Islamic Relief & Dartmouth Spring 2007 Katrina Voulunteer Mission New Orleans LA

This film documents the volunteer mission of 42 volunteers from three groups in the State of Louisiana to aid those communities affected by hurricanes Katrina & Rita. Sponsored and guided by the Islamic Relief and Dartmouth’s Tucker Foundation; these volunteers completed magnanimous amounts of relief effort during their two week spring break. These efforts included gutting/sanding houses and Islamic Schools, feeding the poor, playing with the youth of poverty, sorting food at the Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans and of Baton Rouge and so much more.

Taking a Break from the Ordinary

I was very hesitant to make expectations about the trip before I came down here in case they would not be fulfilled. I didn't want to risk being disappointed, but the trip had gone way above and beyond anything that I could have hoped for. I learned so much about the situation and started to really have a desire to do as much as I possibly could for New Orleans.
-Dartmouth College student volunteering with Islamic Relief

Winter and spring breaks for college students are notoriously known for their days of carefree relaxing, winding down after finals, and nightly partying. But instead of the expected recess of lounging and idleness, two groups of Dartmouth students headed down to the Hurricane Katrina-devastated areas of Louisiana to assist Islamic Relief in its relief and recovery projects in the Gulf Coast.

For about two weeks during winter break this past December, 42 Dartmouth College students took the long journey from New Hampshire to Louisiana to do their part in assisting in the aid efforts.
"Working in New Orleans and Baton Rouge has been an extremely enlightening experience for me; I only wish I could do more for people," said Dartmouth student Winnifred Lewis. "All the destroyed houses and the many trailer parks were life-changing sights. Being here allowed me to not only see and appreciate the depths of the problems here, but it also allowed me to feel empowered in that we can change this."

On their first day in New Orleans, the students received a thorough tour of the devastation in the Lower Ninth Ward and other parts of the city. The student volunteers helped Islamic Relief feed the poor and those living in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailer parks, distribute bedroom and kitchen sets to evacuees, sort, provide, and distribute groceries in a warehouse, among other activities.

"I'm glad that we did various projects that forced us to interact with the people we came to help because it was through these that we were able to touch people and be touched by them," said Amara Ugboaja.
Another student added, "I came down here to gain perspective on the meaning of suffering and calamity. There is certainly personal turmoil we endure, but witnessing others' suffering allows us to learn gratitude."

Volunteers have been the backbone of Islamic Relief's relief efforts in the Hurricane Katrina-affected areas. This experience not only provides volunteers the opportunity to help their fellow Americans in need, but also allows them to leave with a better understanding of the needs of others and strengthens their desire to do more to help within their own local communities.

"This trip has given me the opportunity to help for two weeks, but it has also given me the opportunity to learn and acquire the skills to help more in the future. I look forward to it," said Sasha Otero.

Expressing the sentiment of many volunteers after such a unique lifetime experience, Alim Shaikh said, "All the work we've done here has been such an incredible and moving experience, I cannot help but want to come back here in the near future."

From Partnership, the official newsletter of Islamic Relief, Spring 2007

Humanitarian Day Training 2007

Humanitarian Day Training 2007

In preparation for the annual Humanitarian Day during the month of Ramadan representatives from 22 cities have gathered in the LBC to share learn and refresh the basic principles for coordinating a Humanitarian/Social Service event. Founded by the ILM Foundation who possesses a righteously rich history of helping humanity and sponsored by Islamic Relief USA for the past few years.

The ILM Foundation (ILM) established Humanitarian Day (H-Day) as a community Project in the month of Ramadan to serve the homeless and Untie the Muslim community. After a few years, ILM realized the importance of providing more then food and created a coalition of Muslim Organizations. Islamic Relief was among the founding members of that coalition

In Planning for 2005, the leadership from Islamic Relief and the ILM Foundation felt homelessness to be a national crisis that demands a national response. The following year Islamic Relief Campaigned for a National effort expanded to 15 cities serving nearly 20,000 people. H-Day is the largest humanitarian event developed and implemented by Muslims in America during the month of Ramadan

Islamic Relief is a tax exempt nonprofit, registered in the State of California (1993) that strives to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy & diseases worldwide regardless of color, race or creed by providing aid in a compassionate and dignified manner, providing rapid relief in the event of human & natural disasters and establishing sustainable local development projects allowing communities to better help themselves. Islamic Relief operates relief and development projects in over 35 countries and provides grants to projects around the United States; Humanitarian is our first national domestic project

ILM Foundation is a 501 c 3 faith-based non-profit organization founded in 1998. ILM means knowledge in Arabic, however, the acronym stands for Intellect, Love and Mercy. Their mission is to “Teach Life Skills to Replace Social Ills”. This Mission is implemented through the following programs: eat Right to Think Right, Go Beyond the G.A.M.E student athlete mentoring, and Partnerships for Humanity. Their list of marquee annual events includes Humanitarian Day, MECA Fest, Islam is a World Movement, and Go Beyond the G.A.M.E sports camp. ILM Foundation, in 2006, opened another chapter in Las Vegas, Nevada

The Number of cities involved increases each year-5 in 2005; 14 in 2006, 22 in 2007. As more cities join us the character of the event emerges. We want this event to be clear and identifiable to the community-at-large so that we can meet Goal #2- Provide an opportunity for the community to observe Muslims in a positive role

*Please see the Humanitarian Day training resources in the Picasa Photo Albums to the right