The number of widows and orphans in Iraq is huge. No detailed statistics exist, but estimates based on the reported daily number of victims of roadside bombings and terrorist attacks arrive at about one million widows and five million orphans. To this number, children orphaned because their fathers died from cancer caused by pollution of the environment with substances that cause the disease have to be added. The number of orphans and widows rises on a daily basis.

LFT's orphan sponsorship program aims at providing basic necessities for an orphan. More than that, this program tries to give the orphans and their families a message: They are not forgotten. Persons living far away, who don't know them personally, care about them and their suffering and want to send a token of their love and caring.

In Najaf and al-Nasseriyah, 102 families impatiently await the LFT representative at the beginning of every new quarter. Due to the fact that she visits each orphan at home to hand over his / her sponsorship amounting to 35,000 Dinar (ca 15 GBP) per month, she pays sponsorships on a three-monthly basis. The precarious security situation makes it too unsafe to ask the orphans to come to a certain location to collect their sponsorships.

LFT's representative does not only hand over sponsorship money. She knows most families well and mothers often consult her about their problems and concerns.

In addition to paying sponsorships, during the first quarter of 2008, the LFT representative identified a mother who is a skilled seamstress and purchased a sewing machine to enable her to support her family. Having been a tailor herself, the LFT representative examined the mother's skills before purchasing the sewing machine. This mother had to flee from Baghdad to Najaf with her four children after her husband was killed in a terrorist attack. Equipped with a brand-new sewing machine, she hopes to rebuild her life and that of her children.

Another sewing machine had been purchased in 2007. In her letter confirming the receipt of the machine, the mother of eleven-year-old Fatemeh Hassan Mehdi, who cares for her four children on her own since her husband passed away in 1999, writes: 

"To Lady Fatemah (as) Charitable Organization: Your organization purchased a sewing machine for me and this machine helped me a lot to raise the living standard of my family. I pray to Allah for your continuing success and send my heartfelt thanks to you."

In Basrah, another 80 orphans living in and around Basrah were sponsored with 35,000 Dinar per month through LFT donations.

Dear LFT donors! A mere 15 GBP provide an orphan in Iraq with basic food and clothing. More orphans wait to sign up on LFT's lists and receive sponsorship. Give a child a chance in life!

READ MORE

Names if additional 23 Orphans to follow

NB Trust has full names and address of the beneficiaries

Give As You Earn:

• This is the UK's largest payroll giving scheme and is administered by CAF (Charities Aid Foundation). Any employee or pensioner paid under PAYE can donate to a charitable organization in the UK, tax free. The Trust can receive GAYE donations, and our reference number is GYE 458449.

Islamic Humanitarian Service:

• The Trust has entered into an agreement with Islamic Humanitarian Service in Ontario to enable Canadian Citizens to donate to the Trust via a local Charity at ZERO% admin cost. Please contact us for further information. We sincerely thank I.H.S. ihs@primus.ca

Comfort Aid International:

• The Trust has entered into an agreement with Comfort Aid International in Texas to enable United States of America Citizens to donate to the Trust via a local Charity at ZERO% admin cost. Please contact us for further information. We sincerely thank Comfort Aid International. info@comfortaid.org

Ijaza:

• The Lady Fatemah Trust has been granted Ijaaza by Ayatollah al-Uzma Seyed Ali Seestani to collect Khums money. Please remember we operate on the basis of zero% administration costs, so every penny you give goes directly to those in need. Click to view Ijaza

To make a regular donation by standing order, please download a mandate from the website or contact us and we will send one to you. http://www.ladyfatemahtrust.org/donate.php  . You can make a donation by using our secure on-line payment facility at https://secure.webstar.co.uk/lft/donate.php .

Please remember that completing a Gift Aid form substantially boosts your donation by 28% if you are a UK taxpayer.

Thank you, as always for all your generosity and support without which our work would not be possible.

Yours sincerely,

Amirali G. Karim

Chairman of the Board of Trustees

info@ladyfatemahtrust.org

http://www.ladyfatemahtrust.org/

Tel: +44 (0) 7798 76 10 20 

Tel +44 (0) 1494 762 063, Email info@ladyfatemahtrust.org, Fax +44 (0) 1494 762 286,
Mobile +44 (0) 7798 76 10 20, Fax +44 (0) 7798 76 90 30
Website: http://www.ladyfatemahtrust.org/