Being employed by Akhuwat’s Clothes Bank project, helps Khwajasiras earn an income and gives them an opportunity for a life of self-sufficiency and dignity. Able to fend for themselves, the Khawajasira we work with, are no longer reliant on charity. They feel empowered and proud that they are responsible for their own livelihoods.
For us at Akhuwat, this humanitarian aspect is a very significant part of the programme. It aligns with our commitments to respect all and treat everyone as equals.
Because fashion is seasonal, often clothing that was in vogue just a year earlier, but still in good condition, is considered dated. People may update their wardrobes regularly, but what happens to these ‘old’ clothes? Do they end up in landfills? Akhuwat Clothes Bank offers a solution to the problem of fast fashion, which is harmful for our environment. We take unwanted clothes, wash and mend them, then distribute them to needy people.
Our clothes bank employees from the Khawajasira community are responsible for processing clothes when they come in. They sort, wash, repair and re-pack them with dedication, ready to be gifted to needy people across Pakistan, through Akhuwat branches and other charity organisations we partner with on the ground. We also collect toys, books, furniture, home textiles and other household items that are unwanted, but which poor people are in want of.
Akhuwat’s Clothes Bank project benefits so many people on so many levels. By recycling, it helps to address the problem of pollution. It provides employment to needy and marginalised people. It provides clothing for the needy. And donors are rewarded with blessings for their charity, when grateful recipients make Dua for them, as they use the donated items. What’s more, donors also get to declutter and make space in their cupboards and lives. Clearing out helps one feel lighter and breathe easier.
We are thrilled that ACB encourages this simple, compassionate and eco-friendly lifestyle by giving people an opportunity to share and recycle.
Since Akhuwat’s Clothes Bank project was launched, we’ve distributed 2,7 million items of clothing, and hundreds of thousands of toys, books and other useful items to 2,5 million people all over Pakistan. In a country where 60% of the population live below the poverty line, our success is nothing less than a small miracle.
In 2014, we launched the Akhuwat Clothes Bank Gift Shop, located at our head office. Any person in need can walk into the store, choose suitable items and take them without any payment. Our Gift Shop also has wedding attire for brides and grooms who cannot afford bridal garments. They are able to borrow these clothes, which would normally be too expensive, use them for their special day and return them, without any charge.
Akhuwat is an award-winning NGO based in Pakistan that is helping to alleviate poverty in sustainable ways. Our interventions are designed to ensure that recipients are given a hand-up, not just a handout. We want to help people help themselves so they can live with dignity and feel empowered.
Akhuwat’s commitment to help those less fortunate is based on our founding pillars of Iman (faith), Ihsan (excellence in action) and Ikhlas (purity of intention). All our projects, like the Akhuwat Clothes Bank, are practical, functional and beneficial, while being based on Islamic principles.
This hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is our inspiration to continue our work.
‘Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfil his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allah will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allah will screen him on the Day of Resurrection.’ (Bukhari, 2442)
To make a donation to the Akhuwat Clothes Bank project, call 0300 065 9292 or email donations@akhuwatuk.org
Done your downsizing? You can help us by telling your friends and family about the Akhuwat Clothes Bank. Encourage them to also collect old clothes and other items and donate them. Together, we can all earn rewards, while making a difference to people’s lives.
At Akhuwat, we also accept monetary donations towards some of our other poverty alleviation projects. You can find out more about our project HERE
Akhuwat
Akhuwat provides collateral- and interest-free loans to underprivileged families so they can help themselves out of poverty. With one of the highest loan return rates in the world, Akhuwat continues to transform lives one loan at a time. Akhuwat is registered in the UK with the charities commission (registered charity number 1136317)
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