Kids from Rumah Solehah requested to contribute 100 red velvet cupcakes for VPM Charity Bazaar at Bangsar Shopping Centre. Fazilah Ahmad, a baker, baked the cupcakes and the kids wanted to contribute their creative skills in creating the cupcake toppers.

The kids have been told about what's happening in Gaza and they are thrilled to join in to help in whatever way they can. This is one great way to share with kids what's happening outside their country and how they may help!

We are deeply touched by the generosity of the kids at Rumah Solehah and the baker too, we thank them and may they all be blessed and rewarded by the Al-Mighty.

USD 1,500 was given as Islamic loan to this widow in Gaza Strip It has changed her life. She is highly skilled in knitting woollen garments. With the loan she bought some wool balls, and started knitting kids clothes. She promoted it to Palestinian families in Gaza Strip who bought them for their babies. After 3 months she attracted a lot of customers who bought her woollen clothing selection. She now makes USD 300-350 per month. Alhamdulillah! This is one of 50 micro-credit project funded by VPM in collaboration with Rowad Society for social development.

Below is a link to an article that was published in Al Monitor – The Pulse of the Middles East newslatter on VPM’s Islamic loans given to women in Gaza to help them to survive poverty:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/05/palestine-female-headed-families-good-loans-poverty.html#

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR3KlMbeHHE

They call it ‘the world’s biggest prison’. Nearly two million people live on a small strip of land, about the same size as Manhattan. Very few people get in or out of the Gaza strip. It’s under an Israeli blockade - by land, sea and air. Inside, a generation has grown up knowing only conflict, poverty and destruction. Nicole Johnston has reported on Gaza for years, and covered two wars with Israel from the strip. In this Newsmakers documentary she returns during peacetime, to see how people have survived ten years under siege.

For the first time ever, the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party in South Africa, today made the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel part of its official policy.

Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of BDS South Africa said the decision "by the ANC's National Conference, its highest decision making body, is by far the most authoritative endorsement of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign."