Stories of Hope – Qassim’s Story.
It’s that time of year when I sort out my clothes, Joe’s toys and books in order to have a cull in preparation for Christmas. I try to be ruthless with my sorting, and, when I am finished, I donate all the good but now unwanted stuff to my local charity shop. It is a win-win situation in my view, I am able to make extra space for new things that will be arriving with Santa, and know that my donation is going to a good cause. But have you ever wondered how your donation to Charity helps people – where your money goes and what it actually does? Oxfam are giving you some of ideas with their latest campaign which is called ‘Stories of Hope’. Today I’m going to share Qassim’s story,
Qassim Daoud is a barber. He lives in Husseini Village in Eastern Iraq. His barber shop is his passion and he had worked hard to build up his trade. But in 2014, life took a very dramatic turn. An attack on a nearby province saw an influx of people arriving in Husseini Village, seeing his already popular barber shop now over run. Kurdish Police became suspicious of him, and he was arrested and thrown into jail. He was later released, but returned to his village to find that his beloved barber shop had been completely trashed. All his barbering equipment had been stolen. Many people would’ve been destroyed by this action. But Qassim was made of sterner stuff. He found another property to use as a salon, and started all over again.

He says “…When Oxfam came, I reopened my shop. Oxfam provided me with money…They helped me buy everything in my shop. I bought chairs, the mirrors, the machines, the creams, everything actually. My barbershop is a small shop but I like it…I love everything about it…”
All over the world, there are people like Qassim, struggling to rebuild their lives in warzones and villages decimated by the effects of war, you can help by making a donation that could provide urgent support to families in incredibly vulnerable situations.
- £2.50 can provide 25 water sachets to a family in an emergency. This is enough to make 500 litres of water safe.
- £7 could provide cash or vouchers for families to use in an emergency, helping them buy food locally.
- £20 could provide warm bedding and offer protection from the elements.
- £30 could give four families a kit of soap, detergent and other essential toiletries
- £60 could build a safe, clean emergency toilet in a temporary camp
- £100 could help four people to earn a good living in their community
As you prepare for Christmas, maybe you could add a donation to Oxfam to your gift list.
21 Comments
MissPond
What a wonderful story. We always make a donation and buy Charity Christmas cards and we will be doing the same this year too 🙂
Penelope
We’re doing an Advent box for our local Food bank this year – but in the past I’ve given the Oxfam cards whereby your donation provides something specific to someone who needs it. This is the perfect time of year to focus on giving rather than just receiving.
CHARLOTTE EVANS
what a wonderful post and a sobering reminder about peoples struggles, especially at this time of year. I’m trying to donate food this year to my food banks and my Mum recently starting to volunteer for the rspca, just little things to do our bit, I’ll be picking up oxfam cards for christmas as always too 🙂 xx
Sarah Bailey
What an amazing story – it is great to hear the real stories and see what they are really doing on the ground to help.
Milly
This is such a lovely idea! I always try and do some charity things around Christmas, there’s one in London I love where you drop off old coats for the homeless. It’s amazing how the little things can be so life-changing to those in need.
Kathryn Watson
What a wonderful and uplifting story! I love that amongst all the bad in the world, we can uncover such greatness xx
Tara
I think I read about this, or something similar, on BuzzFeed. Thanks for sharing!
Baby Isabella
What an inspirational story, we’all be buying charity cards this year and making an donation. Such a good cause, helping people to help themselves in such a positive way x
stephanie
What a lovely story! Like you I always have a big clear out before Christmas x
Rachel
When the donations are broken down, as they are here, it makes giving feel all that much more important x
nicol
this is beautiful and shows how much oxfam has made an impact in his life
Hannah
What a great story! I love the work oxfam do x
The London Mum
I love the stories behind the work that charities do, it definitely encourages me to donate.
Claire
So inspiring. There are so many charities doing wonderful work.
Helen at Casa Costello
Great post – As a barber’s wife, Qassim’s story really stuck with me. We would be destitute if anything happened to his shop.
Anosa
What an amazing story and the wonderful work oxfarm is doing.
I am happy to show support when I know where it’s going
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
What a great post and it’s lovely that you are highlighting this and helping spread the word as to how people can help.
Jemma
This is a wonderful story. I make charity donations regularly, but will make sure to make a Christmas one this year.
Rosie
This is brilliant, what an amazing story – it’s important that people hear about the good work of charities.
Tanya
What an amazing man! Makes you think doesn’t it, the things we complain over whilst this is happening to others. Charity donations are definitely top of my list
Lisa Lambert (mumdadplus4)
We do this every year and donate all our stuff to charity this year I have also donated some of our review toys to family’s less fortunate than us after we had tried them out and nearly packed them back up