Refugee Kids Write Kindness Book Inspired by the Quran

Children who haven't always been shown kindness are now teaching the world about it through their own words.

Seven refugee and asylum-seeker children in the UK have written and published "Allah Loves Kindness," a collection of stories exploring what compassion means to them. The young authors drew from their own experiences of arriving in a new country and rebuilding their lives.

The project came from Zubeda Welcome, a charity that helps refugee children stay proud of their Muslim identity. Founder Atia Lokhat, a children's author and primary school teacher, led online writing sessions over several weeks where the children reflected on their personal experiences of generosity, compassion and belonging.

Atia asked each child to choose their favorite Quranic verses and connect them to stories about kindness toward animals, people and the environment. By the third week, when the children read their first drafts aloud, she was moved to tears.

"It touched me to the core to think that children who were not always at the receiving end of kindness are telling stories to inspire others to be kinder," Atia says. The children faced stereotypes and discrimination as refugees and asylum seekers, yet chose to focus on spreading compassion.

Why This Inspires

The book represents something bigger than just published stories. It's part of Zubeda Welcome's Empowerment Project, which teaches young people the Quran and offers funded placements in Islamic schools while building their confidence through public speaking, writing and leadership training.

Atia contributed her own story to the book about her mother's "Sadaqah jar," an old mayonnaise jar where her mother saved money for years to give to people in need. That simple act of charity inspired Atia to establish Zubeda Welcome in the first place.

Now the charity sells Sadaqah jars alongside the book, encouraging families to start their own tradition of charitable giving at home. All proceeds support programs for displaced children in the UK.

"Zubeda Welcome supported these seven children," Atia says. "Now they are using their stories to give back to support other children like them."

The young authors have turned their journey full circle, from receiving help to helping others through the power of their own words.