Director of State Council Office of Poverty Alleviation presented the ‘Charitarian Organisation Award’ to Islamic Relief China in 2007 for its contribution to the national ‘Interaction for Poverty Alleviation’ programme.
14) In 2007, Islamic Relief organised the ‘International Consultations on Islam and HIV/AIDS’ in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was attended by 200 people from religious scholars to HIV patients from 50 countries. The Consultations led to the establishment of an HIV fund to increase the number and quality of HIV-related projects in Muslim communities, and also a global network of HIV positive Muslims.
15) In 2007, Islamic Relief’s charitable expenditure totalled £31.7 million, of which 36% went towards providing emergency relief.
16) In 2008, Islamic Relief received the International Award from Mosaic, a Muslim-led initiative which attempts to break down barriers across British society. The Mosaic Talent Awards rewarded Islamic Relief for its positive contribution to society at the Natural History Museum in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan.
17) British fashion designer Bruce Oldfield created the world’s most expensive abaya by adorning it with 4 688 diamonds ad 359.7 grams of white gold. In 2008 it was sold for £175 000 at the Gulf Luxury Trade Fair in London, where a substantial donation went to Islamic Relief, the long-term charity partner of the fair. The proceeds went towards Islamic Relief’s ‘Milk for pre-schoolers’ project, which distributes daily milk and fortified biscuits to pre-school children in Gaza.
18) In 2008, Islamic Relief Palestine received the International Award for Excellence and Creativity in the category of ‘best Palestinian institution’ for its humanitarian work with the Palestinian people. The organisation’s efforts were recognized in the presence of president Mahmoud Abbas, James Wolfensohn, former president of the World Bank and former representative of the international peace quartet for Middle East Peace, Peter Hansen, former director of the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and Ahmad Muhammad Ali, president of the Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Development Bank.
19) Islamic Relief has managed to raise $17 million worldwide through its Gaza appeal since the start of the conflict in December 2008. Already $3 million worth of emergency medical and food aid has been distributed to the people of Gaza.
20) Islamic Relief UK’s head of fundraising, Habib Malik received a lifetime achievement award in 2008 at the Young Scottish Muslim Awards for his local and international charity work. The Young Scottish Muslim Awards aim to recognize the positive contribution made by Scottish Muslims to society.
21) In 2008, Islamic Relief Jordan was presented with a certificate of recognition by Jordan’s Red Crescent for its extensive work in Jordan’s one-to-one orphan sponsorship programme. Islamic Relief Jordan sponsors over 500 orphans, most of which are Palestinian refugees.
22) In 2008, Islamic Relief united with Christian Aid and World Jewish Relief in Cambridge to discuss how UK faith based communities can collaborate to tackle poverty.
23) In 2008, Islamic Relief Lebanon signed a €500 000 funding agreement with UNICEF to benefit Palestinian refugees living in the Nahr Al Bared camp that provides shelter to 30 000 displaces Palestinian refugees.
24) The Universal Peace Federation that promotes peace around the world and nominates individuals who have dedicated their lives to working to interreligious cooperation awarded Mohamed El-Wei, Islamic Relief’s Programme Manager in Albania, the title of Ambassador of Peace. Mr El-Wei won the award in recognition of Islamic Relief Albania’s humanitarian interventions, its contribution to development and the promotion of peace and religious harmony in Albania.
25) In April 2007, Islamic Relief Worldwide became one of the founding members of the Muslim Charities Forum (MCF). The MCF was founded on the initiative of five British Muslim led international non-governmental organisations. It aims to improve British Muslim charities' contribution to international development by promoting the exchange of experience, ideas and information amongst the members, between networks of NGOs in the UK and internationally, with the Governments, and other bodies with the interest in international development.
