350 orphaned children from around the world, including those from conflict in Palestine and Syria, those who lost parents to disease, and those orphaned by natural disasters, performed the sacred Umrah rituals at Makkah, marking the largest sponsorship in Global Ehsan Relief's history. The children, dressed in simple white ihram garments, moved as one community, representing their first experience of belonging beyond personal loss.
Fourteen-year-old Yusuf from Jordan, who lost both parents in regional violence, described the transformative experience as connecting to millions of Muslims across time. The spiritual journey was designed to nurture both religious education and emotional healing, with trained counselors and religious guides accompanying the children.
Global Ehsan Relief (GER) celebrated its tenth anniversary in a year of significant humanitarian service. The organization built 100 masjids in communities without proper places of worship, completed 6,000 water wells and projects, and sponsored over 1,000 orphans. These efforts provided clean water to millions, provided educational opportunities, and emotional guidance to orphans.
The organization has touched the lives of six million beneficiaries, nearly the population of Singapore, where it first took root a decade earlier. The statistics show a remarkable story of growth and transformation, with the organization transforming from a modest humanitarian service into a global force for compassionate action.
The organization's expanding portfolio now encompassed 30 distinct life-changing projects operating across 40 countries—from emergency food security initiatives in conflict zones to innovative educational programs for refugee children, from sustainable agriculture training to dignified livelihood generation for widows and single mothers. This programmatic diversity reflected GER's holistic understanding that human needs extend beyond immediate survival to encompass dignity, purpose, and hope.
Financial stewardship had been equally impressive, with $25 million disbursed over the decade—a testament to donor trust and organizational accountability. Each dollar had been carefully directed toward maximum impact, with administrative overhead kept minimal and transparent reporting showing supporters exactly how their contributions translated into tangible change on the ground.
From its humble beginnings, GER had expanded to maintain seven fully staffed offices spanning from Southeast Asia to the United Kingdom, with a newly registered presence in Canada extending its reach into North America. Ninety-five full-time staff members now coordinated the work of hundreds of volunteers worldwide, creating a network capable of responding rapidly to emerging crises while sustaining long-term development projects.
At the tenth anniversary gala held in Singapore, founding members shared stories of the organization's earliest days—operating from borrowed space with a handful of dedicated volunteers. "We began with nothing but conviction," recalled one founder, emotion evident in her voice. "We believed that compassion, when organized effectively, could change lives. Ten years later, we've seen that belief validated beyond our wildest dreams."
The growth from Singapore to offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the UK, and now Canada represented not just geographical expansion but the spreading of a vision—that humanitarian work is most effective when rooted in local contexts while connected to global resources and expertise. Each office operated with cultural fluency in its region while adhering to unified standards of excellence and accountability.
