When the flash floods and cloudbursts struck on the 26th of August, the waters swallowed everything in their path, homes, shops, and dreams alike. Among the many who lost their livelihood was Akhtar Hussain; a hardworking shopkeeper whose small business was his family’s only source of income.
His shop was more than a place of work; it was his connection to the world. In a village where the nearest bank is 15 kilometers away, Akhtar helped people withdraw cash, book tickets, and manage their daily needs. But the floods showed no mercy, his entire shop, along with all his equipment, was swept away overnight.
When our Miles2Smile team arrived for flood relief, we found Akhtar standing before the wreckage of his shop, silent, uncertain, yet hopeful. He told us how he had no funds left to rebuild, no means to start again. His livelihood had been reduced to debris.
Moved by his story, Miles2Smile decided to help him rebuild. We provided a laptop and printer; the essential tools he needed to restart his work. For Akhtar, it wasn’t just equipment, it was dignity restored.
And the most beautiful part about his story is that when we feared their story would become another waiting cause. Allah’s mercy unfolded in ways we could never predict. Before we could even raise a new campaign, a kind generous man from Bangalore, a stranger to them , yet connected by faith placed his trust in us. He became the vessel of Allah’s compassion, allowing us to rebuild Akhtar’s shop and restore not just his livelihood, but his hope. Sometimes, it doesn’t take a campaign just one heart moved by mercy.
Today, Akhtar is back at work, serving his community once again. With a humble smile, he says that Miles2Smile helped him “stand on his feet” when everything around him had fallen.
And that’s what we strive for, to turn despair into hope, and to rebuild lives, one smile at a time.
