ZCSS Report for the term 2000 - 2003

A term of Reflection, Inspiration and Realisation

There have been occasions in the beginning of the term when we have felt truly alone and even orphaned with no sympathetic ear to guide us. However, as is the way with the tests that Allah (s.w.t) sets for us, out of this period of reflection, a new attitude of perseverance, patience and fortitude was born that truly inspired the ZCSS team to take bold steps ahead.  Indeed, this has probably been the term in which the community has inspired ZCSS to venture and explore more than any term before. Although a more comprehensive and detailed account of the new ventures is present in this report further on, I would just like to list a few inspirations that have been realised in this term by ZCSS:

• Mulla Asghar Memorial Academic Scheme.
• Yatim and Asir Sponsorship Scheme.
• Compilation and production of the book; Light behind the Veil.
• Construction of the ‘Sheikh Mufeed‘ block in Kujhwa, Bihar.
• Construction of a new school in Kareempur.
• Extension of the existing school in Alipur.
• Construction of a new boy's school in Alipur and renovation of the present Government School.
• Construction of more teachers’ quarters in Zainabiya School, Alipur and also securing the whole compound by building a brick built wall around the school and the teachers’ quarters.
• Construction of an academic institute in Meta, Gujarat, with the funds collected by Stanmore Jaffery and the donation by HSBC.
• Starting the sponsorship scheme with Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania.
• Securing a £10,000 grant from HSBC charity fund.
• Increasing the sponsorship of the number of Higher Education students from 356 to 799 and also taking the total number of students sponsored to nearly 12,000.

It is with gratitude to Allah (s.w.t) and deep sense of pride in this community, which has continued to support this scheme unwaveringly, that I can report that all the above milestones have been achieved without using the core ZCSS funds. All the above listed achievements have been made possible by new funds and donations.

For this I personally would like to thank the community for having faith in the ZCSS team and for having encouraged us and guided us. I pray that we, the ZCSS team, continue to inspire such confidence in the community, and that together we can build an institution that will unable us to realise our vision of making the Shiaism synonymous with intellectuality! I am often asked, ‘ what return has ZCSS had from its investment in the last 21 years.’ My answer has always been, that the fact that nearly 50,000 students have benefited from ZCSS in the last 21 years, is in itself a record to be proud of for this community, and as for ‘investment’ and ‘return’, my answer has always been that if one does not look for ‘return’ and ‘investment’ whilst building mosques and azakhanas, then how can we even think in terms of ‘return’ and ‘investment’ when we are facilitating the availability of the highest form of Ibabdat for all? Imam Ali has said;’ A man of knowledge is better than the one who fasts and stands in prayers and fights in the way of Allah. When a man of knowledge dies, Islam suffers such a loss, that it can only be put right by whosoever is his successor!’

I would like to end this report by thanking the community at large for their support and faith in us. I would personally like to thank all my team members including Zainabbai Kassam, and Masoomabai Bhalloo, for having worked so hard through out the term, often under very strenuous circumstances, to help the community realise its inspirations and make them into reality. I thank Allah s.w.t for having guided us and also given us the patience, fortitude and a belief in our mission, so that sometimes we have had to overcome the doubts from within our own in order to carry the work of ZCSS forward.

As is the way with nature, that everything has a lifespan and then it is replaced by something better and fresher, and just as surely as the youth of spring follows the weariness of autumn and winter, I am happy to inform our supporters, that we in ZCSS, take lessons from nature as well. After seven years at the helm of this ship of ZCSS, it is time for new blood and fresher leadership to now take the lead.  Whist welcoming the new President of The World Federation, Dr Ahmed Hassam, I urge him to appoint a fresh and dynamic chairman for this; probably the most active board of the World Federation - somebody who will relish the opportunity given to him by Allah (s.w.t.) to take the responsibility of such an exciting, dynamic and spiritually rewarding portfolio as Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme. I pray to Allah (s.w.t.) to give Dr Ahmed Hassam, and the new chairman of ZCSS, through Ahmedbhai, the guidance and courage to take The World Federation and ZCSS to even further heights and I also pray to Allah to give the community at large the confidence that any leader deserves from its members so that this organisation remains the fragrance of charity of the Khoja Shia Ithna-asheri Muslim community.   

Mohamed Visram
Chairman ZCSS

A Daily Diary - Trip to India 2002  by Mohamed Hassan Merali

(Team Members present: Mohamed Visram, Mustafa Jaffer, Safder Jaffer, Shafique Govani, Sajjad Tejani, Mustafa Waljee, Mohamed Hassan Merali, and Mohamed Alibhai)

Friday, 27 September 2002
Leave for Mumbai. Sit on the plane with the rest of the team. For the first time in my life I eat Asian vegetarian in Gulf Air. Gain a lot of insight sitting and discussing with the lads.

Saturday, 28 September 2002
Landed in Abu Dhabi for a six-hour stopover. Mohamedbhai advised us of his previous experiences in India and made us aware of what to expect. Discussed with Sajjad the accounting issues and how we were going to deal with the various organisations. The excitement is building up and we are all eager to get to Gujarat. Landed at Mumbai at 4:30 p.m. and just the approach on to the runway has shocked me of what I am going to see all over India. The miles and miles of slums, which greet us as we approach Mumbai airport makes me realise, the poverty in India. Hotel is situated in Palle, which is only a 10-minute drive from the airport. In the evening we have a meeting with KSI Medical Aid & Welfare Society in Dongri.  Thedrive takes an hour as it is on the other side of Mumbai. I realise Mumbai is like the size of London without any transport network. It is an amazing sight driving through the crowded streets on a Saturday evening and the drive is more like a roller-coaster ride with no traffic regulations. Meeting goes very well with Shaukatalibhai Mewawala and we decide to take on 325 Khoja students at a cost of £10,000 a year. Dinner is at Delhi Darbar in Kolaba, which is the best Indian food I have eaten in a restaurant. Sleep at 2:30 a.m. and realise that this trip is going to be more hectic than hajj.

Sunday, 29 September 2002
What a day! Woke up at 7:30 am and left for the airport to catch a flight to Bhavnagar.   Bhavnagar is a town in the state of Gujarat.  I have never seen such security as we witnessed in Mumbai airport. It is only five days after the massacre in Gandhinagar and tensions are still running high. Arrive at Bhavnagar airport at 12 p.m. Temperature is 34C and the airport reminds me of Mombasa. Check in at the hotel and left for Husaini Education & Welfare Society after Namaz. Seems to me that there are as many cows on the road as cars. Situated in small Gullis (alleyways) is situated Husaini Education & Welfare Society. It is shocking to see that in these tiny confined spaces computer classes are run and tuition classes are conducted.

There is also a gymnasium with truly ingenious man made devices which one would never see in a western gym. Afternoons and evenings are dealt with meetings trying to sort out the accounting problems. In between, there is a presentation by nursery school kids, which is very touching. I hear about details of pyramids in Egypt, which I have never heard before. (This from a kid aged 10). I hear Qur’an tilawat, duas, lectures all from young boys and finally a talk by the teacher on Qalam (The Pen). We then head for the mosque in a vespa (Indian scooter), where there are formal speeches by Mohamedbhai, Ramzanbhai (chairman of Bhavnagar Jamat) and a very moving majlis by Mustafabhai. We all get Imam Zamin appreciations in front of Jamat. I hate this publicity but I think this is more formality with cameramen and video cameras everywhere. After that there is a Q&A session where people are uttering their grievances. Again, I think Politics is the winner here not the welfare of students. Reach the hotel at 12:30 a.m. and discuss and grill Mohamedbhai about all the grievances. Sleep at 2:30 a.m., another 20-hour day.

Monday 30 September 2002
Woke up at 6:30 a.m as usual. Went at 7 a.m to Kabrastan to visit the grave of the great man Marhum Haji Naji who started converting our ancestors from Ismailism. I decide that I want to know more about this great man when I reach London. Were it not for him, many of us would still have been following the Aga Khan. Sit in a Rickshaw for the first time, it is quite an experience. Leave at 8 a.m. Al-Mahdi School, Bhavnagar where ZCSS students are sponsored.

It is a wonder to see so much being done in a school, which is a size of a semi-detached house in London. Receive some feedback from parents that English medium schools have a complete different environment from Gujarati schools and children are becoming westernised. I am having difficulties looking at literature, school notice boards, and blackboards, as I cannot read Gujarati. I regret not learning it when I was young when I took a few lessons. Listening to Gujarati is not difficult but some words are passing by. Leave for Mahuva at 10 a.m. Reach Mahuva at 12 p.m. after getting 2 punctures and transferring cars. The Jafferi School is very impressive which has 500 ZCSS students with English as the medium. Receive a very warm welcome and looking at 2-3 year old girls remind me of my daughter. The kids are so sweet.

We then head for the mosque for zohr. The masjid reminds me of the masjid of Mombasa. After namaz there is a Q&A session with all complaints being noted down. At one point it becomes quite heated but Mohamedbhai promises to investigate all these.   Lunch is heavy as  usual  and  we  get   a   chance   to  taste  the   Peras,   which  are the specialities  in  Mahuva.    After lunch, we head  for Talaja, which houses the head offices of The Council of Gujarat.  Meet with Gulubhai who is the chairman of The Council of Gujarat.  Again, we visit a school in Talaja with the size of a classroom smaller than a boxroom. A moving sight. We see some classes conducted in the open air teaching Gujarati alphabet to nursery kids. From there we split up and the ZCSS team excluding Mohamedbhai head for Palitana. There we visit a computer school run by ZCSS and Shafique meets his family members who hail from Palitana. We joke that Shafique should sleep over in this tiny village and catch up with the Govanis. He politely declines.

We return to Husaini Education & Welfare Society and see the tuition classes being run. A little disappointing as students are studying for their exams and turn out is low.  I sit in a  deeniyat  class  and  listen  to  students  reciting  Kalema,   12  Imams  and  14 Masumeen.   It  now sinks  in  how  important  the donation  of   £120  per  year  is  as   these  students  without  the  help of  sponsor parents would be left in the dark. Eat a sumptuous dinner at Ramzanbai’s residence and reach the hotel at 11 p.m. Thinking of having an early night, we are met at the hotel reception by the Husaini Education & Welfare Society team. We receive all the accounting information we require and are gifted with pens by the Husaini Education & Welfare Society team.

Tuesday, 1 October 2002
Leave for Ahmedabad at 10 a.m. Ahmedabad is a 2.5-hour drive from Bhavnagar. On the way, we see some destruction of bridges, which was caused by the earthquake. I was told that there were some casualties of the earthquake in  Bhavanagar  even  though  it was  quite a  distance from the epicentre in Bhuj. 

The drive is very scenic with vast areas of salt marshes, rice fields and sugar cane fields.   Gujarat  is  also the  centre of shipyard  scrapping.   Arrive in Ahmedabad where the temperature is nearly 40C. We visit the Jamat where a Q&A session is arranged. Again we hear some grievances but Mohamedbhai categorically states that where there is infighting between jamaats he will not let the ZCSS kids suffer. After lunch we go to Aunalibhai’s residence. Leave for another Jamat, which is located on the other side of town in the evening. Ahmedabad is a big city and we realise that on the same day we are there, all the top UK banks have come for recruitment drive in Ahmedabad. We visit a computer centre there and receive further grievances, which become quite heated at one stage.

After  dinner, which comprises of bongo and paya we head for the airport for a flight to Mumbai. Mumbai is only a transit stop as we have a flight to catch at 6 a.m. in the morning for Bangalore. We contemplate staying at the airport for 6 hrs but decide against it as Mohamedalibhai thinks he has just got a bargain for staying at the Four Seasons Hotel. The hotel is situated in Juhu beach and we take a stroll on the beach at 1a.m. looked upon by hundreds of dogs. Have a light snack at the Holiday Inn and reach the hotel at 2 a.m. We continue to discuss the issues of Gujarat and other issues until Fajr time. Without any sleep I realise that Bangalore is going to be one tiring day.  

Trip to India 2003 – A Personal Perspective  by Nisar Visram

(Team Members present: Sajjad Tejani, Shafique Govani, Iqbal Panju, Altaf Daya, and Nisar Visram)

On 11 July 2003, Zainabiya Child Sponsorship team, headed by Br Sajjad Tejani, undertook a trip to India to arrange the implementation of a new system of payment. As a fairly new member of the ZCSS team, I was unsure what to expect on my first visit to the country. I was excited to see what the sponsorship scheme had achieved with my own eyes and felt I needed to see the poverty of India for myself.

Our first main stop was a town called Bhavnagar, in Gujarat. This was a typical Gujarati town, and it smashed any expectations I harboured immediately. The roads were lined with mud-huts, entire families’ living in houses the size of a mini-bus. Cows, pigs, dogs and various other animals mingled with traffic and walked freely across the streets. The road itself was barely visible, and the stench of manure filled the air. But something else struck me, more than anything – these people looked exactly the same as us. The people looked like the faces I see at the mosque every week, the women looked like our women – many of these people where Khoja Shia Ithna’asheri, and their resemblance made the cut all the more deeper.

We spent the next few days touring Gujarat and visited many different towns. The schools represented a complete contrast to the surroundings. Here thousands of children has been saved from poverty and were being given an education by enthusiastic teachers. The students, using computer software gave us highly impressive displays, and the infants were singing various nursery rhymes in chorus and screaming simple arithmetic at the teacher. These are the same kids that live amongst the conditions aforementioned. We met a few Undergraduates, also sponsored by ZCSS. I must admit, these students put me to shame with their intellectual questions and speedy responses. During these few days, we toured Zainabiya schools where the children were being provided with education, and The World Federation housing where the Shia families were given respectable places to live.

On 17 July 2003 we flew to Bangalore. This seemed like a different planet to Gujarat – cleaner streets, huge parks and corporate buildings (and no mosquitoes).

Poverty was clearly present, yet less manifest. Our first stop was the Aeinullah eye-clinic. This was a high-tech building, competently run, and set up especially for the poor. Specialists were performing a surgery during our visit and the entire team was clearly impressed with the hygiene and quality of service. We then visited Kareempur - a school just built this year and already full of children carrying lunchboxes, joking amongst themselves, wearing smart blue uniforms, and most importantly – learning. These are children who could otherwise have been dragged into child-slavery.

The most amazing part of the trip was our visit to the Alipur School, not far from Kareempur. This Zainabiya School had come top in its state with a 100% pass rate. The children greeted us with a chorus recitation of Dua al-Faraj and the ZCSS anthem. The school had everything one could wish for.  There is a new ZCSS school with a new adventurous dome building being constructed – the first of its kind in the region. Nearby this school there were The World Federation houses, built to provide dignity to those in poverty.

Throughout the trip we were given various opportunities to teach the children ourselves – and ironically this was where I did the most learning. I witnessed that the Shia’s take action to help themselves, and thus Allah showers them with His blessings. The scheme indeed still has work to do – but as long as it struggles, Allah will continue to grant it success. From what I have seen with my own eyes during my visit to India, the fruits are already clearly evident.

Construction of ZCSS School in Kareempur

During his visit with the ZCSS delegation, ZCSS vice chairman, Sajjad Tejani, inaugurated the newly built ZCSS School in Kareempur, India. This is the latest of the six ZCSS Schools built in India.  Kareempur is situated 90 km from Bangalore and 20 km from Alipur. The total population is around 4,200. 50% of the inhabitants are Muslims of which 1,050 are Shias.

There are no proper primary schools in Kareempur and the Government Urdu & Kannada School are not of any proper standard. Consequently, our children do not have the base to reach University level. Hence, during the ZCSS delegation visit in October 2002, it was decided to start a Zainabiya Primary School.

The project started in January 2003 and was completed six months later. The school has 7 class rooms and accommodates currently more than 150 students.

Yatim and Asir Sponsorship Scheme (YASS)
The year 2001 saw the launch of the Yatim and Asir Sponsorship Scheme (YASS) in order to assist those children who have been afflicted by war. Given the current situation around the world, Zainabiya felt it was necessary to reach out to children of refugees, captives and war orphans whose lives had been hindered by the ongoing catastrophes.

To begin with YASS has been sponsoring students of three schools. The first is, Al-Sheheed Al-Sedr in Tehran run by Imam Murtadha Charitable Organization and provides education for the children of Iraqi refugees. The second school is based in Dezful, Iran and the third is in Islamabad, Pakistan.   Currently there are
358 students under Yatim and Asir Sponsorship Scheme.

Sponsoring a child under YASS costs more than the normal ZCSS child because the situation of these children is so dire, that besides education they also need funding for classrooms, shelter, clothing, food and medical facilities.

HSBC kindly donates to the Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme

A Donation of Support to a Worthy Cause
Donating to charities is considered to be an exemplary action, for to help just one person, is to change their entire lifestyle. HSBC has paved ways for such a change and donated £10,000 to a cause that would generate a tear within even the most hardened of individuals. This cause is the Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme (ZCSS).

HSBC Presentation to ZCSS at HSBC headquarters,                Canary Wharf, London - 16 Jan 2003

From left: Shafique Govani (Manager Operations, WF), K. B. Shankar
(Head of South Asian Banking, HSBC Bank), Mohamed Visram (ZCSS Chairman, WF), Dr. Sibtain Panjwani (Secretary General, WF), Mr. David Lewis, (Community Banking Manager, HSBC Bank)

Following the donation of £10,000 earlier in 2003, a follow up-meeting was arranged in July 2003, to give a progress report on the project the donation from the “World’s Local Bank” was used towards. Dr Sibtain Panjwani (Secretary General, WF) and Mohamed Visram (ZCSS Chairman) welcomed representatives from HSBC Bank plc to the World Federation offices.

The money has been invested in a new Development Centre, currently being constructed in Meta. Meta is a town in Gujarat, India and has a population of approximately 8,000 inhabitants. In the late 1950s the town, like most others in the region, was agricultural and children were thus educated in this field by their parents.   There  was  little  formal  education.   Over  the  next  15  years farming became more and more difficult, with rising costs and decreasing land sizes due to inheritance. This coincided with the ‘Lime Light’ of the diamond market in Gujarat. By 1970, children were being forced to work in the diamond industry rather than attend school. Through this, families would earn merely enough for their survival, with no savings. Consequently any accidental expenditure resulted in high interest loans being taken by the community, forcing the children into debt slavery. Moreover, the lack of education created a community almost entirely illiterate, with no transferable skills.

A survey carried out in 1990 noted that 99% of Shia children had no access to any education, and thus would remain illiterate. Of those studying, only 3% made it to secondary education.  Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme identified the problem and, in conjunction with the Meta community centre, took action. Free books, finance, tuition classes and various enticements led to an increase in students and the number of those progressing in formal education.

Model of the Development Centre

A new Development Centre is currently being constructed in Meta. This single building, of 3,600 sq. ft will run tuition classes, computer education, language studies, a library, indoor games, religious education forums, vocational programmes, social upliftment schemes, a cooperative bank, scout guide training, medical camps and a community health centre. The Development Centre will provide huge obvious benefits to the community as a whole, as well as to the children who require an education. The percentage of children studying is expected to increase to 15% within 5 years of the centre opening, and will increase to over 50% with 10 years. Accordingly, the construction of the building will revive the city with literacy and help free it from the chains of poverty, Inshallah.

Mulla Asghar Memorial Academic Scheme (MAMAS)
A few days before his departure from this mortal life, Marhum Mulla Asghar was very keen to initiate a scheme similar to Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme (ZCSS) for Africa. He was constantly asked why The World Federation had concentrated its activities in India and not paid attention to Africa. His answer was obvious that at the time of establishment and growth of ZCSS, Africa was booming economically and hence there was no need for such a scheme.

However, the need arose in the late 1990s when the economy of East Africa started deteriorating. Unfortunately, Mulla Saheb left us just a few days prior to the initial meeting for establishing a scheme to assist students who required assistance in East Africa.

By the grace of the Almighty, after much effort and time put in by the ZCSS team and volunteers from Africa, a scheme named Mulla Asghar Memorial Academic Scheme (MAMAS) was launched in Dar-es-Salaam on Saturday, 5 July 2003 which also happened to be the birth anniversary of Sayeda Zainab (A.S).  This day was particularly chosen for the blessing of the night and especially as MAMAS is a scheme of ZCSS under The World Federation and at the same time fully backed by the Africa Federation (AF). MAMAS was established to assist Khoja Shia Ithna-asheri students in Africa who cannot afford to finance their educational needs.

The launch in Dar-es-Salaam was very well attended due to the Wiladat night complemented with the weekend and five weddings. Very eloquent speeches were delivered on the importance of Education and the scheme by the Chairman of Dar-es-Salaam Jamaat - Alhaj Pyarali Shivji, Alhaj Aunali Khalfan - MAMAS Chairman, Tanzania and the Chairman of ZCSS, Alhaj Mohamed Visram. On the night, approximately US $40,000 was raised.    

There are about 250 students only who require assistance in Dar-es-Salaam.  Towns like Arusha, Mombasa and Nairobi are some of the other few places with potential need of assistance with Tuition fees.  MAMAS will run similarly to ZCSS, i.e. each child will be sponsored by a sponsor parent and although the scheme will be slightly modified to make it custom made for East Africa, in essence it will do everything it can to maintain and uphold the dignity of students and sponsor parents.

We pray to the Almighty for the success of the scheme INSHALLAH, and also appeal to all the readers of this brief report to assist MAMAS in whatever way possible. After all, majority of the Khojas settled in the West originate from East Africa and as said by the leaders of Africa Federation, it is “pay back” time.

Lastly we would also request you to recite a Sura-e-Fateha for Marhum Mulla Asghar for whom the scheme has been named.  May Allah (S.W.T) grant him a high station in Paradise,  Aamin.

ZCSS Representatives Worldwide
Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme is able to function world wide because of the dedication of volunteers and active co-operation of Jamats.

If you would like to be the Zainabiya Representative in your Jamat, please ask your Jamat to nominate you.  Your job will be to know the sponsorship scheme very well so as to be able to recruit more sponsors and be able to answer their queries.

Below is a list of the present ZCSS Representatives.  Some have been working since inception in 1981.  Ideally the Representatives should be semi permanent.

A number of events were organised by the literary committee catering for the spiritual, intellectual and physical need of the community. This included seminars, sponsored events and the Grand prize draw.

Zahid Khimji, Literary President of SJ’s,        addresses the Community at the              Eid night programme

"Gujarat, our homeland, is now home to almost 18,000 Khojas, most of them related to us in one way or another. Over a quarter of them live in rural Gujarat, which has been continuously subject to calamities - natural, and man made! Droughts, Cyclone are examples of the natural disasters whereas riots looting and pillaging are examples of the man made disasters. The World Federation has targeted these people, particularly in rural areas, with an aim to provide basic amenities that most of us take for granted - shelter, food and clothes. Moreover, to enhance the lifestyle of our brethren in Gujarat, it was imperative that their education standard be raised. Schools, tuition classes, fee subsidies are examples of what we have as our long term commitment to improving the conditions and lifestyles of our own brothers in Gujarat." (The World Federation).

Stanmore Jaffery's have raised over £6,000 - an unprecedented amount. This was the result of the combined efforts and participation of over 200 youth members of our community stemming from as little as 4 years in age.

The Stanmore Jaffery's Grand Prize draw was a great success. Through it, we managed to raise just over £3,000 in less than 20 days. In addition to Islamic books and CD’s, a football autographed by Manchester United’s (now Real Madrid's) David Beckham was up for grabs along with Silverware sets, designer sunglasses, computer software and leather goods. Generous members of the community donated all these prizes.

A sponsored sleep out was organised. Boys from the age of 12 and upward spent a night out in Stanmore’s main car park. Titled ‘A Night of Endurance’, gave the boys the chance to experience first hand of what our Muslim brothers and sisters in Gujarat are forced to suffer. Through the course of the night, tents were pitched and seminars conducted. The sleep out was previously conducted  a few years ago  and  has proved  to be incredibly insightful and a truly empathic experience.

Prizes for the Draw, includes a Football              signed by David Beckham

The sponsored Qur’an Recitation was another highly lucrative fund raising initiative; the beauty of this event was that it is also one of the amaal of the Holy month. Sponsors were able to donate money for the recitation and nominate the marhoom whom they wish the thawab to go to. The ladies were able to raise in excess of £2,000 and had worked with the organiser of the Qur'an classes to get the younger children involved in the project. A second recitation was also organised, conducted by the youth between ages of 15 and 28 years, this was also very successful.

The money raised by Stanmore Jaffery’s Gujarat Appeal will go towards building a ZCSS Institute for Jaffery Youths in Meta. The institute will be used for tuition, vocational training and recreation. Stanmore Jaffery’s will give regular updates of the project in months to come.

The money raised by Stanmore Jaffery’s not only sets precedent for the youth across the world but also adds to show the heights that can be reached when we all as a community work together to make a difference in the Muslim World.

The Light Behind the Veil complied by Ali Bachoo and Nisar Visram

In one of the first Zainabiya pamphlets produced, when the scheme was initiated in the early 1980's, it is stated,

‘In the name of the great lady who looked after so many children under so much pressure after the event in Kerbala, let us fulfil some of our duties as Muslims by actively helping one particularly needy child to enjoy the basic opportunities of life’.

It has now been twenty-one years since this pamphlet was produced, and over 50,000 people around the globe are no longer illiterate because of this scheme. Over the years the team has discovered that there is one overriding reason why this ongoing miracle continues to prosper – any work undertaken in the name of Bibi Zainab (a.s), or with the intention of honouring her, has always been an overwhelming success.

Accordingly, in April 2003 the ZCSS team produced a book about the principles by which Bibi Zainab (a.s) lived, including her ziyarat and famous sermons – entitled ‘The Light Behind the Veil’. The team hopes that through this book Bibi Zainab (a.s) will be continuously honoured by having a permanent place in our homes, with Islamic principles being implemented through her inspiration.

Bibi Zainab (a.s) took care of the children after the horrid injustice of Kerbala – staying awake, guarding the camp, and holding a sword while the others slept on the night of Shaam-e-Ghariba. She was known for her knowledge and devotion to Allah. The Zainabiya scheme aims to look after the children, freeing them from the veil of illiteracy and surrounding them with the illumination of ilm. The principles of this great lady form the basis of this scheme as well the foundations for its future. May Allah (s.w.t.) continue to bless Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme with success, and may He bless Bibi Zainab (a.s) - ‘The Light Behind the Veil’ - and her pure and perfect family (a.s).

ZCSS Produces Best Student

ZCSS Sponsorts around the World

The Haider Cup Matches, the premier North America Ryder Cup style golf event, featuring a team of United States golfers versus a team of Canadian golfers, will be  held  for  the  3rd time,  in Orlando, Florida.  The  dates  for  the  event  are 29 August 2003 – 31 August 2003.

The Haider Cup Matches are tied at 1-1, with the USA winning the inaugural matches held in Los Angeles in 2001, and Canada winning the 2nd Haider Cup Matches in Toronto in 2002. This year, the event has grown to 20 players per side, and is set to grow even more with next year's event, slated for Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Haider Cup Matches, in 2003, recognises Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme as its charity of choice. Every participating community (Los Angeles, Orlando, New York, Toronto and Vancouver) will attempt to raise a set amount of money, 100% of which will be donated to the charity.