By Yumna Bodiat
Edited by Imaan Moosa
We caught up with Attiya Dawood between her relief work across countries.
Photo: Provided
Inspired by her mother's volunteer-ship with the Vaal Muslim Women's Forum, Atiyya Dawood has been an active humanitarian, volunteer and member of multiple NGOs.
Atiyya is a member of the South African National Muslim Women’s Forum (SANMWF) where she leads the youth wing. In light of COVID-19, the SANMWF youth have been assisting in raising funds for hampers, the distribution of mealie meal bags in underprivileged areas and the distribution of masks in townships.
As a volunteer for Africa Muslim Agency, she assists and collaborates with the CII on various projects such as the 12 million meals campaign.
The 12 million meals campaign is an initiative to feed as many people in as many areas around the world during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, such as Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine and locally.
Atiyya says throughout the lockdown stages, the initiatives and campaigns with both SANMWF and Africa Muslim Agency will continue. SANMWF will continue to run their mealie meal campaign and will also be introducing a blanket drive for the upcoming winter season where these blankets will be distributed in areas most needed.
I absolutely love doing the fieldwork like distributions and going and providing aid physically. I like to be hands-on when it comes to charity work. I like people to see exactly where their money is going as I feel it is my responsibility. I also assist in mobilising youth to get involved in local as well as global humanitarian work.
At 22-years-old, Atiyya has had the opportunity to travel to Syria as part of humanitarian work on three occasions. Her first trip was through SANMWF on their conscience convoy to advocate for Syrian women who are used as weapons of war.
"Each time for me was a completely different experience. I would say that the first time I went was probably the closest to my heart as well as a turning point in my life.
"The first time I had went, we had travelled to the Syrian border on the conscience convoy. This was a convoy which leads women from all around the world to come together in advocating for all our Syrian sisters who are currently being used as weapons of war."
Atiyya told To EmpowHER she had met some of the women who had managed to escape their imprisonment and they shared their experiences with her.
The second and third time she visited many orphanages and rehabilitation centers filled with children and victims of war. On her most recent trip, she travelled as a youth leader distributing hampers and blankets in camps and homes.
"I would say that every time I had gone it had taken a major toll on me emotionally as well as mentally. But I would go back in a heartbeat as the smiles of those people fill my heart up with so much joy.
"They are the most heartwarming and hospitable people you will ever meet, even with the little that they have in their homes. It also made me stronger and made me realise so much in our lives are often take for granted."
Atiyya during her trips to Syria. Photos: Provided
As a young Muslim woman, activism plays an important role in Atiyya's life and her goals have always included an aim to encourage other young individuals to unite and make a difference to others.
Sometimes we feel as if it won’t make a difference, but we have all been blessed with a voice and the freedom to voice that opinion and stand up for something we strongly believe in. Just by creating awareness or promoting relief foundations on your social media platforms, you could be making a difference to the underprivileged.
We asked Atiyya to describe a future she hopes to see in the coming months amid COVID-19.
In the upcoming months, I would hope to see the curve flattened and many people recovering from this pandemic, whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally. Also, I would really hope to see a change in the world where people become more conscious of their lives and finding their purpose amidst the pandemic.
Many people are going to be in dire need of aid after the pandemic, which is something everyone is going to have to assist with. It saddens me that there is going to be a very high level of poverty worldwide post-pandemic. But as we all know, that this is the will of Allah (God) and Insha'Allah (God-willing) this too shall pass.
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