Emily is a single mother pursuing her higher education to guarantee a better future for her and her son, but this journey has been full of hardship. Escaping a traumatic relationship and struggling to make ends meet while also pursuing her education left her in a constant state of fear and exhaustion. That’s where A Continuous Charity is stepping in to help transform her life by providing her with an interest-free loan when she needs it most. ​

 Your support will help turn around the lives of other Muslim students like Emily by giving them access to higher education without compromising their deen by taking out an interest-bearing loan.

Emily’s Story as She Tells It: A Journey of Hardship, Miracles and Gratitude

I left my ex with nothing in the world except for two suitcases. I was given $200 by a friend to help see get on my feet. As a new Muslim, Islam had profoundly changed me so I decided to use some of that money to start wearing hijab. I spend roughly $36.47 buying materials to start wearing hijab, and I tell no one because I know spending money on anything other than necessities is going to seem foolish. Two days later an old teacher of mine from high school gives me an envelope with exactly $36.47 in it.

I worked two part-time jobs to make ends meet, but it was a struggle without a car. A local mosque fundraised $1500 for me to get a car which allowed me to enroll in classes. I continue to push forward, but with working two part time jobs, and taking night classes and online classes, I feel like I can't continue doing this. There is a whole chunk of my son’s life that I don’t remember because I had to spend so many hours working. But keeping my goal in mind, I keep pushing. Even in my darkest times, Allah finds a way to help me. 

In between all of this, I start back volunteering. I work on refugee drives with other single moms. I have friends who tell me I need to wait until I finish school or that I need to wait until I have more resources and more time. They tell me I cannot do it. But the one thing that has stayed consistent in a very bumpy life has been my desire to help other people. 

I need to transfer schools, and although I have a 3.6 GPA, the deadline to apply to transfer is fast approaching, and until I pay off my old university's debt, I cannot get my transcripts to transfer. My friend arranges a drive and overnight raises $2,400 to pay off my old university, so that I can apply for schools. 

In between these miracles, there is so much stress that sometimes I cannot breathe. I borrow money; I cry myself to sleep; I am scared and tired. I work full time, go to class three nights out of the week, and I live in a constant state of fear over what will happen if I stop. But I keep pushing.

I apply to schools, and my top choice school calls me to set up an interview. Thursday, my best friend drives me two hours to Sherman, Texas to a beautiful campus for the interview.

Friday, I get a call from the admissions office. The person who interviewed me has moved my application to the top of the list and says he is giving me the highest recommendation he can. I am certain this must be a joke, but even if it’s not a joke, I can’t afford the school, and I only applied so that I wouldn’t beat myself up about never even trying.

Today, they call me. Not only have I been admitted, but they are offering me a $20k per year scholarship on top of other grants and loans I will receive.

When I left my ex and began this journey, two Christian friends reminded me of the story of Hagar in the Bible - how she is abandoned by everyone (or so she thinks), but Allah (SWT) or God, causes water to spring from rocks so that she and her child can drink.

This entire journey has been one where Allah (SWT) causes water to spring from the darkest places. 

Unfortunately the story doesn't end there...

Emily is back on hard times, and is struggling to pay her tuition. 

The Helper needs your help

Emily and her friend, Ashley volunteer to run drives every year to gather supplies for 30+ refugee families.  Despite having to deal with her own struggles, Emily has been there to help others gain financial assistance volunteering to support the struggles of refugees and displaced individuals. 

Emily is a strong believer in giving back to others to strengthen that human bond. It is why she does it. 

Let's come together to help a sister who needs us. A sister who has been of support to the community even when she was struggling herself. 

She deserves our help.

Support other students like Emily 

Emily’s story is not an isolated one. We receive countless messages of Muslim students across the nation struggling to pursue an education simply because they don’t want to compromise their deen, and drown in crippling debt.

Help us help them.

Every dollar you donate today lives on year after year because every dollar we get back, we give back to another student.

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