Living in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the world’s largest refugee camp, Mohammed Musa works daily to build sustainable opportunities for his community. Born in 2001 in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar, Musa was forced to flee during the 2017 Rohingya crisis. Today, he serves as a youth leader, human rights advocate, and the Founder and Executive Director of the Rohingya Aid and Empowerment Network (RAEN).
2001
Born in Rakhine State, Myanmar
2017
Forced to Flee During the Rohingya Crisis
Registered as a non-profit in the US, RAEN operates directly inside the camps in Bangladesh, running programs across five core areas:
As an honoree of the inaugural HalalTrip People Awards, Musa shares how refugee-led organizations are creating direct pathways toward self-reliance and community dignity.
While major international agencies maintain a crucial presence in Cox’s Bazar, Musa highlights the unique strengths that emerge when refugees lead their own development efforts.
“When people come to work for the Rohingya community from international organizations, they are working like a guest. We live the entire day with our people. We can understand what our people feel, and we can realize what our people actually need.”
That local presence creates a strong foundation of trust and shared commitment across every program RAEN delivers:
Outside Organizations
“For them, it is like their responsibility” — a duty carried out from the outside.
RAEN — Community-Led
“For us, to educate our children is our moral responsibility.” The community feels comfortable seeing their own sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters working for them.
While essential humanitarian relief keeps families supported day to day, Musa’s long-term vision centers on education and skill building.
“We truly appreciate what relief organizations and countries are doing in the camps. At the same time, we need to move from humanitarian assistance to self-dependence. We need to build our own capacity to bring changes within our community, to bring changes within Myanmar, and to live dignified lives.”
In that spirit of shared identity and ongoing global partnership, Musa invites Muslims worldwide to continue standing in solidarity with the Rohingya community:
“The suffering that we have is something the Muslim community around the world should feel. My message is loud and clear: the Muslim Ummah should not leave us alone. They should feel us as part of them, and extend their hands to support us as we build our capacity and work to secure our rights.”
Operating RAEN inside Cox’s Bazar requires constant engagement. Musa’s daily work involves visiting project sites, meeting with community leaders, and ensuring programs adapt to the needs of local families.
Inside the camps, RAEN serves as a safe and welcoming hub where residents of all ages can find support, share their ideas, and actively participate in community life.
“The beneficiaries who are part of RAEN can feel that it is theirs. They can share their worries, their stress, their happiness, and their challenges. In short, they feel RAEN is a part of them that they truly own.”
For global travelers, community leaders, and supporters around the world, Musa’s invitation is one of open collaboration: to partner with grassroots networks, support community-led education, and invest in the long-term potential of the Rohingya people.
Know someone making a lasting difference in their community without asking for recognition? Nominate them for the HalalTrip People Awards 2027 here.
