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Every Child Deserves a Chance to Learn

For thousands of children, orphans, and widows in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, the back-to-school season is one of the most difficult times of the year. Poverty, hunger, and loss leave children without food in their bellies and widowed mothers without work or dignity. We aim to restore that.

The Shia community is coming together this season to bring education, hope and a prosperous future to young learners and widows in honour of the Holy Family (as).

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FAQ

The Back to School 2025 campaign is an initiative supporting vulnerable children and widows in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. Running from August to November 2025, the campaign provides essential school supplies, uniforms, meals, classroom support, and economic empowerment opportunities ensuring that every child begins school with dignity. 

This campaign helps: 


Orphans and vulnerable children with school essentials, food, and tuition support. 
Children with disabilities through inclusive education resources. 
Widowed mothers by providing training to become classroom assistants or educators. 
Entire classrooms through renovation and sponsorship. 

You can make a difference by donating through our website. Options include: 


Sponsoring school supplies or uniforms 
Covering a child’s school fees for a term or a year 
Providing hot meals 
Funding classroom renovations, digital tools, or inclusive education 
Supporting training programs for widows 
Your donation is tax-deductible (where applicable) and directly impacts lives. 

The campaign aims to impact over 1,000 lives. Key outcomes include improving education access, dignity, and future opportunities for children, and empowering widows through meaningful employment and training. 

Yes. We prioritise transparent impact reporting. You’ll see where your donation goes – including real-time results on school support, widow training, and classroom transformation.

The Quran emphasises the pursuit of knowledge as a duty for every Muslim. The very first revelation began with the command “Iqra” — Read! (Surah Al-‘Alaq, 96:1), showing that education is the gateway to guidance and growth.


Supporting education is also regarded as sadaqah jariyah (ongoing charity), bringing lasting rewards to the giver long after the act of giving. 

The Prophet Muhammad (saww) said: “I and the one who cares for an orphan will be together in Paradise like this,” and he held two fingers close together. (Bihar al-Anwar). 

Sponsoring orphans is one of the most honoured acts in Islam, carrying both spiritual reward and social impact. 

Islam teaches compassion and dignity for widows, who often face social and economic challenges. Supporting widows through training and meaningful work restores independence, strengthens families, and fulfils an important Islamic duty of justice and care for the vulnerable.  

Every donation directly supports orphans, widows, and vulnerable families in regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan. The Zahra Trust provides essentials like school supplies, meals, and education support — and also invests in sustainable aid such as vocational training. In 2023–24, for example, over 100,000 orphans and widows received support worldwide. Your contributions

are tracked and reported via annual impact reports, ensuring transparency and maximum benefit.

Yes, donations toward eligible programmes such as education, food, orphans, and widows are Zakat-compliant. Zakat contributions are carefully allocated in accordance with Islamic guidance, ensuring they reach those who qualify. Last year, 10,771 people received education support, including school meals and supplies. 

Yes. We accept khums contributions and allocate them to eligible projects in accordance with Islamic guidance.

You can dedicate your donation to a loved one by selecting Sadaqa Jariyah on our Donate Now page and adding their name in the “Notes/Dedication” section. This gift will count as ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) on their behalf, bringing continuous reward for their soul.

If you would like to discuss your donation—whether it is zakat, khums, or general giving—you can reach out to The Zahra Trust (UK) at: 

Email: [email protected]  

Phone: 020 8452 7565  

The Zahra(s) Trust Canada Projects