“And establish prayer and give Zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves – you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah of what you do, is Seeing”.
(Qur’an, Surah Al Baqara, 2:110)
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This Ramadan, contribute Zakat/Sadaqa to a Rohingya adolescent girl living in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya Muslims are the largest stateless population in the world.
Your Zakat/Sadaqa will allow a Rohingya adolescent to receive an education, which she would otherwise not afford.
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"Those who spend their wealth in charity day and night, secretly and openly—their reward is with their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve."
(Qur’an, Surah Al Baqara, 2:247)
Who are the Rohingya?
Rohingya Muslims have been persecuted in Myanmar for decades due to their religion. However, the most recent exodus began in August 2017, when violence broke out in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, driving over 742,000 Rohingya people to seek refuge in Bangladesh. Today nearly one million Rohingya refugees live in Kutupalong camp – the world’s largest refugee camp – in the south of Bangladesh.
Why girls' education?
Quality education is difficult to access in any emergency context, however, for Rohingya girls living in the camps, the barriers are magnified. The majority of girls stop attending school once they reach adolescence, at the age of 10 or 11, due to social norms. Sociocultural barriers, safety concerns and economic factors combine to obstruct access to education for Rohingya girls. Parents limit their daughters’ participation in the public sphere to avoid mixing with men and boys, and to assist with domestic work in the household.
Improved gender-inclusivity and targeted interventions are needed to empower adolescent girls, including creating a safe learning environment by using gender-sensitive spaces, recruiting female teachers, and supporting menstrual hygiene management. Despite a high demand for female-only classes, Rohingya adolescent girls have severely limited opportunities to gain an education.
What is Maiya School doing to help?
Maiya School envisions a world where all girls can access quality education.
In April 2022, we opened our first girls-only school in Kutupalong refugee camp! We currently have 52 enrollments and counting. With only female students and teachers, our school is a safe learning space for Rohingya adolescent refugee girls to get a quality education.
Maiya School students learn English, Burmese, Numeracy and Life Skills. We also give our students access to essential health information, classes to build skills to obtain employment, and opportunities for them to develop the confidence to achieve their dreams.
Our project is evidence-based and supported by the local community, ensuring that the school is culturally appropriate and sustainable.
How can you help?
You can help Maiya School provide education to Rohingya Muslim girls living in the world's largest refugee camp by making a one-off or monthly donation!
Just $25 a month ensures that one Rohingya girl can get a quality education.
Another way to help this Ramadan is to spread awareness of the plight of the Rohingya refugees.
