“Will anybody donate or pledge $1,000?” an imam called out from the stage at a fundraiser in Fremont, CA, to support Islamic Relief’s emergency aid efforts in East Africa. A young girl in the crowd jumped up and down with her hand waving in the air.

“Are you sure?” said the imam.

“Yeah! I will!” she responded.

Ayesha, (friends call her Zainab), is an 8-year-old student at ILM Academy, Fremont, CA. She attended a fundraiser for East Africa and was so moved by the images of the amount of suffering people are experiencing in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia that she wanted to do something about it. She made sure her father donated to the cause at the fundraiser, but she didn’t stop there. She personally made a pledge to raise $1,000 to support her brothers and sisters in need.

Ayesha called up relatives, gave emotional speeches at her family’s iftar parties and talked to visiting aunts and uncles to convince family and friends to help improve living conditions for her brothers and sisters in East Africa.

She started with just pennies in a jar, but in just a few days she reached her pledge and then raised more. Ayesha was able to raise $2,500.

And she’s been fasting too. She breaks her 16-hour fast with a prayer: “O Allah, please help the people of Africa and relieve them of their conditions.”

We’re inspired by Ayesha and we hope you will be too. Way to go, Ayesha!

You can be a part of our efforts in East Africa too! Click here to find out more.