Pioneering programme helps orphans and widows in Bangladesh break out of intergenerational poverty

Widowed women and orphaned children in Bangladesh are breaking out of the poverty trap through a pioneering Islamic Relief programme.

Helping widows and orphans thrive

Life for many vulnerable widows in Bangladesh is difficult. Many have no income and struggle to provide for their children, who are often unable to go to school. This limits their life chances and ability to build a future free from poverty.

Islamic Relief is determined that everyone should be able to achieve their full potential, and we are supporting widows and orphans to do exactly that.

Our Alternative Orphan Family Sponsorship Programme through Sustainable Livelihood (ALO) works in Kaunia Upazila in Rangpur district, serving 500 widows and their children. It provides children with support for their education, while also enabling their mothers to earn a reliable living.

Able to attend school, the children are flourishing in their educational attainment and personal and physical development. Meanwhile their mothers are using the grant and training provided by Islamic Relief to carve out successful small enterprises including growing crops, rearing animals, and tailoring.

Yasmin, who is sponsored by Islamic Relief, shows her mother, Rina, her schoolbooks.

Inspiring women and changing lives for the better

When Rina’s husband passed away, she struggled to make ends meet. But then our ALO programme helped her to invest in a number of initiatives including cow and poultry-rearing, cap-making and tailoring.

Hard-working Rina has never looked back.

She now has a cow and a calf which provide 17 litres of milk a day, which Rina sells at a competitive price. She also manages a team of 15 other women who stitch caps which are exported to the Middle East. Rina also works as a tailor, sewing women and children’s clothes. Her income is now over BDT 22,000 (about £197) a month.

Mina, from a nearby village, also faced dire poverty when her husband passed away. Now she rears animals. Her cow and 7 goats provide her with milk which she sells for a good profit. She also has a rice field, and this year expects to harvest 280kg of rice. Mina also maintains a vegetable garden and poultry which provides her family with a healthy and nutritious diet.

“Orphans and widows are the most neglected segment of the society,” says Mohammed Mizanur Rahman Mithu, Secretary of the Kaunia Press Club. He was one of a number of Bangladeshi journalists to recently visit the ALO project, where they met Rina and Mina.

“Nobody looks after them and they are ignored by society. But in the ALO project, the scenario is different. They have changed remarkably in relation to income as well as voice raising. Now they are respected by their neighbours.”

Mina with her goats, which provide milk and a source of income.

Working together, boosting women’s inclusion

The woman have become more self-reliant and knowledgeable about their own rights and how to claim them. Their enterprises mean they can engage with institutions including banks, hospitals and social welfare departments. Local authorities are now listening to their needs, which are articulated through the Kaunia Self-Sustained Women Cooperative.

Formed by the women, the cooperative improves women’s inclusion and decision-making in their families and communities. Members contribute a small amount of money to a collective fund which is allocated towards a particular issue in the community. The fund can be awarded to a member of the group facing particularly difficult challenges.

Women contribute as much as they can to the fund each month – some save a handful of rice from their monthly groceries, which they sell in order to participate. They also receive training on self-employment, new income generation activities, and health and hygiene issues.

Mina meets with other members of her women’s cooperative.

Helping generations break cycles of poverty

Every woman involved with the programme has used their grants to develop a livelihood upon which they can rely, and are re-investing their profits to generate more income. Through the programme, which won the Bond Innovation Award in 2019, families bring home almost four times what they used to earn and have improved their living standards.

Nutritious food, new clothes, and healthcare are no longer out of reach, and personal hygiene practices have improved too – especially in light of Covid-19 and social distancing practices.

With their children thriving at school and set for brighter futures, families are escaping poverty, permanently, and local governments are replicating the ALO model elsewhere in Bangladesh.

Support our vital work to help vulnerable orphans and widows across the globe: donate now.

new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.