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Islamic Relief and Education

• Over 870 million adults are illiterate, two-thirds of them are women
• Educating girls results in improved family health and reduced rates of child malnutrition and mortality
• It is estimated that every year of a mother’s education reduces the risk of her child’s premature death by nine percent
• Literate mothers are also more likely to send their daughters to school

Education provides the key to a better future, helping people fulfill their potential and pursue their goals in life. For millions of people across the developing world, even basic education is far out of reach due to poverty. Poverty is closely linked to illiteracy - as both cause and consequence. Without basic literacy or skills, the opportunities for people to break free from the cycle of poverty are limited.

Islamic Relief aims to provide impoverished people and communities with access to education and vocational training - providing a way out of the poverty trap. Islamic Relief has initiated a number of community-based education projects aimed at underserved communities. Working directly with the communities ensures that our projects are relevant to the communities’ needs and relevant for the future.

Islamic Relief’s education project activities include:

• Distribution of school supplies
• Educating women in health and hygiene
• Ensuring that sponsored orphans receive an education
• Construction and rehabilitation of schools
• Providing literacy and vocational training courses for adults
• Supplying schools and universities with computers, books and resources

Educating Girls in Mali

“In the African country of Mali, more than 67% of women are illiterate and do not have access to quality education. The few schools that are established have increasingly low enrollment rates due to lack of infrastructure and qualified teachers.” To read more about education in Mali, click here.

Getting an Education in Darfur

“The school is often the only source of stability for children like Zainab, giving them some sense of normality in their fractured lives.”  To read more about the benefits of education in Darfur, click here.

Experiencing Education in Afghanistan

“In some areas, children have to study out in the open or in tents provided by the government because of the lack of schools.” Read on about the importance of education and Islamic Relief's efforts in Afghanistan.