For one year they lived in make shift tents in a public park in Islamabad, Pakistan, without access to clean water or suitable restrooms. Exposed to the rain, mosquitos and all the elements of such a life. In the last three and half years in Pakistan they have had little to no access to basic human needs, such as safety, shelter, clean water, food, education for their children and healthcare. 

Who are they?

They are members of the Hazara tribe from Afghanistan. The Hazaras of Afghanistan have faced systematic genocide since decades. They have endured extreme violence, discrimination and persecution for decades. In recent years, in 2021 specifically, many of the Hazara families suddenly faced extreme acts of violence and killings, compelling them to flee to the border of Pakistan as refugees. They left their homes and all their belongings in order to find safety from the harm. These families have been in Pakistan since Aug 2021.

 Pen of Mercy is a 501(c )3 charitable organization registered in the USA since the past 15 years. Our mission is to help the needy especially women and children with basic human needs such as shelter, clean water, food, clothes, education and healthcare. We also help displaced people due to war or natural disaster. Our website is https://penofmercy.com/

This is what Shireen Sardar, the founder and director of Pen of Mercy said about them, “I personally met with many of these families in the summer of 2024 when I visited Pakistan. I learned that there are four or five families living in one rental house. Each family rents a bedroom in the house. The families share the kitchen and the bathrooms. The children cannot go to the public schools because they don't have the documents needed for that. All these families are refugees in Pakistan. The dads earn a living by selling vegetables or bolani (Afghan bread) or Aloo paratas on the street. Some of the families earn a living by weaving carpets for local carpet companies in Pakistan. Even the children weave carpets for 8-10 hours each day. They are living in a constant fear of the police deporting them back to Afghanistan.” They earn enough wages by weaving carpets to just pay for their one bedroom rent and their electric bill. Despite many of them being highly educated these refugees cannot seek employment in the regular job market because they lack the required documents. 

Most of the families have children and women in them. Some widows and orphans. According to the saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH )

 “if you place your hand on an orphan's head with kindness(help him/her) you'll be rewarded as much as the number of his hairs under your hand.”  Your zakat money can be used for these families. They fit so many categories of people who can receive zakat. They are orphans; widows; displaced from their homes; poor; needy; and oppressed. No one wants to leave the comfort of their homes and their countries. They do it because they are forced to flee for their lives and to find a safe space for their children. Going back to the current patriarchal state in Afghanistan is not an option for them. The current government of Afghanistan does not allow females to work outside the house and girls are not allowed education in schools beyond the 6th grade. With no male protection, how will these women who are widows with daughters survive in a such a society? 

After seeing their dire conditions we decided to help them on a monthly basis by sending them financial aid each month, to help pay for rent and utilities. All of these families don't make enough to pay their bills. We send each family 10,000 PKR each month. Which amounts to approximately $37.00. We would like to send them at least 15,000 PKR each. That's only $50. 

A $50 monthly donation can help a whole family with their rent and utilities bills. 

Please help these families by donating generously this Ramadan. Our goal is to raise 35,000 PKR which will help us support each family with 10,000 PKR each month for a whole year. This amount will only cover the aid for the families we are currently helping. There are many more families that are waiting to receive aid from us if we can raise the funds. 

We are hoping that the government Pakistan will change its stance and give these families a legal refugee status. Until that happens we can at least try to provide some comfort in their very difficult situation by helping them with their rent and utilities bills. 

Last but not least keep these families in your duas that they get resettled in peaceful countries and where they can lead normal lives, where their kids can go to school and all their basic human needs are met. Please share the link to this campaign with all your friends and family.