• Connecting donors with the urgent humanitarian needs of displaced families living in tents across Gaza.

The city of Baltimore, Maryland, recently hosted the 51st annual convention of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) in collaboration with the Muslim American Society (MAS), attracting nearly 25,000 attendees from around the world. This year’s convention expanded significantly, featuring a large exhibition hall that brought together hundreds of exhibitors, sponsors, community organizations, and charitable institutions.

Humanitarian and relief organizations, particularly those supporting displaced families living in Gaza’s tent camps, played a central role throughout the event. Beyond showcasing their projects, the convention serves as one of the largest annual platforms in North America for fundraising, partnership development, and direct engagement with Muslim communities.

A Platform Connecting Humanitarian Action with Community Engagement

Speaking about Life for Relief and Development’s participation in the convention, Vicki Roob, Director of International Programs, emphasized that the event is among the most significant annual Islamic gatherings in the United States and North America. It serves as a strategic platform that brings together humanitarian, charitable, and community-focused initiatives while providing valuable opportunities for direct engagement with diverse segments of American and Muslim communities.

Roob explained that the organization’s participation reflects its commitment to maintaining a strong presence at events that unite thousands of individuals passionate about humanitarian and charitable work. Each year, the convention attracts tens of thousands of attendees from across the United States and Canada, including community leaders, activists, volunteers, donors, charitable organizations, and humanitarian agencies. This environment offers a valuable opportunity to showcase Life’s mission, programs, and global humanitarian projects.

She added that visitors demonstrated significant interest in global humanitarian issues, particularly communities affected by conflict, disasters, and the ongoing displacement crisis in Gaza. This provided an important opportunity to highlight the growing needs of vulnerable populations and mobilize additional support for those most affected.

Life: A Trusted Bridge Between Donors and Those in Need

Omar Mamdouh, Director of Executive Projects, explained that the organization used the convention to spotlight a wide range of humanitarian programs and initiatives, including food security projects, assistance for vulnerable families, orphan sponsorship programs, and water, health, and education initiatives. Special attention was also given to Life’s emergency relief efforts in countries facing escalating humanitarian crises, particularly its support for displaced families living in Gaza’s tent camps and the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.

Mamdouh noted that one of the convention’s most important benefits is the opportunity to connect directly with donors and demonstrate the impact of their contributions. The organization provided attendees with a comprehensive overview of living conditions inside Gaza’s displacement camps, including the severe shortages of essential supplies, the challenges faced by displaced children, the effects of extreme weather conditions, and the broader housing and shelter crisis affecting families throughout the region.

To help donors better understand these realities, Life displayed one of its newly developed shelter tents used in Gaza. Whereas previous tents measured 4 by 4 meters, the updated model measures 4 by 6 meters and includes a dedicated bathroom space to provide greater privacy, particularly for women. Visitors were also shown a model of daily life inside the tents, along with improvements and modifications made in response to feedback from displaced residents.

The exhibition further highlighted Life’s humanitarian projects around the world, its partnerships with universities to raise awareness about global humanitarian challenges, and samples of food assistance, including canned meat products distributed to beneficiaries.

Mamdouh emphasized that face-to-face engagement with donors provides an invaluable opportunity to share success stories and demonstrate tangible results made possible through their generosity, strengthening public confidence in sustainable and organized humanitarian work.

Engaging Youth and Channeling Their Efforts Toward Good

According to Khalil Meek, Director of Development, the convention also serves as an important platform for promoting a culture of giving and volunteerism. Life actively seeks to recruit new volunteers and involve them in its humanitarian mission while introducing young people and families to opportunities for community engagement and charitable service both within the United States and internationally.

He further noted that participation in the convention enables the organization to establish partnerships and collaborative relationships with other humanitarian and charitable organizations, facilitating the exchange of expertise and best practices that ultimately enhance the effectiveness and reach of humanitarian programs and joint initiatives.

Life’s Gaza Tents Featured in Al Jazeera Coverage

The organization’s activities during the convention received coverage from Al Jazeera, as Life’s exhibition booth attracted significant interest and engagement from participants. Many visitors took part in solidarity activities and wrote messages of support expressing compassion for communities affected by humanitarian crises.

Palestine maintained a strong presence throughout the convention. Participants were invited to write messages of solidarity on a tent that is scheduled to be sent to Gaza through Life for Relief and Development. This initiative builds upon the organization’s shelter support projects launched since the beginning of the war, including nine displacement camps established across northern, central, and southern Gaza.

These camps feature durable, standards-compliant tents that have provided shelter for approximately 46,000 displaced individuals. Designed for easy assembly and relocation to accommodate repeated displacement, the tents are also fire-resistant, helping protect civilian lives. Each tent is equipped with bedding and blankets, while every camp includes a medical clinic, sanitation facilities, solar energy systems, and insulation materials designed to protect residents from winter rains and extreme summer heat.

Life: Ranked Among the World’s Leading Humanitarian Organizations

Life for Relief and Development has been operating in more than 60 countries for over 33 years through a network of 16 international offices. The organization holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

According to Charity Navigator, Life ranks third globally among leading humanitarian organizations, fifth among organizations supporting displaced Palestinians, and fifth among organizations combating poverty worldwide. The organization also received a perfect 100% rating for 2026. In addition, it has been recognized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and named by Impactful Ninja as one of the leading humanitarian organizations in the United States.

Life for Relief and Development was also awarded the Dubai Humanitarian Award for Best Partnership in recognition of its Gaza shelter camp initiative.

For the Silo, Tasneem Elridi.

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