It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts-- these are they who are true (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil). (Quran Chapter 2:Verse 177

Joblessness is a major problem in Iraq. Persons who were government employees before 2003 have usually been able to keep their jobs. However, many employees who worked in the private sector were laid off due to the deteriorating security situation that made it impossible for their employers to continue their activities as before. Unemployment stands at about eighteen per cent and would be higher if the government sector did not absorb such a great part of the workforce. However, the public sector cannot absorb more employees and persons searching for work are faced with grave difficulties. Becoming self-employed requires at least a moderate amount of capital, and many of those who look for work already spent all their savings on living expenses.

For almost two years, LFT is implementing a project in Basrah that grants fresh-water tanks to needy families. Tap water is not safe for consumption in many parts of Iraq and families need to buy safe drinking water. Bottled water being extremely expensive, people resorted to buying water from self-employed distributers who purchase water from safe sources and sell it at a small profit. Income from a fresh-water tank evidently varies according to season, but is 150,000 Dinar (ca 125 USD) per month on average, enough to provide food for a family of four to six members.

It is an indicator of the success of the project that only one of the fifteen beneficiaries who received water tanks so far sold his tank after the one-year period he pledged to keep the tank expired. All other beneficiaries held on to their tanks even when extraordinary expenses came up and they had to take out loans.

In July 2008, a further three families, comprising a total of 13 members, received a water tank. The head-of-families are aged between 26 and 42 years. Because they only completed primary school, they have difficulty finding a job. Now, instead of being idle, they gain enough to put food on the table and send their children to school. In addition, they offer a valuable service to the families of their neighbourhood. There are many more families in Basrah who are in a similar situation. Please, donate generously towards this project and enable your Muslim brothers and sisters to care for their families!

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  

NB The full names and addresses of the beneficiaries are held with the Trust

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/