Children are precious, but all too many children do not receive the love, care, and protection they deserve. It’s a sad fact that they suffer disproportionately from the wars, conflicts, and crises that adults cause, even though these little ones are innocent. Children who have lost one or more of their parents are particularly vulnerable.
Around the world today, there are approximately 153 million orphans. Every day, 6,000 more children are orphaned, on average. Adding to their plight, one in five children worldwide lives in a conflict zone, placing them at a high risk of hunger, violence, loss of basic resources, loss of education, and psychological stress.
Globally, more than 12 million children have lost their homes. As refugees, they are unable to make a future for themselves. For example, in Gaza alone, 17,000 children are separated from their parents, according to UNICEF. In DR Congo, Ebola has left many children struggling to cope with loss in a country already terrorized by armed militias.
Around the world today, conflict affects children more than any other demographic, leaving young people without a safe, secure, and protective environment, and exposing them to the risk of displacement, violence, sexual exploitation, poverty, starvation, disease, psychological harm, and substance abuse.
Sponsor an orphan through IRUSA
Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) is committed to improving the lives of orphaned children by increasing their access to clean water, sanitation, and proper nutrition, as well as by providing educational opportunities and medical care. Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship program enables donors to transform children’s lives by providing essentials like food, shelter, healthcare, education, and other fundamental necessities.
Right now, IRUSA donors are providing lifesaving, life-enhancing aid to more than 30,000 orphaned children, helping them to escape poverty and look forward to a brighter future. When coupled with the children sponsored by the global Islamic Relief network, that total rises to 85,000.
IRUSA donors can support orphaned children across numerous countries, including Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Türkiye. These children include Somali, Palestinian, and Syrian refugees currently living in Kenya, Jordan, Lebanon, and Türkiye. Once supporters sign up to become a sponsor, they receive an initial report about the child they are sponsoring. After a year, they can request a progress report. The cost is $100 per month.
In addition, IRUSA’s new Orphan Scholarship Fund enables donors to help students who excel at school to reach their true potential. The fund pays for higher education opportunities and university scholarships for these youth. Obtaining a degree provides a route out of the poverty trap, a pathway to a stable career, and a sustainable livelihood that can help families for generations. Donors can support the scholarship fund via a monthly donation of $50.
Helping young minds learn and grow
Education is a fundamental human right for all children, but all too many children—both orphans and those with parents—aren’t able to attend school consistently. Although humanity has made significant progress in increasing basic levels of education, in some countries, there remains much work to be done. According to a report from the Pew Research Center, about one-fifth of all people worldwide have no formal schooling.
Other research indicates that 244 million children between the ages of 6 and 18 are out of school. Recognizing the power of education to transform lives, IRUSA programs help vulnerable communities to access educational opportunities, enabling them to break the cycle of poverty.
Half of all children from low and middle-income nations leave primary school unable to read and write. For refugee children, the problem is even more pronounced, with just half attending primary school in the first place, and less than a quarter going on to study at secondary school. Among a multitude of contributing factors, poverty remains the single biggest barrier.
IRUSA and its partners are committed to upholding children’s right to education. Some of their interventions include enrolling 7,000 out-of-school children in school and community education centers in Afghanistan, and renovating four primary schools in Malawi and two in Kenya. Meanwhile in Bangladesh, the organization has increased formal and non-formal education via extra-curricular activities, as well as awareness programs regarding children’s rights.
Providing access to lifesaving medical care
For children living in poverty, access to basic medical care can mean the difference between life and death. IRUSA provides lifesaving medical care for orphaned children and their guardians. In addition to medical treatment, the organization also covers the cost of prescriptions and medical equipment such as wheelchairs, eyewear, and hearing aids, as well as the cost of travel to and from medical centers. IRUSA also supports orphaned children with chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma, enabling them to access lifesaving treatments.
In 2023, IRUSA and its partners covered the cost of major surgical operations involving spinal issues, breast cancer, and brain surgery across 16 countries. The organizations also funded medical treatments for significant health problems such as epilepsy, kidney disease, heart disease, and eye problems.
A safer, healthier future for children
IRUSA invests in children’s futures, supporting their health, education, careers, guardians, and communities. The organization is committed to delivering safe, sustainable solutions to end poverty and inequality. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, IRUSA has transformed lives, empowered communities, and helped to make the world a safer, more nurturing place for the most vulnerable children.