As the world watches in anguish at the plight of Gaza’s children, extraordinary acts of compassion are emerging across Canada, offering a powerful reminder of our shared humanity.
Human Concern International (HCI), Canada’s first Muslim international relief organisation, has spent over two decades supporting orphans and families in Gaza.
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It recently partnered with Olive Grove School (OGS), a leading Islamic school in Mississauga operated by the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), where faith and character are central to the curriculum and student life.
For nearly two years, our screens have shown harrowing images no one should ever witness — children pulled from rubble, infants lying beside their mothers’ lifeless bodies, little ones weeping alone in hospitals or searching through ruins for food, safety, and a trace of comfort.
Unlike generations before them, today’s Muslim youth are witnessing genocide unfold in real time on their social media feeds. While such images can break even the strongest hearts, they have also stirred something deeper: faith.
For many young Muslims, these moments have taught that faith does not shield us from pain — it guides us through it. Remarkably, many are finding strength in small acts of mercy and solidarity that give their heartbreak purpose.
At OGS, students from junior kindergarten to Grade 12 came together to raise an astonishing $115,000 to sponsor 125 orphans in Gaza.
The Faith Behind Giving
In Islam, charity is not simply a social good — it is a divine act of worship. Whether through Zakat or Sadaqah, giving lies at the heart of faith. As the Qur’an teaches: “You will never attain righteousness until you give from that which you love.” (Qur’an 3:92) Charity purifies the heart and strengthens our connection with Allah.
At MAC OGS and other MAC Islamic schools, teachers and parents help students understand that every contribution, when made sincerely, can change the life of another child across the world — and carries immense reward from Allah (SWT). Giving from what we have is a responsibility that brings us closer to Allah and invites goodness into our lives.
The Qur’an calls us to “race with one another in doing good” (Qur’an 2:148) — to lead, inspire, and compete in compassion. This spirit of healthy competition guided the entire campaign, as each class challenged the others to see who could sponsor the most orphans.
Across Canadian schools, students often take part in drives for cancer research, the Terry Fox Run, or Indigenous reconciliation — all important causes that teach empathy and civic duty. What distinguishes efforts like Olive Grove School’s is that they are faith-driven. Students are not only learning to give — they are learning why they give. They see charity as worship, compassion as obedience, and service as the essence of Islam.
For HCI, being entrusted by MAC OGS to deliver this aid was a humbling honour. It reminded us that the spirit of giving does not belong to adults alone — it belongs to anyone whose heart is moved by faith.
Through this initiative, HCI is providing shelter for orphans and their guardians, food assistance, and psychosocial recovery programs, among other critical supports. These are not just temporary interventions but investments in rebuilding dignity, stability, and hope for children who have lost everything.
A Call for Reflection During Islamic Heritage Month
As Canadian Muslims celebrate Islamic Heritage Month this October, it is a time not only to reflect but to act — to bring the values of our faith into classrooms, communities, and everyday life.
Across Canada, both Islamic and public schools can make this month meaningful. For Islamic schools, it is a chance to reaffirm that generosity and charity are central to who we are. For public schools, it offers an opportunity to partner with Muslim students and communities through joint initiatives that foster understanding and shared humanity.
Imagine classrooms — Muslim and non-Muslim students together — leading fundraisers or awareness drives for Gaza’s children. These efforts do more than raise funds; they build bridges and remind others that giving is not peripheral in Islam — it is foundational.
This Islamic Heritage Month, let schools across the country model what it means to act upon compassion. Through shared projects, we can show that the spirit of giving is both an Islamic principle and a universal value.
The students of OGS have already shown what is possible. When young hearts are moved by faith and guided by purpose, they can accomplish extraordinary things — reminding us that compassion, when nurtured early, can illuminate the world.
About Sarah Attia
Sarah Attia is the Principal of MAC Olive Grove School