By Melissa Limani
The LSESU’s Islamic Society (ISoc) recently hosted its annual Charity Week, an event that unites students in a mission to support vulnerable communities worldwide. This year, ISoc partnered with Mercy Relief, directing its efforts towards emergency aid for Palestine, Yemen, and Lebanon. With events designed to both engage the student body and raise crucial funds, ISoc’s efforts have made a significant impact, raising over £40,000 so far.
Charity Week, a global initiative active across universities in the UK and internationally, reflects Islamic values of compassion and community. The campaign is rooted in the Islamic principle of sadaqah, or charitable giving, seen as a means to purify wealth, foster empathy, and encourage social responsibility. This principle has inspired students at LSE to contribute their time, resources, and energy to aid those in need.
This year featured a series of engaging events, ranging from a Halal World Food Festival to a Sisters’ Charity Game Night and a Brothers’ Football Tournament. Each event offered students a fun and meaningful way to participate in the cause. The week concluded with the Charity Week Auction Dinner on Saturday 26th October, where various unique items, such as a Ronaldo shirt that raised £3,900 and a Marriage Hamper that reached £2,400, were auctioned to boost the fundraising total. This event exemplified the generosity and unity of the LSE community, pushing the fundraising efforts to new heights.
The funds raised during Charity Week will directly support Mercy Relief’s Winter Emergency Appeal, aimed at providing essential winter relief to families facing extreme conditions in Gaza, Yemen, and Lebanon. The dire situation in these regions, particularly in Gaza where conflict has devastated communities, has left many without basic necessities. Mercy Relief’s efforts focus on supporting families by providing food packs, emergency medical aid, and winter essentials. In Yemen, the organisation also supports local bakeries, ensuring that thousands have access to bread during the harsh winter months.
ISoc remains hopeful that these contributions will bring much-needed relief and support to families enduring unimaginable hardship.
For those interested in further supporting these efforts, donations remain open, and volunteering opportunities continue to be available.
Find their Instagram at: lsesuisoc
Link to donate here: https://www.launchgood.com/communitypage/london_school_of_economics_charity_week_gaza_campaign
Linktree: linktr.ee/lsesuisoc
