In Iraq, 14-year-old Mustafa moves through his neighbourhood with newfound confidence.
For years, Mustafa relied on a broken wheelchair that made simple tasks feel impossible. He needed help to get to school and to move around at home, while playing outside with other children was all but impossible.
When Mustafa received an electric wheelchair through the Islamic Relief Orphan Sponsorship Programme, the change was immediate.
“Now I can go to school by myself,” Mustafa says, breaking into a smile. “I feel free, like I can do anything.”
His words carry the weight of someone who knows what independence costs and what it means to finally have it.
A family that never gave up
Mustafa lost his father when he was just 2 years old. He has no memories of him. Since then, his older brother toiled away as a construction worker to support Mustafa, their mother, and their sister, who was also born with a disability.
The daily wage barely covers basics, but it’s still a challenge to make ends meet. Mustafa’s mother manages high blood pressure and chronic joint pain while caring for 2 children with disabilities. She needs an MRI scan but can’t afford it. The family receives social welfare payments, but the money never stretches far enough.
They live in a small inherited house in Al-Haswa with 2 bedrooms, a living room, bathroom and kitchen. It’s clean and it’s theirs, but everything else is a struggle.
Mustafa’s brother works every day he can. His mother does what mothers do: she keeps going.
A turning point
Since 2016, Mustafa has been enrolled on our Orphan Sponsorship Programme. The monthly stipend his family receives helps cover Mustafa’s daily expenses and medical supplies.
His broken wheelchair remained a daily obstacle, however. Mustafa couldn’t get to class independently. His family had to help him get anywhere and the physical burden on his mother and brother was constant.
After visiting the family for an assessment, Islamic Relief’s team moved quickly to provide Mustafa with an electric wheelchair.
The impact went beyond mobility. Mustafa now attends school regularly and participates actively in class. He visits the local market by himself to help his mother with grocery shopping. He joins friends for fun activities that were impossible before.
Mustafa’s mother and brother feel the difference too. The physical demands on them have eased, allowing them to focus more on providing Mustafa with emotional support.
“The family expressed deep gratitude, describing the sponsorship as a lifeline,” says Ikhlas Sadiq Hasson, Islamic Relief Iraq’s Orphans and Child Welfare Programme assistant, who is based in Baghdad.
For Mustafa specifically, the wheelchair restored something harder to measure than mobility: dignity.
More than a wheelchair
Mustafa is quiet, cheerful and ambitious. Teachers describe him as well-mannered and polite, passionate about learning despite the obstacles. His determination stands out even in a community that knows suffering well.
The wheelchair changed his relationship with school. Before, attendance was irregular and difficult. Now he arrives independently, enters his classroom without struggle, and engages with lessons. His confidence has grown visibly.
It has also changed how peers see him. Being able to move freely among his classmates reduces Mustafa’s risk of isolation. While being more able to participate in activities strengthens his connection to his classmates. These small changes can mean everything to a young boy.
The broader community has also taken notice. Seeing Mustafa’s transformation has increased awareness about how to support children with disabilities. His story has made people more conscious of accessibility and inclusion.
World Children’s Day
As the world marks World Children’s Day on 20 November – a day to celebrate every child’s right to education, health and dignity – Mustafa’s story illustrates what those rights look like in practice.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees children with disabilities the right to full participation in society. Article 23 specifically recognises their right to special care, education and training designed to help them achieve the greatest possible social integration.
For Mustafa, that article became something concrete through his electric wheelchair and the ongoing support of his sponsor.
He still faces challenges. The family’s financial situation remains difficult and his mother’s health needs attention. In many ways, the future is still uncertain.
But something fundamental shifted when someone cared enough to act. Mustafa can move independently. He can learn, he can help his family. He can fully enjoy his life as a 14-year-old boy.
That’s not charity. That’s justice.
Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme supports vulnerable children worldwide with education, healthcare and essential supplies. Your sponsorship can transform a child’s life. Donate today.
