ensarwt.org.uk

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(FAQs)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What we do?

We work with and support the poorest and most vulnerable people to fight for and gain their rights to food, shelter, work, basic healthcare and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

Among them are widows, orphans, the homeless and disabled, and refugees.

We also champion poor people’s rights through campaigns on food rights, and education.

Working through our offices and partners, Islamic Aid’s fight against poverty has reached millions of people in Africa and Asia.

Since our inception in 2000, we have supported projects in over 12 countries worldwide, making a real, long-term difference. In many country we support long-term projects. Wherever we work, we always make sure that our programs are created in collaboration with local people, often working very closely with partner organisations, to ensure that we are addressing the real root causes of poverty, rather than just alleviating the symptoms.

We see poverty as an injustice and poor people as partners in tackling the causes of poverty.

We never try to impose solutions, but work with communities over many years to strengthen their own efforts to throw off poverty. We constantly ask ourselves how we can make the greatest impact with our resources.

Other things that make us different from other development agencies are:

our long-term grassroots development approach our innovative ways of working on basic education, healthcare and livelihoods our rights-based approach to emergencies our close partnerships with local organisations in developing

All our funds come from private individuals, businesses, mosques and local organisations. We do not receive any funding from government institutions. This enables us to work independently.

Ensar Welfare Trust has no political or religious affiliations, but we’re not afraid to challenge injustice. We work with poor and marginalised people, seeking to make governments and international institutions tackle the real causes of poverty.

Campaigning works – it’s as effective as giving a financial gift.

Governments are responsible for building the frameworks needed to give people their basic rights, so we also encourage poor people to hold their national and local governments to account.

We also work with governments, locally and nationally, to help them build their knowledge and skills so that they can fight poverty effectively in their own countries and international arenas.

Ensar Welfare Trust does not send volunteers overseas, preferring to employ local people wherever possible. We through our local offices and with local partner organisations at grassroots level.

We do, however, occasionally have opportunities for volunteers in the UK, usually in London. Volunteers can help us maximise our efficiency, achieve our aims and bring new skills, experience and perspectives to our work. At the same time we believe that volunteering can offer valuable training and work experience, as well as a chance to directly contribute to our work.