A Snapshot of Islamic Relief's Faith-Sensitive Approach to Protection and Inclusion

This paper documents key lessons from Islamic Relief’s experiences in establishing Community Hope Action Teams (CHATs). Derived from World Vision’s Channels of Hope (CoH) methodology, the CHAT model integrates religious teachings and community engagement to address harmful social norms affecting children and gender equality. CoH was later adapted by Islamic Relief to reflect Muslim contexts, incorporating insights from Islamic sources such as the Qur’an and hadith. The primary goal is to influence community attitudes and behaviours by creating a safe space for discussion among community members. It focuses on addressing the underlying causes of issues related to child protection and gender equality, using religious principles to promote positive social change.