I want to take a second to step away from fashion to talk about two projects that I think are really fantastic and really need supporting. They cover two very different issues, but both affect women and both address basic human needs and rights.
1) At Our Mother’s Feet - supporting maternal health
Everyone’s got love for his or her mother, right? We've all heard the hadith 'Paradise lies at the feet of your mother.' We're all taught to love and respect our mama, however, unfortunately every day 1,000 mothers die during pregnancy or childbirth because they can’t access the healthcare and support they need. That’s one thousand EVERY SINGLE DAY. Surprised? OK, try this: Most of these women come from a select few developing countries - where Muslims are the majority. Shocking? OK, here goes: 8 times out of 10, these deaths are preventable. Let me repeat that – eight times out of ten, our sisters are dying NEEDLESSLY.
Everyone’s got love for his or her mother, right? We've all heard the hadith 'Paradise lies at the feet of your mother.' We're all taught to love and respect our mama, however, unfortunately every day 1,000 mothers die during pregnancy or childbirth because they can’t access the healthcare and support they need. That’s one thousand EVERY SINGLE DAY. Surprised? OK, try this: Most of these women come from a select few developing countries - where Muslims are the majority. Shocking? OK, here goes: 8 times out of 10, these deaths are preventable. Let me repeat that – eight times out of ten, our sisters are dying NEEDLESSLY.
At Our Mother’s Feet is a campaign that is not only encouraging us on the ground to raise awareness through simple actions – but is also working actively with other organisations to improve the situation. There are simple things you can do to help, even as simple as posting on your FB wall or filling out a postcard with a message as to ‘why you are at your mother’s feet…’ Once there's a big enough interest and active pressure, organisations are more able to lobby support for causes such as this which are often forgotten about.
Like their FB page and visit their website to see how you can help: http://www.facebook.com/At0urMothersFeet
2) Children of Adam - feeding the needy community project
I’m sure many of you remember the Iftars with the Homeless that have been run each year in London. I’m not sure if these have happened elsewhere in the UK, but for those of you who haven’t heard or been involved before, these are flashmob type events where people would turn up with food and drink and distribute these to needy people when it’s time to break fast. As we all know, homelessness and hunger is a year-round issue, and just as we should not let Ramadan be the only time we pray extra, it shouldn’t be the only time we remember those less needy. Therefore, a group of people are working to make this a more sustainable project and are meeting once a week and setting up a food stall in London. Everyone contributes by bringing something, no matter how small, or just by coming to help out with the distribution.
One unique part of this project is the interaction you get with people in your community that you are likely to disregard as you walk past them on the street. So often you hear people brush off homelessness by claiming 'it's their own fault' - but whatever we may think, we cannot judge and know somebody else's circumstances that put them in the position they are in. Yesterday I met guys from Portugal, Latvia, South America, different parts of Africa – it was truly an eye-opening experience to speak to them. One of the (Muslim) homeless women told us that she couldn’t take any of the clothes we had brought, and would rather freeze because if she is seen carrying a bag with clothes or anything in it, she is a target and is likely to get mugged. Subhanallah…
InshaAllah this will be an ongoing project, and volunteers will be meeting every Sunday at 6pm at Lincoln’s Inn Fields in Holborn. Volunteers can come from all faiths - this is not an exclusive 'Muslim group'. If you would like to know more, get involved or donate anything, check out the FB page at http://www.facebook.com/childrenofadam
If you're not in London - why not set up something similar in your area?
If you're not in London - why not set up something similar in your area?
No comments:
Post a Comment