Who we are and what we do
Human Appeal is a non-profit organization working across the globe to strengthen humanity’s fight against poverty, social injustice and natural disaster. Through the provision of immediate relief and the establishment of self-sustaining development programs, we aim to invest in real, effective solutions.
We work year-round to establish healthcare, education, and livelihood programmes that pave the way for empowered, self-serving communities. We also provide food, medical aid, and disaster relief during emergencies, a critical intervention that saves lives.
Our skilled local teams are able to access some of the most hard-to-reach places in the world, at their most vulnerable of times.
Our history
Human Appeal was founded in a small flat in Manchester in 1991, and was slowly and diligently built from the ground up.
Since then, we’ve grown from a team of two students to a family of over 173 employees in the UK, 100 staff in our international country offices, and 887 volunteers, all of us united towards a common goal of a kinder, fairer world.
In 2024, we started our chapter in Canada to grow our mission even further, still aiming to reach every human.
Our vision
To become the global agent of change for a just, caring, and sustainable world.
Our mission
We are a global humanitarian and development organization. We save lives, alleviate poverty, transform and empower local communities whilst championing humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.
Our values
We are a faith-based organization inspired by Islamic values, which you can explore in full below.
Why are our values important?
Our values inform our unique identity a faith-based charity. They define how Human Appeal serves the most vulnerable people, and they form a framework to keep us accountable to our supporters, staff, partners, and the people we support. Our values help us to achieve our vision and to increase the effectiveness of our organization.
At Human Appeal, we stand as ambassadors for justice. We work to eradicate poverty across the globe and to ensure that all are treated with compassion and respect.
Excellence
"[Ihsan is] to worship God as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then indeed He sees you." (Bukhari)
At Human Appeal, we consistently strive to fulfil our duty to humankind with ihsan – excellence. Since 1991, our staff have been dedicated to professional and exceptional humanitarianism. We aim to excel in all that we do in order to provide effective and efficient support to the most vulnerable, and to fulfil our duty to Allah.
Accountability and transparency
To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Whether you show what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will bring you to account for it. (Quran, 2:182)
We believe in being open and honest in all that we do, sharing both the challenges we face and our successes. Transparent communication, regular feedback and the ability to admit when we could have done better are essential features of a trusting relationship and a reliable charity. Our stakeholders need to be confident that they are informed about how we use our resources and accomplish our goals.
Compassion
Ka’b reported: Allah Almighty said to Moses, upon him be peace, “O Moses, be merciful to my creation and I will have mercy on you. O Moses, I am merciful and I love those who are merciful. Blessed are those who are merciful.” Hilyat al-Awliya
Compassion lies at the heart of everything Human Appeal does. We’re dedicated to easing the suffering of all people, and we appreciate the perspectives of others when they are different from our own. We provide comfort and resources freely and unconditionally to those who need it, no matter who they are or where they are from.
Justice
O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred, whether (the case be of) a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer unto both (them ye are. (Quran, 4:135)
We’re dedicated to working justly, distributing aid equally, regardless of faith, race or gender. We strive to ensure that all our work protects the most vulnerable, and our policies, protection officers, audits, and spot-checks help us to ensure that our work is fair, accountable, and a force for good.
Empowerment
“Whoever brings ease to one in difficulty, Allah will make it easy for him in this life and the Hereafter.” (Sahih Muslim)
Human Appeal seeks to empower all those who we work with, and for - from our supporters and the people we support, to our staff and volunteers, all over the world. We strive to create an environment where our teams can grow, develop and take initiative in their goal to help the most vulnerable. In our projects, we work with the local community, helping them to take ownership of projects so that they are empowered and able to continue the projects without our help.
Trust and respect
Narrated Abu Musa (RA): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “An honest treasurer who gives what he is ordered to give fully, perfectly and willingly to the person to whom he is ordered to give, is regarded as one of the two charitable persons.” (Bukhari)
At Human Appeal, we promote trust and respect among our supporters, partners, employees and the people we support. In our pursuit of a more caring world, we work to honor every individual and every community we work with.
