[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Distribution to the Syrian Refugees:“]Caravan of Mercy on the ground delivering aid to the Syrian refugees.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
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Sweets For The School Children (Day 3) – 18 March 2015

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Salaams all,

Today we had breakfast again at Abu Hamid’s at 9.00hrs. Our program for today felt like it was going to be very easy because we only had 70 parcels to distribute in Billani. On our way there we bought some sweets for the school children. When we arrived in Billani village there was already a crowd waiting for us and crowded the van even before we could get out, after about 20 mins of trying to convince them to go and wait in their home or what resembles a home we sent the van with the food parcels away and said to them that if they didn’t return to their homes we are just going to give the school children the sweets and leave without doing any distribution as we started giving the sweets to the children in the classrooms the crowd dispersed so we eventually got the distribution on the way. The first 10-11 houses went well and then the crowd started following us because we missed some houses (we were only distributing to the homes of those the village chief told us were the most needy)

Mohammed Saeed Adam
Trustee

Reyhanli
Turkey

[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Distribution to the Syrian Refugees:“]Caravan of Mercy on the ground delivering aid to the Syrian refugees.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
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Refugees Are In Desperate Need For Aid (Day 2) – 17 March 2015

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Salaams all,

We had breakfast at Abu Hamid’s today at 8.30 hrs and then we made a quick consultation and we decided we will do 2 things today:
1) go and see head of border security to see if we can cross over to Atmeh Camp
2) visit 2 villages called Billani and Hassa that Hiba identified as in desperate need for food aid.

Abu Abdullah quickly made the calls and managed to get an appointment to see head of border security for 10.00hrs. We met with him for just over an hour. He informed us that all borders into Syria are closed and even if he could arrange for us to go to Atmeh the security risk is too high and the atmosphere in the camp is very tense. Therefore any hope of crossing to Atmeh have now been cancelled and instead concentrate on aid distribution in Turkey. There is a new influx of refugees coming into Turkey from Syria. Since I arrived on Sunday I have been hearing of reports and have seen pictures of what looks like chemical weapons being used on the civilian population by the Syrian army and I suspect the fear of further chemical attack is driving this new wave of refugees.
We arrived in Billani a village situated approx. 1km from Baabul Hawwa border crossing and 8 kms from Reyhanli. We quickly saw that the refugees are in desperate need for aid. To my absolute surprise there was a refugee school being run in 4 prefabricated building each about 8ft x10ft which were provided by AFAD who I am told have something to do with the UN. The school has about 150 children from the age of 5 to 10/11 years of age. The 4 teachers who are also Syrian refugees teach for free.

Mohammed Saeed Adam
Trustee

Reyhanli
Turkey

[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Distribution to the Syrian Refugees“]Caravan of Mercy on the ground delivering aid to the Syrian refugees.
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
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Arrival in Turkey (Day 1) – 16 March 2015

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Salaams all,

We started the day a little late as only arrived at 6.00hrs this morning and then went for breakfast so it was 11.30 by the time we got started.

As I was told the border to the Atmeh camp is closed indefinitely, decided that we should look for areas where no food distribution has been done or at least not much. My suggestion that we go to the little border settlements (right on the border) which we were told of on my last trip were quickly ruled out as we did our risk assessment. Abu Abdullah made a number of calls and came up with the little town called Kumlu 20 km from Reyhanli, not far from the border.

We went straight to see the Mayor/Councillor, had to wait for approx. 20 minutes to see him as he was busy with current election. We eventually met with him and he was very happy to receive us. We discussed our plans and he straight away got someone who knows how many refugees in this area and this man not only knows how many but where most also living so he told that man and the deputy of the police to accompany us to visit some off these families. On seeing these families we could see that nearly all of them were worse off than most families we saw last time. We have therefore decided that we will definitely do a distribution in Kumlu Tuesday or Wednesday Insha’Allah.

Mohammed Saeed Adam
Trustee

Reyhanli
Turkey

[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Ghana Project & Aid Distribution Trip“]Our chairman Molana Ebrahim Patel, our projects coordinator Molana Sameer Ismail and a volunteer are in Ghana. They will be overseeing all our projects in the country. They will also be carrying out a distribution of aid in northern Ghana.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 (Last Day)
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Last Day In Ghana (Day 11) – 15 March 2015

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Today is our last day in Ghana and also our last distribution for this trip. After returning from Tamaleh it was decided that we will also do a distribution from our very own Aisha Sidiqqah school.
The widows and poor and needy were all informed to meet at the school for 8 am.

Alhamdolillah many widows and poor women were given the chance to start their own trade so they could earn their own livlihood. Amongst the widows that received aid was Fati Suli, the widow whose house we visited yesterday. Her story and poor condition occupied our thoughts throughout the night, and to see a smile on her face today morning filled our hearts with so much joy. The truth is that Fati Suli is just one widow from hundreds maybe thousands that are in the same condition.

After the distribution finished we went to the house of a local brother where we met his disabled son. His son was probably no more than 11 years old but from a very young age he has been unable to walk or communicate properly. Allah grant him a full recovery (Ameen).
We made our way back to Masjid Abrar where we had a few last meetings and discussions with brother Ibrahim and Faiz.

When leaving for the airport for our flight we were bidding fairwell to our base for the last 10 days from where we planned so many distributions.

Sitting on the plane gave me a chance to think of what has been achieved in the last 10 days and I can honestly say that the last 10 days has blown me away. We got to meet some amazing people and also got to see first hand the good work that Caravan of Mercy are doing. Throughout the trip every effort was made that the beneficiaries were the people that needed aid the most.

Leaving Ghana gives me the same feeling that I had when leaving Tamaleh, that although we have achieved alot we still have unfinished work to do. From the water crisis we witnessed in the north to the state of the widows we saw and heard about in Accra.

JazakaAllah

Sameer Ismail

Projects Coordinator

[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Ghana Project & Aid Distribution Trip“]Our chairman Molana Ebrahim Patel, our projects coordinator Molana Sameer Ismail and a volunteer are in Ghana. They will be overseeing all our projects in the country. They will also be carrying out a distribution of aid in northern Ghana.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9
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A Day Spent With The Students (Day 9) – 13 March 2015

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Assalamu alaykum

Today will be our second day in Aisha Sidiqqah school. We wanted to get to the school nice and early so we could see the students in assembly. The assembly in Asiga which takes place every morning was amazing. The students read the morning dua and also some Islamic songs. Watching the students in assembly made me think that students from such deprived backgrounds, when nourished and taken care off they can turn into something really special. The day was spent with the students that are sponsored by Caravan of Mercy. One of the students said “please tell the people of England, JazakAllah for helping me gain an education and build my future”. Molana and brother Faiz also had the chance to sit and listen in the Qur’an class.

At lunch time the students were prepared the meat that we slaughtered yesterday. They were so overjoyed that they were having meat, as they only get the chance to have meat a few times a year. It was as if Eid had come early.
To bring a smile to a child’s face, especially an orphan truly is an amazing feeling and InshaAllah an act of reward.

For Jummah Salaah we returned to Masjid Abrar where the Imam Abdul Awwal lead the prayer. The Imam is also supported by Caravan of Mercy.

Today brother Ibrahim informed us about a young girl. Her name is Humaira Abdul Malik. Her mother and father abandoned her and she was left homeless sleeping on the street and fighting for survival. Alhamdolillah Caravan of Mercy is now supporting this child through its sponsorship scheme at Asiga. Imagine how many more there are like Humaira that need our help.

In the evening me and brother Saleh went for a walk with a local brother. He informed us that he works long hours a day and earns only £30 a month. His house is 1 old wooden structure which reminded me of shed that we have in our gardens.
It really makes you wonder how lucky we are in the UK and yet we take so much for granted. For many people in Ghana every penny is valued as it could be the difference between them eating or sleeping hungry.

Sameer Ismail

Projects Coordinator

[su_tabs][su_tab title=”Ghana Project & Aid Distribution Trip“]Our chairman Molana Ebrahim Patel, our projects coordinator Molana Sameer Ismail and a volunteer are in Ghana. They will be overseeing all our projects in the country. They will also be carrying out a distribution of aid in northern Ghana.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8
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A Day I Wouldn’t Forget (Day 8) – 12 March 2015

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Assalamu Alaykum

Today was going to be a special day, a day I wouldn’t forget, as I will be visiting the Aisha Sidiqqah Islamic girls school (Asiga). Since arriving in Ghana I have been anxiously waiting to see where the students study that com sponsors.

Asiga is a purpose built school that accommodates orphans and also poor and needy students. Asiga opened in October 2013. The school is about 5 min drive from Masjid Abrar. When we arrived at Asiga brother Faiz the headmaster and brother Ibrahim took us for a tour of the school. One thing that is visible from the outset is the Islamic values that have been implemented in the school. Both the students and the teacher’s are dressed in an Islamic manner. When walking in and out of the classrooms the students are greeting us with salaam, you can see the benefits of Asiga already.

When the students came out for break, many students ran upto us to greet us, they were so happy to see us that it seemed as a celebrity had arrived at the school. I spent the day going through the sponsorship details while Molana Ebrahim discussed future plans for the school. After Asar me and brother Saleh went to the market to slaughter an animal as we wanted to feed the students at asiga tomorrow. The evening was spent in Masjid Abrar working on the sponsorship programme.

Since arriving in Ghana we have seen many bill boards calling to other faiths, I feel the students at Asiga are getting the correct knowledge at grass root level to equip them for the challenges they will face later on in life.

I honestly cant wait to go back to asiga tomorrow.

Sameer Ismail

Projects Coordinator