Islamic Relief at Queen’s University (IRQU) is bringing community members together through five events to raise money for orphans and children in need.
From Oct. 20-26, IRQU, a Queen’s club chapter of the Islamic Relief Canada charity, is hosting a local Charity Week. IRQU is collaborating with student groups to organize events open to Queen’s students and members of the Muslim community.
Charity Week is an annual global initiative led by Islamic Relief chapters across 10 countries. Established in 2000 in London, U.K., the initiative has since expanded to Canada, Qatar, Germany, the U.S., South Africa, Ireland, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Norway.
Last year, Charity Week raised $3.7 million internationally across more than 1,000 institutions.
In a written statement to The Journal, IRQU said they do not have a specific fundraising goal this year. The campaign raised over $6,400 last year and IRQU is aiming to surpass that figure this year.
“The seven-day structure allows different clubs to be united because they know they have to execute within these seven days to participate in the program,” IRQU said.
The campaign raises funds to support orphans and vulnerable children and communities in Sudan, and global water initiatives in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Somalia, and Nigeria, according to IRQU. They added that the campaign also supports community projects focused on infrastructure, schooling, and safety in Columbia, Malaysia, Syria, Jordan, and Morocco.
At Queen’s, IRQU partnered with different student groups for each event.
In a statement to The Journal, the Queens University Muslim Student Association (QUMSA), one of the groups participating, said Charity Week brings Muslim students together with the idea that communities can accomplish more by working collectively.
“It’s grown into an international initiative that we’re proud to be part of here at Queen’s,” QUMSA said.
This year’s theme, Waves of Unity, emphasized the strength communities can find in collaboration.
So far, IRQU has held three campaign events. The remaining two events include the Race for Relief on Oct. 24 with QUMSA, and the Sunrise Social on Oct. 25 with the Egyptian Students Association at Queen’s (ESAQ), where students and community members are invited to have breakfast with ESAQ.
Race for Relief, a five-kilometer run that takes place at Gord Downie Memorial Pier, is returning from last year’s Charity Week. QUMSA said they hope to raise $500, adding the event typically attracts more than 60 participants.
When asked why Charity Week is important this year, QUMSA said that many communities continue to face displacement, poverty, and limited access to basic necessities.
“While we recognize that our contributions are only a small part of the solution, we believe coming together to support these communities is an important step,” QUMSA said.
Beyond fundraising, IRQU said Charity Week aims to shed light on humanitarian issues around the globe, saying that it is often easy and comfortable for students to stay within their own “bubble.”
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