Islamic Relief Canada
3501 Mainway L7M 1A9 Burlington, ON, Canada

The first shipment of vaccines have arrived in Yemen and Palestine! These pictured shipments of COVAX to Yemen included 360,000 doses, together with 13,000 safety boxes and 1,300,000 syringes. These doses are being sent to Yemen and Palestine as part of our Spread Hope Not Covid campaign in partnership with UNICEF UNICEF is distributing two billion COVID-19 vaccines to the world’s poorest countries, including Yemen and the Palestinian territories. However, the current invent...ory only allows for 12% of the population of these countries to be vaccinated by 2021, unless they are able to raise more funds. This is where you can help. Just $5 can make sure someone gets two doses of the vaccine in these extremely vulnerable regions. We urge you to help us end the pandemic everywhere, quickly and equitably, one vaccine at a time. https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/emergenci/covid-vaccine

Thank you for joining us! We're going live every Friday this Ramadan with a beautiful recitation of Surah Kahf by Shaykh AbdulKadir from Edmonton, Canada. On this blessed Friday, please remember the entire human family in your prayers Give your Jum'ah sadaqa today, and help us spread the blessing of Ramadan everywhere https://donate.islamicreliefcanada.org

Spend less time planning and more time doing this #RamadanWithIR using our MyDeeds App! It includes a daily tracker for Quran, prayers, and good deeds. It even has duas and tidbits in one place! Get it on the App Store now! Android users - we're waiting for PlayStore's approval just like you (make dua )

Today is International Day of #Education. Just one year ago, the way we were accessing education was entirely different. For so many taking classes and going to school virtually can be a challenging experience because of the various barriers they face, like access to strong WIFI, a laptop or even a quiet spot to attend classes. Many students across the world and right here in Canada can not afford a virtual education and with the new world we live in many parents can't affo...rd to stay around and help with the technicalities of a virtual school. On top of that the learning experience over online meeting platforms can be very draining and hard to follow. That is why today we urge you to donate towards improving and supporting children's education. One of our most recent partnership is with BridgeTO Youth that promotes the education and social integration of vulnerable youth through free-tutoring and mentoring in an inclusive environment that will assist high school student’s transition to post secondary school. Just 25$ can support a free tutoring session. http://bit.ly/3c875es We also want to give a shoutout to all the students who've been pushing through this past year, we know things are tough but your efforts to keep up with your education will light your path and ignite your passions forward!

URGENT : Syria is currently experiencing heavy rains and flash flooding in areas where there are makeshift camps. The situation is affecting 7,500 in those camps, many of whom were already only eating one meal per day. Islamic Relief is on the ground delivering ready-made beds, tents and food items to the people affected by these weather conditions. You can help us reach even more people. Donate now: https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/appeals/syria/

Next week will mark 4 years since the Quebec City Mosque shooting. On that night, 6 innocent worshippers lost their lives as they gathered to remember God. On that night, all of Canada was shocked to see what happens when hate and Islamophobia are taken to their extreme, violent ends. But sadly, Islamophobia and racism are still very much alive today. This year, we are partnering with NCCM and Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec to help raise awareness of Islamophobia and it's deadly consequences. Over the next week, we'll be launching the Green Square Campaign, raising funds in the fight against Islamophobia and doing a Live with members of the Quebec City community on Jan 29. Please share and help spread awareness. We must all do our part to eradicate Islamophobia. #RememberQuebecIR #GreenSquareCampaign #FightHatewithIR

#WinterWarmthIR continues on the West Coast Our regional team in #Calgary has been working hard to deliver winter kits to those in need. Each kits contains protection against the weather like warm hats, gloves, waterproof blankets, face masks and sweaters. Over 400 kits were assembled and delivered throughout Calgary! The winter season can be especially difficult for vulnerable residents communities so let’s all play a role in helping out. We’re grateful for your donations, support and of course to our volunteers, without whom this would not be possible

Next up on our #MeetTheTeam series is Ottawa! With 25 active members, the Ottawa team is one of our most engaged teams on the ground. Here is what their regional manager, Yazan Nasreddin, had to say about one of their most memorable moments as a team: "Our team in Ottawa is very proud of the Shaykh Omar Suleiman event that took place in 2019 as part of Islamic Relief Canada's fundraising tour for Syria. We were so proud of this event because we came together as a team, execut...ed a marvellous sold-out event, and raised the highest amount of funds between all the other cities - $211,163.67 This event echoed the highest form of cooperation between the team, and put Islamic Relief Canada on the map here in Ottawa. The event was preceded with a private lunch with Shaykh Omar Suleiman in cooperation with Yaqeen Institute. Many distinguished guests, community leaders and imams were invited to both events, making that day a landmark in the city's history. It was a top notch program, a classy event, and an inspiring dinner program where families, friends, community leaders, supporters and volunteers came together to help for a great noble humanitarian cause: to help bring better medical care to the people of Syria." If you're interested in joining the team, feel free to reach out to Yazan! There's a great opportunity to grow within the team as well P.S. The Ottawa team took part in our #SpicyNoodleChallenge recently, so be sure to check out their highlight video in our previous posts!

This weekend we delivered nearly 465 Spiritual Wellness kits across Ontario. The kits contained everything needed to jumpstart your spiritual journey for 2021 - and all proceeds went to help our water projects in Somalia. Everyone's been messaging us to tell us how much they've loved them - check our stories for details!

Islamic Relief is on the ground helping those fleeing their homes from Ethiopia, working at the entry points and camps in Sudan to accommodate the large influx of refugees streaming into the country. Already more than 25,000 refugees have fled the #Tigray region into Sudan, with a potential total of 100,000 people expected to cross over into. We are on the ground coordinating our emergency response to provide urgent food, water, hygiene supplies and living essentials for thos...e in need. Gain the blessings of Friday with your sadaqa, and give what you can to help the people of #Ethiopia as they flee their homes for safety. Every one of us can help save one person’s life, and change their story for the better. islamicreliefcanada.org/appeals/ethiopia-refugee

Now featuring our Peel team, which is one of our most active teams, led by our very own Ibtihaj Khan! The team works hard on creating community centered events to further engage the local community. Here is what Ibtihaj had to say about one of their recent events: "One project that our Peel team put their heart and soul into was our Al-Aqsa drive-in screening. As the Covid-19 lifestyle became the norm for many, the Peel team was stuck in a predicament. How can we create an ev...ent that is social, fun, and exciting, yet respected all public health recommendations? The team settled upon a two-day drive-in screening for the amazing documentary One Night in Al-Aqsa. We came together and engineered the entire event to be completely contact-free and respect all COVID-19 guidelines. Alhamdulillah, the event was very successful and we raised around $10 000 for the people of Palestine." If you want to join Ibtihaj's team, just reach out! Contact details in the pics #MeetTheTeam _ Please note: The event shown here was done a few months ago, and masks were only removed to take the photo. In line with the recent lockdown, our Peel and Toronto teams have restricted their activities according to public health guidelines.

Here's a little humour to brighten up your day as we go through the second wave of Covid-19. We've taken lessons from hilarious online stories to bring you sound advice for working from home. Please share with your colleagues who might need a laugh today! #WFH #Covid19 And if you need some advice on dealing with the burnout, check out our blog post on 'Real Recovery from Covid Burnout' from: https://blog.islamicreliefcanada.org//recover-mental-heal/

This one holds a special place in our hearts. We hear about Palestine so often, but what really defines this region apart from the conflict? What is their culture and their legacy? For our last #IslamicHeritageWithIR blog piece we want to put the spotlight on Palestine and share a few facts you may not have known. Many faiths and empires come together here, and Islam's rich heritage and contributions are to be seen everywhere. Read about the Unknown Facts About Palestine: blog.islamicreliefcanada.org/people/facts-about-palestine

16 Days of Activism is starting in just a few days and this year we want to make sure the word gets out! #16DaysofActivism is a yearly campaign to raise awareness on gender-based violence or GBV. Many of our programs are dedicated to supporting victims of GBV, who are predominantly women and girls. GBV can occur in many forms across faith, class and cultural divides. The more we can learn about GBV through campaigns like #16DayswithIR, the better we can prepare ourselves to identify and support those who are facing it. So on November 25, we ask you to wear a white ribbon to show your support and share with your networks! Together, we can show we care and that we will not stand for GBV in any form.

We're BACK due to popular demand (and very near public outcry)! We've restocked our Palestine shirts for the campaign! All sizes are back and we've even added youth sizes in the Dome of the Rock and Palestine Text shirts!! All proceeds will provide front line workers in Gaza with essential PPE in the midst of the pandemic. Order yours today from: islamicreliefcanada.org/get-involved/honouring-palestine... #PPE4Gaza #HonourPalestine

Next up on our #MeetTheTeam series is Durham, ON! Established just over 2 years ago, the Durham regional team has always been quick to respond to local initiatives and causes. Here is what their team lead, Irfan, had to say about their recent event: "A local woman's shelter in downtown Toronto, Sistering, reached out to our team asking for hijabs and abayas as they had an influx of homeless Muslim woman from the onset of the Covid-19 crisis. Immediately, our team sprung int...o action and did a call out to the community who graciously opened their hearts and donated hundreds of pieces of clothing. Our teams sat outside their own houses all day as members of our community stopped by to donate their hijabs and abayas. Their entire house was filled with bags which they shuffled through and organized before delivering the items. The shelter was so overwhelmed with support that their website crashed. It was such a rewarding initiative that helped our sisters in need and truly highlighted the generosity of our community." If you want to join the Durham team, just reach out! Contact details in the pics

We love these thoughtful insights from Yasmeen, an Islamic Relief volunteer and writer, who found herself in such a unique situation this year - starting medical school in the midst of pandemic. With humour and grace, she shares an inside view of what it's been like, and how the profession is changing in so many ways. In this blog post, Yasmeen describes her experiences and shares the differences she's already seeing. Read her insights here: blog.islamicreliefcanada.org/just-for-/medical-school-covid

Take one more hike in the beautiful fall colours for charity. Join us for a 4km hike across Moore Park Ravine Park on November 1 in Toronto. When you join this trek, you have one week to see if you can raise $250 for children in need around the world (plenty of time we believe)! Make this a solo challenge or bring a friend (or two) to aim bigger. Our last hike even saw the little tykes come out - all for a good cause! Sign up today at islamicreliefcanada.org/get-involved/challenges #CW2020 #LetsMakeHistory

For our Honour Palestine campaign, Islamic Relief Canada has partnered with Dr. Tarek Loubani and Glia to print protective face shields and respirators for hospitals and healthcare workers in Gaza. These innovative PPE are reusable, can be easily disinfected, and are eco-friendly. Through 3D printing, equipment can be printed directly in Gaza for quickest delivery and protection against Covid-19. All proceeds from our current sales for SHIRTS and OLIVE OIL will be in su...pport of this innovative project. Get yours today from: https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/get/honouring-palestine Already under blockade, and with limited resources to treat even basic health concerns, an escalated Covid-19 outbreak in Gaza will have devastating consequences for civilians. Your support will help us equip emergency workers, healthcare professionals, and first responders with the necessary PPE to stay safe as well as hygiene kits and food for families and front line workers. #PPE4Gaza #honourpalestine

The results are in! From BC to Nova Scotia YOU raised over $75K this year for Charity Week. All to help orphans and children in need around the world to have a better life. The challenge this year was #LetsMakeHistory and you did that beautifully! Even in the midst of a pandemic, you thought up the most unique, delicious, hilarious and challenging ideas to rally your friends and community so that together we could make a difference. Thank you for everything you have done and to all who contributed! #CW2020 #LetsMakeHistory

Our staff kicked off Charity Week with SKYDIVING!!! (We expected nothing less from them!) They made a leap from 14,000 feet in the air to help raise money for orphans and children in need around the world! Kudos to : Asna, Yasmine, Lina, Mashaal, Ramy, Ibtihaj, and Sohaib for their courage! Together, they've raised $6000, but you can still make a contribution for their nerves of steel below: launchgood.com/campaign/asna_dares_to_dive... launchgood.com/campaign/yasmin_dares_to_dive launchgood.com/campaign/lina_dares_to_dive launchgood.com/campaign/mashaal_dares_to_dive launchgood.com/ca/ibtihaj__sohaib_dares_to_dive_for_orphans What a way to kick off #CW2020. Looking forward to what everyone else is up to! #LetsMakeHistory

The humble olive tree has a rich history in Palestine. So for our campaign, we're bringing you a taste of this treasured item from the region. HINT: This has been a very popular product and we're quickly selling out! Quickly order yours from islamicreliefcanada.org/get-involved/honouring-palestine/ All proceeds from these sales will go to our programs in Palestine, delivering urgently needed supplies and equipment including medicines, disposable item...s, hygiene kits and food for families and front line workers. These trees go way back. Olive orchards have been in families for hundreds of years, tended by generation after generation. You can learn more about the legacy of olive trees in our Palestine blog post: blog.islamicreliefcanada.org/people/facts-about-palestine #PPE4Gaza #HonourPalestine

Charity Week is only 3 days away! Have you signed up yet? For one week, hundreds of volunteers come together to find creative ways to raise money for a good cause. This year, we're not going to let a pandemic hold us back (with safety in mind of course). So we challenge you to come up with the most creative and lucrative ideas for Charity Week 2020 - and don't be afraid to get crazy. You can sign up at: https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/get-invol/charity-week/ #LetsMakeHistory #CHW2020

#CharityWeek is only days away and we're so excited for all the campaigns coming up. This entire week is dedicated to collecting funds for children in need and orphans. Orphan Sponsorship is one of our most popular programs. That's because, when you sponsor an orphan with Islamic Relief, you're not just taking care of the basic needs of the child. Our programs look after the complete success of the child including: mental and social growth health of the community around... them access to tuition extracurricular activities even support for their family members. You can read more about our Orphan Sponsorship program here: https://blog.islamicreliefcanada.org/impact/muslim-orphans/ See more

As tensions rise in #Ethiopia, the possibility of a full blown conflict draws close. To escape the upcoming tensions, thousands of people are being displaced. There is an expectation that 10,000 20,000 people will cross over into Afar region of Ethiopia where Islamic Relief has a presence. Already 9,200 have been confirmed to have crossed into Sudan. We're already working with our teams in Sudan to help the country accommodate the large influx of refugees streaming into the country. We're also closely monitoring the situation in Ethiopia to see how we can provide support and relief. Please send your thoughts and prayers for the people in this region. : ctvnews.ca

You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the ENTIRE ocean in a drop. As always, our differences make us stronger. So thrilled to partner with Toronto District School Board for #IslamicHistoryMonth! Let’s all do our part to get through #COVID19, so we can be together again soon. #IslamicHeritagewithIR #tdsbIHM

Our staff is getting ready for #CharityWeek with our own initiatives! To BE the change we want to see, many of us are joining or doing our own challenges to help raise money for orphans! Here's just a few that are happening: Conquer the Rockies - From the flat prairies to the high mountains @Nisa hikes over 20km (depending on how much you help her raise and weather conditions) in the great Canadian Rockies. Our prairie girl is going all the way to Banff National Park to supp...ort orphans all around the globe. Follow Nisa along this weekend and support her campaign here: https://www.launchgood.com//nisa_dares_to_trek_for_orphans Plant a Tree - Islamic Relief Canada is on a mission to plant 250 trees for Charity Week! We will plant and dedicate a tree to you or a loved one, and the money also goes to help orphans. This is truly sadaqah jariyah! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lets-plant-a-tree-on-your-behal Dare to Trek Toronto - Take one more hike this beautiful fall for charity. Across Canada, we're organizing our teams and communities to hike for orphans. Sign up here: https://fb.me/e/3Zm7XRl92 Dare to Dive - Skydiving for Charity! Some of our staff are facing their biggest fears to help raise money for orphans. You can too! Our event is now full - but you can (and should!) organize your own ! These are just a few of the ideas our staff came up with. You can join these or create your own! Tag us and we'd love to share what you come up with! #LetsMakeHistory #CW2020

Ibrahim El-Salahi is a Sudanese artist whose work is considered very significant in the modern art movement. His work combines themes from Islamic calligraphy and art with Western references in a way that reminds you of Picasso. Interesting, because Picasso is said to have taken inspiration from African art. Learn more about El-Salahi's work, and other great contributions of Islamic heritage from Sudan in our blog: https://blog.islamicreliefcanada.org/people/islam-in-sudan/

This weekend, we hosted a one of a kind event to kick off our #charityweek (we're starting a little early to get the hype going)! We had families and kids join us for a unique screening of Zootopia while petting GOATS and ALPACAS !! Thank you to Triple C Farm for letting us meet our little furry friends while enjoying a fun movie with our friends and family (All with social distancing measures in place.) All proceeds will be for orphans around the world, in collaboration with Charity Week #CW2020. Stay tuned to see all the amazing events we have coming up for #charityweek this year!

Asma Maryam Ali from Concentric Care Wellness Services is back to talk about Covid-19 burnout. In this post, she shows us two strategies for a real solution to Covid-19 burnout, which align our spirituality with our anxieties. She delves deeper into what could be causing Covid-19 burnout and explains why common ways of dealing with the burnout such as regular exercise and new hobbies might lessen the symptoms and are definitely recommended - but also why we sometimes find they aren't working. Read all of her insights here: https://blog.islamicreliefcanada.org//recover-mental-heal/