How Islamic Relief Supports Education
Islamic Relief has been supporting education in the world’s most vulnerable communities since 1984. Our approach is comprehensive: we do not simply build classrooms. We address every barrier that prevents a child from learning, from the absence of a school building to the lack of trained teachers, from hunger that prevents concentration to the absence of books and equipment.
Building Schools
In communities where no school exists, we build permanent school buildings that give children a safe, dedicated space to learn. These schools are designed to serve their communities for decades, providing a lasting foundation for education that benefits generation after generation.
Refurbishing Schools
Many existing schools in conflict-affected and low-income areas are in a state of serious disrepair, with damaged roofs, broken windows, and unsafe structures. We refurbish and rehabilitate these schools, restoring them to safe and functional learning environments so that children can return to education.
Mobile Classrooms
In areas where building permanent schools is not yet possible, or where displaced communities are on the move, we deploy mobile classrooms that bring education directly to children. These programmes ensure that displacement and conflict do not interrupt a child’s education.
School Equipment
A classroom without books, stationery, or basic learning materials cannot deliver quality education. We supply schools with the equipment they need, from textbooks and writing materials to furniture and teaching aids, ensuring that teachers have the tools to teach and children have the tools to learn.
Teacher Training and Salaries
A school is only as good as its teachers. We train teachers to deliver quality education and, in communities where teachers cannot afford to work without a salary, we fund teacher salaries to ensure that classrooms remain staffed and functional. Investing in teachers is one of the highest-impact investments in education.
Support for Children with Special Educational Needs
Children with disabilities and special educational needs are among the most marginalised in low-income communities, often excluded from education entirely. We fund programmes that provide specialist support, adapted learning materials, and inclusive classroom environments so that every child has the opportunity to learn.
School Meals and Nutrition
Hunger is one of the greatest barriers to learning. A child who has not eaten cannot concentrate, and families in poverty often keep children home to work rather than send them to school on an empty stomach. We support schools with nutritional meals that keep children healthy, present, and able to learn.
Adult Literacy
Education does not end with childhood. We run adult literacy programmes that teach reading and writing to adults who missed out on schooling, empowering them to participate more fully in their communities, support their children’s education, and access economic opportunities that were previously closed to them.