Updated 20 May 2013
The Vice President of The World Federation, Munawer Rattansey represented The World Federation at the 33rd Annual Conference of Nasimco which was held in Los Angles on 4 May 2013.
He began his address by noting the relevance of the conference theme to the workings of The World Federation of KSIMC and its motto: We Exist to Serve. He also discussed some of the key activities that The World Federation is currently undertaking including the Eradication of Poverty. He also spoke the Madrassah Center of Excellence (MCE).
In addition Munawer also discussed The World Federation's aim to connect the international community are the Business and Professionals Directory and the Generation Plan.
Extracts from his address to the Conference can be read below:
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Gulamabbas Najafi, members of NASIMCO committee, Br Khalil Dewji, councillors,delegates, brothers & sisters - Salaam Alaykum.
It gives me great pleasure to be amongst so many familiar faces and others InshaAllah, I will come to know over the period of the conference. It is always heartening to see, in these busy times, with so many challenges and countless schedules to meet, that you found time to attend, travelling long distances to serve the community for the sake of no one else but Allah (swt). May Allah (swt) grant you tawfeekat to continue to support and serve IA.
At the outset I would like to inform the delegates that our President, Dr Moledina, sends his deepest regrets for not being able to attend. I know he really looks forward to attending these conferences, as he not only gets to meet members from various Jamaats and attend personal meetings with the Office Bearers, but can also understand first-hand the challenges of the community. D. Moledina has undergone a minor procedure and the doctors have advised him to rest and give his body a chance to heal. Let us pray for his swift recovery IA.
The theme of the conference – strengthening families, building communities is very much in line with the workings of The World Federation. I would say our motto ‘we exist to serve’ – is very much in line with the theme of the conference.
Let me spend some time in briefing you into the workings of The World Federation.
We presented a very ambitious but achievable action plan at the start of our term with three main themes:
1. Eradication of poverty within the Khoja community over the next 15 Years.
2. Madressa Centre of Excellence
3. Connecting communities
In conjunction with The Africa Federation and local participating Jamaats, we have undertaken housing projects in Dar es salaam, Arusha and other places on the basis of each party contributing a third of the cost.
Similarly, we have also participated in Micro financing projects to create opportunities for those who have the will but not the means.
We support various health projects including Autistic Centre, clinics and providing equipment to hospitals in various parts of Africa.
In Pakistan and India, we support various health and educational projects to uplift the communities and have given access to better health and education, thereby strengthening the communities.
As you are aware the economic climate in the Western world has changed drastically since 2008 and the forecast for the future, unfortunately, is nothing but doom and gloom.
This scene will probably remain with us for a while.
Therefore, in collaboration with CoEJ and NASIMCO we have begun to explore the needs of the members in Europe and North America.
Let me assure you that we at The World Federation feel that at this juncture – where many are facing possibilities of losing jobs, some may already be unemployed, business slowdowns, business closures – we are here to support in whatever way we can. We can assure you that you will find in us partners that will not only help in carrying load but will go that extra mile to support.
Eradication of poverty is an ambitious target but we feel it is achievable and IA at the forthcoming EXCO you will receive more detailed information from the various ASG’s as to their work and challenges that they face in meeting their targets. Time does not allow me to delve into this too deeply.
Again let me emphasize that all the work that we do would not be possible without the wholehearted support from NASIMCO and other regions.
ZCSS
If you have not already you will be receiving the ZCSS report soon. It will furnish in great depth how your support brings about change in not only the students but in the society as a whole. These very students that you sponsor turn around and give back to the community by sponsoring as well, thereby bringing about a multiplier effect.
Over all, almost 5,500 students are sponsored and InshaAllah we would like to increase this number as there is such a huge need. As you will agree with me, that giving education is one of the easiest ways to eradicate poverty. The cost is really very minimal. At about £10/month - which is bout 4 cappuccinos or lattes, you can change a life of someone, empower the society and in the process receive sawab. I urge you all to please read the report and please do sponsor.
There is a similar programme to ZCSS which operates in Africa. It is called MAMAS and this is specifically for Khoja community children whose parents cannot afford school fees. It is a joint venture with local Jamaat, parent contribution and WF support. Currently 105 children are being supported at a cost $150,000. Again we urge you to support this initiative.
MCE
Following the successful Madrasah Retreat held in Dubai in February last year, in which over 25 madaris from Europe, East Africa, Middle East, North America, India and Pakistan were represented, a strategy document was prepared for the Madrasah Agenda of The World Federation. A key recommendation was the formation of a formal madrasah structure.
Alhamdulillah, the structure has been formed and the person who will lead is in place.
There are four work streams:
• Curriculum Development – A framework of the broad curriculum is being developed that can be tailored to individual madrasah needs, can undergo constant evolution and can be reviewed periodically.
• Teachers Training – has already begun
• Learning Resources – is well underway and ideally upon completion will have a comprehensive resource centre for teachers, parents and students
• Assessment & Evaluation – pilot projects have already been imitated and the response from madaris has been positive
As with any secular education MCE will work on a tripartite partnership between teacher, student and parent. Each one has role to play in the overall success.
Moral support from the community is vital together with volunteers helping out in various madressa related projects.
Timeline
We must recognise that there are no easy solutions or quick fixes. We want a complete solution, no half-way measures. However, it does not mean that we will have to wait for 3 years before we see any results. The work has already started and each work stream will have objectives to meet throughout the building period and we will give precise pace of development of each of the work stream IA at the EXCO.
Each one of us here has either been to a madrasah, or has children attending madrasah, or will have children, grandchildren or relatives’ children who will attend madrasah. Every one of us has a responsibility to ensure that every madrasah becomes an institution of excellence for delivering Islamic knowledge, spirituality and morality to our future generations.
Otherwise, like the girl-child who was buried alive will be asked on the Day of Judgement, “For what sin were you slain?”,we might be asked, “ For what reason did you neglect to provide the best Islamic education to your child?”
There is a beautiful hadith from Imam Ali (as): “Allah does not hold the people of ignorance responsible for not learning, until He has held the people of knowledge responsible for not teaching”
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES
The World Federation is currently working on two projects which IA will be launched this year:
The Business and Professionals Directory and the Generation Plan. Data gathered under this plan, will allow us to plan the shape of our community in 20-30 years.
External Relations
I would like to touch upon couple of initiatives that The World Federation is working upon.
We as Muslims, and Shias in particular, face challenges on an everyday basis. In fact it has reached a stage where, it does not matter which part of the world you live, these challenges will be there and unfortunately, unlike other communities, we do not have a unified Shia body. In the UK we have Muslim Council of Britain, where we have some influence but because the majority of its membership is from other school of thought there is not much room to come outright and speak on our behalf on a regular basis. There are other Shia organisations and they do a fair amount of campaigning, lobbying and consultation but there is not one that really brings together Shias from all ethnicities.
Alhamdulillah we are at a point of forming a Shia umbrella body that will IA be inclusive of Shias from various ethnicities. A retreat is being planned IA in the near future.
This project has taken over a year with close to 25/30 meetings. The structure, name and the organisation has been registered. It is called UKSMC and IA its focus will initially be UK based but will broaden its remit once correctly imbedded.
Media Committee
This committee was set up by EXCO after the community felt that there should be a media body at The World Federation with participants from the regions. Currently from NASIMCO we have been fortunate to have Habib Habib, Shyrose Jaffer Dhallan and Hasnain Walji. Their participation, experience and awareness has been immensely helpful.
The Media Committee has been meeting on a monthly basis via teleconference and have established a pattern of working. Articles have been produced by the team for both internal readership and for the external media. The enthusiasm of the participants has really been heartening and all concerned are very mindful of the challenges and expectations facing this committee. The committee is still in its infancy and participants residing in different time zones bring about its own challenges to respond in a timely manner. However, even with these challenges the committee has responded positively and has issued press releases, written positive articles and in general portrayed an image other than what the media would like us to be seen. IA as we gel and work more closely and on a more regular basis we will IA become more effective in getting our message across.
There are several other campaigns that The World Federation is actively involved and IA it will elaborated in details at the forthcoming EXCO.
Ramadhan Relief
Everyone needs somewhere to belong to and someone to care for them and with your support, The World Federation is already hard at work to make this happen for so many struggling families this coming Mahe Ramadhan.
The World Federation’s annual Ramadhan Relief Fund provides assistance to deserving families who often have no one else to turn to by providing them with food rations, iftaars, debt clearance and other forms of aid to make the Holy month of Ramadhan a little easier.
The World Federation is pleased to be partnering with NASIMCO once again this year to raise funds across our Jamaats in North America for this initiative.
Our brothers and sisters in many parts of the world face on-going hardships and life is a real struggle. The World Federation works year round to alleviate their struggles through various initiatives and programs. Is it any wonder that these same individuals and families look to you and I for a little relief to make the month of Ramadhan a little easier?
Last Ramadhan, the World Federation’s Ramadhan Relief Fund helped over 188,000 people including orphans, children, seniors, widows and the disabled. For these families, the challenges of finding work, adequate shelter, nutritious meals and building confidence while living below the poverty line is already hard enough.
The World Federation’s Ramadhan Relief Fund is all about coming together as a global family to ease the hardships of others so that they too can fast and partake in the spiritual journey of this Holy month with ease and comfort.
As I stand here before you, our volunteers spanning 13 countries are already hard at work identifying families who need our help this Ramadhan. Today, I am here to appeal to each one of you both as Jamaat leaders and individuals to help us promote this year’s Ramadhan Relief Campaign in each of your respective Centres beginning now until the end of Ramadhan so that those who are counting on our help again this year, are not turned away empty handed.
Our Relief Team is busy preparing marketing material for you to encourage your community members to donate to the Ramadhan Relief Fund. Insha’Allah we will send this to you in just a few short weeks through our Regional Body – NASIMCO. Please display the posters in your centres and make regular appeals and speeches asking people to donate to this fund. If you need any support at all, please do not hesitate to contact our Relief Team and they will assist you. You can contact us at relief@world-federation.org
The annual Ramadhan Relief Programme is a partnership where everybody wins. From the thousands upon thousands of beneficiaries to the countless volunteers, generous donors, Jamaats, Regional Federations and concerned individuals, this initiative continues to show that united, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.
Last year, The World Federation was able to collect and distribute $654,000 USD - its largest sum ever in aid to deserving families grappling with poverty. Let’s aim to surpass this amount this year. On your tables in front of you, you will find the Ramadhan Relief 1433 Report – this is a glimpse of how the funds we collected last year were spent. On behalf of all the beneficiaries, thank you for making difficult lives a little easier.
I pray to Allah (swt) to accept our collective efforts, and keep us in His service for years to come, and hasten the reappearance of Imam e Zamana (aj).
Lastly, our communities face challenges on several fronts - social, economical and political.
SOCIAL- there are matrimonial issues like finding right match for our boys and girls. All traditional means of match making are being resisted.
As Shabbir Jeraj, who rightfully raised fear that, if one boy or a girl decides to marry outside the fold, there is a potential that our small community would not only lose the boy or girl but a whole generation deviating from the right path. We at The World Federation have tried to mitigate by initiating an alternative to traditional matchmaking - Khojamatch.com - an online matchmaking service that empowers the subscriber.
There is also a growing problem of elderly parents living with young married children. The economic climate being such that both husband and wife end up working long hours to make ends meet, leaving very little time to look after the elderly parents - whose medical and social needs are steadily increasing through no fault of theirs. This, inevitably, leads to frustrating environment which festers resentment in the long term, within the family, leading to possible family break ups.
A time has come when we need to be proactive and show leadership. The greying generation is on the increase and we can no longer brush this growing critical issue under the carpet - it has to be tackled heads on by taking bold actions.
Firstly, by looking into setting up community led residential and nursing homes and secondly opening up the debate on the merits of elderly parents passing their sunset years in a caring, friendly and Muslim environment. The issue is very controversial and there is a stigma attached to it. But I think, if handled rationally and in a calm environment, we can, in the long term, overcome these hurdles IA.
ECONOMICAL- as mentioned earlier the western world is going thru dire financial situation and the gloomy picture will remain for a while to come. Even though the government has set up various initiatives to overcome the situation, many of our members either do not qualify or are too proud to apply. We are duty bound to try and set up programmes that offer both social and economic assistance, once the results of the needs analysis has been analysed.
POLITICAL - our institutions are coming under intense financial, regulatory and media scrutiny. In order to overcome, Jamaats are taking measures in isolation, when well laid out contingency plans are available both at regional level and at The World Federation that will not only readily assist them but also will be there to offer comfort and support.
These pressures, from different sources, will only increase as time goes by and now more than ever we need to rise to the challenge, ride over our futile differences and join forces for the good of our members and our institutions.
United our institutions have been able to offer assistance in the form of medical, educational relief and in tableegh to various parts of the world.
Lately actions taken by some Jamaats have started to undermine our institutions with a real possibility of unravelling of our institutions. We need to be mindful of the previous generations blood, sweat and tears to have set up these institutions and we are duty bound to not only preserve but to take to a higher level for the generations to come. Let us not be distracted, remain focused and InshaAllah Allah(swt) will guide us.
In conclusion, let me extend my thanks and appreciation to firstly to Gulamabbas bhai and his committee and secondly to you all for giving me an opportunity to partake and explain some of the workings of The World Federation.
Wasalaam