Frequently Asked Questions

   - What is Orphans Challenge?
   - Why sponsor an orphan?

   - Orphan sponsorship and Orphans Challenge; what does it Offer?
   - Orphans Challenge - What are the future plans?
   - How can I help?
   - What if my University is outside London?
   - What can I expect?

What is Orphans Challenge?          back to top

Orphans Challenge, OC, is an initiative by Interpal, hoping to inspire people to take up a great and life long challenge, a challenge to:

- sponsor as many orphan children as possible

- change the lives of thousands

- compete in what is good and beneficial

"So compete one another in good deeds" [al-Maa'idah 5:48]

Moosa - peace be upon him - said: "and I hastened to You, O my Lord, that You might be pleased"

[Ta-Ha 20:84]

Why sponsor an orphan?          back to top

For the sake of Allah

Sponsor an orphan out of the Love for Allah SWT, the Desire of His reward and the Hope for His forgiveness.

"And they feed, for the love of Allah, the poor, the orphan and the captive…"
[Al-Insaan 76:8]

Wasn’t the beloved Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) an orphan…

“Did he not find you an orphan and give you shelter?” [Ad-Duha 93:6]

To choose the companionship of an orphan is to choose the companionship of the Prophet himself. Wouldn’t we do everything we can and give everything we have just to spend five minutes in companionship of the best of mankind?

We would love to be with him, glance quickly and repeatedly at his radiant face while sitting close to him, touch the skin of his soft, fresh and white palms; take in the fragrance of his blessed soul, be inspired by his gentle manners and paralysed with awe at his beautiful speech. Wouldn’t we cherish each second of these moments? How would you react if Rasoolullah, may peace and blessings be upon him, referred to you as ‘O my companion…’? How about if this companionship was eternal?

"I and the caretaker of the orphan will be in Paradise together like this, raising (by way of illustration) his forefinger and middle finger jointly, leaving no space in between."

[Saheeh al-Bukhaari]

By sponsoring an orphan you provide them with food, water, shelter, education and medical needs. The orphan child lives in agony and grief…how much more should this young heart endure…

"Whoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Judgment" [Saheeh Muslim]

The sins of you and I are many. They are like a huge mountain that is about to fall on us. How we have erred and how we have disobeyed…Alas!

So let us remove the grief of the orphans so that Allah, the most Merciful the Bestower of mercy, shall lighten for us our burden on a grievous day when we will find no other helper, but He.

The benefits are too many to be mentioned but know that this …is an everlasting deed! So turn your mountain of grief into a mountain of mercy

Orphan sponsorship and Orphans Challenge; what does it Offer?          back to top

INTERPAL is a non-political, non-profit making British charity that focuses solely on the provision of relief and development aid to the poor and needy of Palestine.

The biggest ongoing Interpal project is the One-to-One sponsorship programme. Interpal is currently responsible for implementing the provision of financial support for over 10,000 orphans, needy children, disabled persons, widows and poor families.

Orphans Challenge is an initiative of Interpal run by students from various universities, for students and professional groups around the UK.

Orphans Challenge, OC, recognises the overwhelming desire among students to sponsor an orphan and at the same time appreciates the financial difficulties they face. Orphans Challenge provides students with a unique, realistic and feasible alternative. Students can share the cost of sponsoring an orphan and divide it among themselves such that it is affordable, and yet, you can feel the pinch when giving and definitely the Emaan Rush.

Although you do not bear the full responsibility towards the orphan child, still, Orphans Challenge offers you the chance to have that uniquely distinct personal relationship with the child you sponsor. You can send and receive letters and gifts and keep a record of how your child is progressing.

Now, isn’t that a students dream come true! Subhanallah!

Orphans Challenge - What are the future plans?          back to top

Orphans Challenge started as a small project in January 2007. In a few months, it has managed to raise more than £40,000 and more importantly changed the lives of more than a hundred orphans, by the grace of Allah SWT.

Orphans Challenge events have been held at various educational institutions among them are Queen Mary University of London, Kings College University of London, Goldsmiths University, Tower Hamlet College and much more.

‘Aim Global, Act Local’

Orphans Challenge is expanding at a phenomenal rate by the will of Allah SWT and so far, alhamdullilah, almost all London universities have expressed commitment to this blessed cause. With a mosaic of support from Islamic Societies, organisations and prominent religious and political figures, the next few months and years shall witness something truly amazing, inshAllah.

How can I help?          back to top

Volunteer today and help bring smiles back to young faces.

We need your talents, ideas, teamwork and priceless contribution. Like the colourful threads of a tapestry that come together to create a visually spectacular pattern, such is the feelings felt for each and every volunteer at Orphans Challenge. Our work is for Allah SWT, so what more blessings can we ask then this. One team, one heart for one cause.

Whatever your skill may be, whether it is in the lime light of speaking to large groups, giving presentations, singing nasheeds and being on stalls, or back stage with art/ design, managing projects, I.T. and administration, your work is much appreciated.

Email us at orphanschallenge@interpal.org to volunteer today, or for further information and we will hopefully get back to you soon.

If you have friends that are interested or know individuals that you feel would be a valuable, again, let us know. You may feel like doing a presentation/event among friends, at your study circle or your hadith lessons; we will provide all the help you need inshAllah, again, just drop a line and we shall take it from there.

We have a volunteers meeting coming soon, we’ll keep you posted inshAllah!

What if my University is outside London?          back to top

If you live outside London and want a similar project in your city just contact us on orphanschallenge@interpal.org and we can help you to get started inshaAllah.

What can I expect?          back to top

By volunteering you are diving into the midst of a fun packed and exciting environment of student life. You can be assured that you will meet interesting people from different universities; you will increase in your Emaan by working together for the pleasure of Allah SWT and will certainly embrace the overflowing feeling of long lasting ties and friendships inshAllah.