Prophet Yusuf and the Dream
‘One night I had a dream and I saw white birds filling the sky. They came and carried me to the graveyard. I could see the cloak of Prophet Yusuf (as) and his face lighting up everything. One of the birds was talking to me and calling me “Mother”. Then I realised I was expecting Ahmad. It was Ramadan. Hussein passed away in Ramadan and Ahmad was conceived in Ramadan’.
Like over half of Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon, Ahmad and his mother live in the poor conditions of a refugee settlement. Under Lebanese laws, the family don’t have access to public education, health services, owning property or working in at least 36 professions. Despite these challenges, Umm Hassan is proud of her children’s achievements. Her three eldest children all graduated from their studies with impressive results, but since her husband died, she worries about the opportunities available to her three youngest.
Umm Hassan is just one of many widows who need your help to raise their children out of a world of poverty and uncertainty. Her story shows that when a child is orphaned, everyone, from their family right through to their community, is affected.
As well as giving access to an education, food and medical check-ups, our sponsorship scheme provides orphan families with a dedicated orphan care worker who provides much needed mental, emotional and practical support not only to the orphans themselves, but to other family members affected by the loss of a parent and spouse.
By Tijen Horoz, Senior Communications Editor
