Humanitarian Aid Projects by IAC1967

This year, the IAC's charity initiatives included a significant donation towards developing a mobile medical unit fleet to be deployed in Gaza. Where hospitals once stood, there is now rubble—these units are desperately needed for community development. 

The International Medical Education Trust (IMET) 2000 focuses on areas of extreme deprivation, such as refugee camps and war zones, to provide specialized training for psychiatrists, physicians, surgeons, nurses, and allied professionals in primary trauma care. This training notably covers war wounds, burns, rehabilitation, and the mental health of children and adolescents, aligning with various IAC projects aimed at improving healthcare access in these critical regions.

https://imet2000.org/imet-2000-pal/

At the IAC's very own school, the aim is not just to keep alive the beautiful Arabic language but also to support charity initiatives that encourage students from diverse regions and races to become more compassionate, creative, analytical, and critical learners who understand and accept others and their differences. Founded in 1976, the Dr. Esmat Al Said School in London has played a vital role in community development by educating hundreds of British Arab children and places high value on passing the GCSE exam. It currently employs 13 teachers with an intake of 180 pupils per annum, contributing to various IAC projects that further enrich the educational experience.

The London Palestine Film Festival, a UK non-profit initiative and part of various charity initiatives, has been a longstanding recipient of support from the IAC. This cultural institution, which originated at SOAS University of London in the late 1990s, has organized its annual two-week festival in London cinemas since 2001. The festival is organized and managed by a network of volunteers, incurring minimal overhead costs, and relies on donations, sponsorships, and institutional funding. Through these IAC projects, the London Palestine Film Festival offers a diverse selection of films created by and about Palestine, reaching thousands of viewers annually. It serves as a platform that brings together filmmakers, artists, scholars, and the public to foster vital dialogues about Palestine’s film industry, culture, and politics, contributing to community development.

The IAC's donation will support Mustafa, a second-year medical student at Al-Najah University in Nablus, Palestine. Through our partnership with FQMS and various charity initiatives, this funding will help cover his tuition fees, enabling him to continue his education and contribute to the future of Palestinian healthcare. We're here for you, Mustafa! 

"Through our partnership with the medical schools, as well as local and international charities, our programmes aim to improve the quality and range of teaching on offer at the Palestinian medical schools, fostering community development" - FQMS. 

https://www.fqms.org/

IAC's donation will support the extremely vital services provided by The Spafford Children’s Center, which is an essential part of charity initiatives aimed at helping 450-500 children traumatized each year by political violence. Based in East Jerusalem, the center offers remedial education, various psycho-social therapies, and empowerment activities as part of its community development efforts. It is dedicated to bringing healing, hope, and prosperity to Palestinian children and their families by delivering programs and services that enhance health in mind, body, and spirit, which aligns with the goals of IAC projects.

The IAC, through its charity initiatives, partnered with the World Bank to enhance wastewater services in the Baghdad Neighborhood, benefiting around 5,000 residents. This IAC project aims to provide essential sewage discharge services to protect the community from epidemic diseases, reduce underground water pollution, and prevent flooding caused by septic tanks. The collected sewage will be directed to the existing Rafah treatment plant, ensuring a healthier environment for all.

We help our community too! 

The IAC is proud to support charity initiatives like the KindWinter project, which focuses on the purchase and provision of sleeping bags and warm jackets to London’s homeless population. 

Every night, approximately 10,000 individuals find themselves without shelter. Since its inception, KindWinter has evolved into a significant community development effort that includes the Rotary Westminster International charity and nearly 20 London Rotary Clubs. 

In alignment with IAC projects, KindWinter works closely with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to assess the specific needs of the homeless population they serve. They provide tailored kits designed to address these needs through ongoing fundraising efforts and in-kind donations. 

https://www.kindwinter.com/

On February 6, 2023, two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 7.5 magnitude, struck Turkey’s southeastern border with Syria. These earthquakes occurred early in the morning during the peak of winter, catching many people in their beds as buildings collapsed around them. 

In response to this disaster, the IAC undertook several charity initiatives, donating to the Earthquake Relief Operation in Syria, which is run by UNHCR and its partners. This funding provides essential assistance, protection services, core relief items, and shelter/Non-food items (NFI) support for affected families. Additionally, the IAC made an extra contribution to the Syria Earthquake Emergency Response, specifically for RTE Food & Hygiene kits, managed by the UK registered charity Action for Humanity (AFH). These efforts are part of broader IAC projects aimed at community development and support for those in urgent need.

IAC proudly contributed to a nine-month program as part of its charity initiatives, aiding around 400 traumatized Gazan children. These children will receive psychological therapy to help them cope with trauma and hopefully restore some semblance of happiness, education, and the childhood they deserve.

The incidence of trauma among children in Gaza is extremely high, with UNICEF estimating it affects over a quarter of a million children. The population in Gaza, including its children, suffers from Chronic Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the enduring siege, frequent bombardments, and attacks by Israel.

Hope & Play has dedicated itself to community development by supporting Palestinian children in the occupied territories and refugee camps, focusing on providing psychosocial therapy and education. Through IAC projects, Hope and Play has successfully implemented programs benefiting more than 3,500 children since 2015.

Thanks to the charity initiatives from The IAC, GUPAP (Gaza Urban & Peri-urban Agricultural Platform) has successfully provided capacity building for 50 women farmers. This training includes essential technical and managerial skills, strategic framework development, marketing, and advocacy for policy influencing to help them defend and claim their rights. GUPAP is dedicated to community development, empowering women agripreneurs in Gaza by rebuilding and restoring their farms, livelihoods, and food sovereignty. Over 50% of these women's farms were damaged or completely destroyed due to the devastating eleven days of bombing in May 2021, highlighting the significance of IAC projects in supporting their recovery efforts. https://www.gupap.org