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From your award winning charity
21 May 2018

Prophet Yusuf and the Dream

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鈥極ne 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 鈥淢other鈥. Then I realised I was expecting Ahmad. It was Ramadan. Hussein passed away in Ramadan and Ahmad was conceived in Ramadan鈥.

Umm Hassan caresses her 5-year old son鈥檚 hair lovingly as she explains how her son Hussein, who passed away in an accident at the tender age of 11, told her of the impending birth of his brother, Ahmad. She has high hopes for little Ahmad, saying she would love him to be a doctor.

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鈥檛 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鈥檚 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.
Although Ahmad is still at nursery, she鈥檚 not sure how she will provide for him and her other young children as they grow older. Since her husband鈥檚 death a year ago, Umm Hassan has been relying solely on humanitarian assistance given by SM重口鈥 partner in Lebanon. Surviving on just $100 a month, she doesn鈥檛 know what the future holds. 鈥業 stayed at home, my husband looked after everything鈥, she tells us.
Now, not only is she grieving for the loss of her husband and her son, Hussein, but she is dealing with the strain of poverty that is a reality for so many Palestinian families in the country. Like any mother, all she wants is what is best for her children. The fact that she cannot provide it for them is another blow to her already overburdened heart.

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


SM重口 UK

Established in 1993, SM重口 is an aid agency and NGO helping those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disaster in over 20 countries worldwide.