Hawa

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
The Late Hawa Iqbal Jassat
8 January 1993 – 23 April 2019

From a life of courage, compassion and service to a legacy of hope
“Hawa carried pain, but she gave happiness.”
A loving daughter, sister, friend, volunteer and football coach whose kindness continues through the work carried out in her name.

WHO HAWA WAS
Hawa was a loving, determined and compassionate young woman from Blackburn. She was the beloved daughter of Iqbal and Salma Jassat and a much-loved sister to Hussain. Family, friends, teachers and the football community remembered her smile, humour, courage, generosity and the way she made people feel welcome.
She loved children, charity and her faith. She was also adventurous: she enjoyed high rides, knew a great deal about horses and dreamed of one day owning a Ford Mustang. Her illness shaped parts of her life, but it never defined the whole person she was. HAWA AT A GLANCE

Born: 8 January 1993
Passed away: 23 April 2019, aged 26
Home: Blackburn, Lancashire
Family: Daughter of Iqbal and Salma; sister of Hussain
Remembered for: Kindness, courage, resilience, football, children and charity
“You were deeply loved, are loved and always will be loved.”

HER MEDICAL JOURNEY AND RESILIENCE
From infancy, Hawa lived with beta-thalassaemia major and needed regular blood transfusions, iron-chelation treatment, blood tests, scans and lifelong specialist monitoring. In 2007 she experienced drug-induced pancreatitis, and she later developed pigment gallstones.
On 11 September 2011, aged 18, she underwent keyhole surgery to remove her gallbladder. During the operation, the main bile duct and right hepatic artery were injured. Emergency open reconstruction, intensive care and a prolonged hospital stay followed. The injury caused years of abdominal and nerve-related pain, affecting eating, sleep, education and everyday life; she later attended the Walton Centre pain-management programme in 2018.
Her resilience was not the absence of pain; it was continuing to learn, volunteer, coach and care for others while carrying it.

EDUCATION, FOOTBALL AND CHILDREN
Hawa studied at Beardwood School and Blackburn College, gaining qualifications in childcare, English, sport leadership and BTEC Sport. Football gave her confidence, friendship and purpose. She volunteered with Blackburn Youth Zone, Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, AHF FC and women’s and girls’ football programmes, hoping to progress to higher coaching qualifications.
Working with children was one of her greatest joys. COMPASSION, FAITH AND SERVICE
Hawa preferred sincere, quiet charity. She supported orphans and vulnerable children, cared deeply about people living with illness or disability, and often wanted help directed to the place of greatest need. Her Muslim faith was an important source of strength. During hardship she was remembered for saying “Alhamdulillah” – an expression of gratitude to God – and for drawing strength from patience, prayer and hope.
Charity did not erase her pain, but it gave her pain a purpose beyond herself.

HER WISH BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY
Before her passing, Hawa told Hafiz Abdussamaad Mulla that she wanted to build a “palace” where people with disabilities would be cared for with dignity, kindness, therapy, learning, inclusion and happiness. Her family believe that this sincere intention continues through the care now provided in her name.

IN HAWA’S OWN WORDS
“I am an energetic and enthusiastic young person who enjoys a challenge and achieving personal goals.”
This description from Hawa’s CV reflects the ambition, energy and determination that family, teachers and coaches saw in her. HOW THE COMMUNITY

REMEMBERED HER
After her passing, tributes came from friends, teachers, football clubs, coaches, parents and community organisations across Lancashire. A minute’s silence was held, and people repeatedly described her as warm, funny, brave, generous and full of life.
Her impact reached far beyond her illness and continues through the children and families helped in her memory.

HER LIFE, HER WISH, HER LEGACY
From Grief to a Lasting Legacy
Practical care, therapy, learning and hope carried forward in Hawa’s memory

The disability and medical project in Sri Lanka: turning Hawa’s intention into care for real children and families.
2019
Hawa passes away; her family begins lasting charity in her memory. 2020
Benefit Mankind and local partners begin the Sri Lanka disability project. 2021–23
Disability support, seasonal assistance and medical services continue to develop. 2024
Hussain visits Sri Lanka and sees the work being delivered. 2025–26
£31,261 raised; 30 children supported for a full year.
FROM FAMILY GRIEF TO PRACTICAL HELP
After Hawa passed away, her clothes and footwear were distributed to children in Kenya. In October 2019, her family travelled with a humanitarian team and saw how lasting work could turn grief into shelter, clean water, sanitation, dignity and worship.
100
homes 4
boreholes 25
toilets 500+
people

This became an ongoing charitable legacy – known in Islam as sadaqah jariyah – and showed the family how Hawa’s values could continue through practical service. BENEFIT MANKIND AND THE SRI LANKA PROJECT
Benefit Mankind was incorporated on 31 December 2019 and registered with the Charity Commission on 10 February 2020 (registered charity 1187849). The first recorded funding application for the Sri Lanka disability work was dated 25 February 2020.
The Late Hawa Iqbal Jassat Disability Centre, connected with BM Hospital in Kinniya, supports vulnerable children and adults living with disability, illness and poverty through medical monitoring, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, mobility and adaptive support, learning and communication assistance, emotional support and guidance for families.
In 2024, Hussain visited the project and saw Hawa’s legacy becoming care, therapy and hope in person.
FUNDRAISING GROWTH AND FULL-YEAR IMPACT
£13,261 £18,000 30 £31,261
Ramadan 2025 Ramadan 2026 children supported for a full year raised across both campaigns
Regular sponsorship gives children and vulnerable individuals dependable support across the year, allowing the local team to plan treatment, allowances, therapy and learning rather than relying only on emergency donations. Where appropriate, full-year sponsors may receive personal updates while dignity and safeguarding are protected. £50
per child or person per month
£8,400
supports 14 people for a full year

SUPPORT PROVIDED THROUGH THE CENTRE
MEDICAL & REHABILITATION
Medical monitoring, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, mobility and adaptive support. LEARNING & COMMUNICATION
Communication assistance, accessible learning resources, sensory support and activities that build confidence. FAMILY & EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Practical guidance, reassurance and a safe environment where children and adults are treated with dignity.

THE NEXT STEP MOVING FORWARD
A More Complete Place of Care
Reliable services, better-equipped therapy and a safe place for children to learn, move and play
The proposed next phase aims to strengthen BM Hospital and the disability project for communities from seven surrounding villages. The priorities are dependable electricity, professional therapy and learning resources, and an inclusive outdoor space where children can play, develop confidence and experience joy.
1
20kW SOLAR POWER
£6,710

• Approx. 3,000 electricity units per month
• Protects medical and therapy services from interruptions
• Reduces long-term electricity costs 2
THERAPY & LEARNING
£6,345

• Therapy mats, balls, benches, balance and resistance equipment
• Parallel bars, standing frames and sensory tools
• Communication cards, Braille, visual routines and learning kits 3
INCLUSIVE CHILDREN’S PARK
£10,975

• Safe outdoor movement, play and social interaction
• Supports therapy, recovery and emotional wellbeing
• A place where children can simply enjoy being children
£24,030
three project priorities PROVISIONAL 2026 PROJECT BUDGET
The three project areas total £24,030, with £30 bank charges listed separately in the source proposal. The final public fundraising target should be confirmed by Benefit Mankind before publication.

WHO THIS PHASE IS FOR Children and adults living with disability, illness or poverty, together with their families and communities across seven villages surrounding BM Hospital.

WHAT EVERY DONATION CAN MAKE POSSIBLE
• Proper equipment for safer, more effective therapy.
• Reliable electricity for medical and rehabilitation services.
• Learning and communication support matched to each child.
• A family feeling less alone and a child growing in confidence.
• A safe place where children can move, play and enjoy being children.
• Practical guidance and emotional support for families. A MESSAGE FROM HAWA’S BROTHER
“I do not want people to know only the name written on the centre. I want them to understand the person behind that name – my sister, my parents’ daughter and somebody who wanted to make life better for others. Every child helped becomes part of Hawa’s continuing legacy and part of our family’s prayers and hopes for her.”

A SHARED REFLECTION AND PRAYER
People of every faith and background can share the hope that Hawa’s memory continues to bring care, dignity and opportunity to others. In keeping with Hawa’s Muslim faith, her family prays that Allah forgives her, has mercy on her, grants her the highest place in Paradise and accepts every act of kindness completed in her memory. May her parents and family find comfort, may every donor, volunteer and supporter be rewarded, and may every child at the centre be protected and given the chance to learn, grow and experience joy. Ameen.
Thank you for helping carry Hawa’s legacy forward.