The U of M engineering atrium hosted the Charity Week Bazaar, organized by the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) in partnership with Islamic Relief Canada. The event brought together students, vendors and community members for a day of fundraising, with a portion of proceeds directed toward international humanitarian projects.
Arifah Gheesah, the student life manager of MSA, explained the idea for the bazaar came from a similar event held last year. “The Charity Week Bazaar is an event that we did last year in MSA while I was the student life director,” she said. “My manager at the time organized it for the first time, and as a director last year and someone who was […] an audience in the event, I really liked the concept. There were a lot of people who were interested in the vendors […] so I wanted to do it again this year.”
The decision to host the event again came directly from student feedback. “MSA did a poll on their Instagram, and students said they wanted this event again, so that’s why we did it,” Gheesah stated.
Gheesah said the main challenge in organizing the bazaar was securing vendors. She explained that many were hesitant due to concerns about sales and covering costs, especially new or student-run businesses. The organizing team had to reassure participants that the event would provide a supportive space to promote their work.
One of those helping make the event possible was Iqra Tariq, a fundraising specialist with Islamic Relief Canada. She shared how meaningful it was to see the event come together and emphasized the charitable purpose behind it. “We are raising funds for Charity Week at our booth,” Tariq said. “This is our Islamic Relief merchandise. This year, we have an amazing lineup of projects the money will support, including health needs in Gaza, Palestine, rebuilding lives in Sudan and investing in futures in Bangladesh, as well as empowering children and communities across the world.”
The bazaar also featured vendors from the wider Winnipeg community, such as local businessman Mamoon Mazher, who appreciated the event’s cause and wanted to contribute. “They’re using funds for orphans around the world in collaboration with Islamic Relief Canada, so I wanted to be a part of this initiative,” Mazher explained. He added all his supplies “are imported from Dubai,” bringing a touch of international craftsmanship to the campus event.
Gheesah added the event brought together both students and the entire MSA team. “Everyone gets to work on this big project that they see good in,” she said. “It’s a way to connect the Muslim community on campus with the non-Muslim students.”
To Gheesah, the most rewarding part of organizing this event was seeing it come to life. “It feels really good to see everyone together,” she said. “You plan […] and then on the day of, you see everyone there, and people actually enjoying [the event].”
