This past 4th of July weekend, ONE was with over 30,000 Muslims at the Islamic Society of North America Convention engaging people to act against extreme poverty. Meeting this year in Washington, DC, the ISNA gathering brought together Muslims from the US and Canada as well as people of other faiths to share ideas, build community, and broaden engagement in the areas of faith, art, culture, and global challenges.

Along with our partner Islamic Relief, ONE was there raising awareness about global poverty and treatable, preventable disease and signing up people to act in the fight by planning a ONE Sadaqa event for their local masjids and congregations back home. In a Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) workshop, we also had some fun breaking classroom rules together to take out our cell phones and text “Sadaqa” to 23663 and join ONE.

A highlight of the gathering was Saturday night’s keynote message by ONE Sabbath supporter Pastor Rick Warren. Addressing the crowd on Independence Day, Pastor Warren stood alongside ISNA President Dr. Ingrid Mattson and challenges the “the two largest faiths on the planet” (Christianity and Islam), to work together to tackle the major problems of the world, which include poverty as well as education for all.

Check out Naeem Muhammad’s comments from Islamic Relief who was there as well:

-Adam Phillips

Islamic Relief USA is committed to combating and preventing the spread of malaria and has been working in high risk areas of Mali for years, providing medicines and insecticide-treated nets for affected communities. Malaria is known to be one of the oldest diseases affecting mankind. While its specific age is still debated, its deadly affects on human beings are not.

Last month, IR USA launched its Bite the Bug campaign to help end the spread of malaria and treat those affected. The campaign is mobilizing thousands of volunteers across the United States to educate others on malaria and its adverse affects.

Focused on aiding pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under age five, Islamic Relief’s malaria treatment and prevention projects aim to:

• Reduce the rate of infant mortality by 50%
• Decrease school absenteeism by 25%
• Reduce malaria cases among pregnant women by 25%
• Reduce anemia cases in pregnant women by 15%

Stopping the spread of malaria is not as difficult as it might seem. You can sign up to join our National Campaign by visiting www.bitethebug.org. At Bite the Big you can find out how you and your friends can help to provide insecticide-treated bed nets for protection against mosquitoes as well as medicines to treat patients diagnosed with malaria.

Between 2001 and 2006, malaria deaths increased three-fold in Mali. Help bite back against malaria today!

-Nazia A. Hossain, National Volunteer Coordinator