Livelihoods | Muslim Hands UK

Livelihoods

Empower people to help themselves by supporting our income generation projects and providing equipment and training for working families

Fruit Tree

Help a family feed themselves and create an income by selling fruit.

£25



Farming Tools & Seeds

Help a family run a farm and create their own income.

£75



Sewing Machine

A sewing machine helps a mother gain an income.

£150

Empowering people for over 30 years

Many people in developing countries have the skills and enthusiasm to generate an income for themselves, yet lack the opportunity to put it into practice.

At Muslim Hands, we believe in empowering people to help themselves. Inspired by our faith, we see the wealth given by God as something that all human beings have a right to and we strive to give people access to sustainable ways of supporting themselves and their communities.

Since 1993, Muslim Hands has been working globally to support people in accessing work and education.

Our livelihoods projects cater to the specific needs of the communities that we work with and can range from anything to providing vocational training to young people, to the distribution of crops and equipment to farming families.

Globally living in extreme poverty: 692 million people

Classed as food insecure: about 28% globally

From Survival to Stability

Amina stands in front of her shop where she is able to sell groceries.

Aamina is a widow and mother of four who became her family’s sole provider after losing her husband. When severe drought hit, the family were forced to abandon their home for the displacement camps around Mogadishu.

To survive, Aamina set up a small stall selling beans, corn and milk. She was not protected from the weather and she often had to move her stall to accomodate crowds passing through the market. Her income was disrupted and her children remained out of school.

Through the Hope Shops livelihoods project, Muslim Hands supported Aamina with a secure trading space and resources to grow her business. Now, she can work with dignity and security and feels hopeful for the future, 'I can finally envision a future where my children attend school without financial worry, and our lives are not just about survival but about thriving and contributing to our community.'

Your donations in action

  • Empowering women

    You have empowered over 790,000 women of all ages to support themselves and their families.

  • Breaking the cycle of poverty

    You have helped more than 1.7 million people break out of a life of poverty.

  • Supporting Palestinian agriculture

    You have planted 230,000 olive trees across Palestine, helping people protect their lands and heritages.

  • Hope shops

    You have set up 533 hope shops, businesses that provide a stable income for widows and disadvantaged families.

  • Rickshaws

    You have given 425 rickshaws to families living below the poverty line in Bangladesh, allowing them to earn a dignified living.

  • Fruit trees

    You have planted over 127,000 fruit trees that provide nutrition and can be harvested as a crop for selling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the aim of your livelihoods programmes?

Our livelihoods programmes aim to help people living in poverty build sustainable, reliable incomes. By supporting skills development, providing resources and boosting small businesses, we help individuals and families become more financially secure and resilient.

Who do your livelihoods programmes support?

We support people living in poverty, including women, young people, people with disabilities and those affected by conflict, displacement or climate-related challenges. Many participants have limited access to jobs, training, or financial resources.

How do you ensure livelihoods projects are sustainable?

We design programmes in partnership with local communities, focusing on market demand and long-term viability. Ongoing mentoring, monitoring, and skills development help participants continue earning an income after the programme ends.