AMBITION
2013
MAY REPORTS
Poem
Habeeb Alli
Halifax
National Community Chaplaincy
Conference 2013
Community chaplains who cares?
Really!
Not even God who answered the sigh of
retired Abraham with Ishmael
Even if it was on Colored People
time!
And what about the men that crave
beadworks
And the women who create cards
without colours
And the colleagues whose emails sing
joy
Upon the small victories because
Faith is winning so what
And who really cares
Not maybe political neo colonists
Or social engineering pundits
But for sure the children of Canada
and their cyber offsprings
The sunshine traced on breathtaking
walkabouts
The halal cuisine served with
pleasant smiles
The gracious space of Acadians tucked
away on the Bay of Love
All is in God's hand; each speaker
reminded me that someone cares
For the tears of flashbacks you are
not alone
For the laughter at dark secrets keep
moving
For the you that shared courage at
buried pain
For all that serve my God how much do
you care!
May your travels be light
Your heart, for you are the breath on
the whisper of God, desire more than lobster
Like Dismas, the two thieves,
inspired by the Master
May your sacrifice be for Him, Allah,
even if people ain't care!
The End.
Social Services Network
hosts third annual conference against family violence
The increase in domestic violence
among families and Muslims included in Toronto cannot be overlooked. Shahina
Siddiqui from Islamic Social Services, Winnipeg was emphatic that this not a Muslim
only issue. The Faith leaders panel also reiterated that many persons are
driven not by their Holy Scripture to commit untold horrors upon their sexual
partners but by their own evil selves and societal influence. Dr Hamid Slimi,
chair of Canadian Council of Imams explained the verse of the Quran often misquoted
and misinterpreted to mean a process of separation and not a reason for domestic
abuse as the theme of the Quran and Sunnah is that of love and reconciliation.
Dr Naila Butt, Executive Director
at SSN expressed gratitude at the overwhelming support and attendance at this year’s
conference by all layers of Government, social workers from across Canada and the
diversity representation of services and Police.
Many of the workshops over
the two days looked at legal laws and domestic violence, immigration and
domestic violence and some of the resources available for South Asians in this department.
Kudos to Social Services Network
and their wonderful team of staff and volunteers besides the string of sponsors
including Women Status Canada, the ambience at the Sheridan College those two
bright sunny days was indeed one of hope for victims of family violence in
Canada.
IDRF Open House
After 27 years in rented office
space and affecting millions of lives around the world, the International Development
and Relief Foundation finally found a home it can call its own in 908 The East
Mall Etobicoke. Prior to this it was housed in a corporate office on Berkley
and Front St.Toronto. The present Chairman Mr. Winston Kassim, a senior Manager
at RBC and on the board of several non profits, welcomed the guests from a wide
cross section of the Canadian mosaic, mentioning that this new home will also
provide much needed space for other non profits in the corporate ground floor, equipped
with board room facilities and wudu amenities, in order to host meetings and
seminars, while the upper floor will be leased by businesses to provide the Foundation
with a necessary income to pay for the overheads.
Muslims started this former Refugee
Foundation some 27 years ago and present at the well attended open house were two
main founders- Dr Fuad Shahin from Niagara and Aadel Fadel London Ontario.
Among the guests were politicians and masjid leaders as well as known philanthropists.
The Provincial government presented a certificate of recognition to Dr Fuad on
behalf of IDRF, acknowledging his immense contribution to society since he left
his native Turkey some 50 years ago.
IDRF receives some CIDA funding
and mostly depends on Zakat and donations of the Muslims and wider communities to
fund its 37 projects in 27 countries. This year, with its well experienced and
professional staff, the focus is on water; with fear that the new world crisis
being water. IDRF’s Pakistan representative was present and later toured some
of the mosques in GTA with Habeeb Alli, the Community Development Manager, to highlight
the work he is painfully doing. Shazad demonstrated how he ensures donors get the
maximum from their hard earned donations as well donees get the correct treatment
with dignity; like the shelters for the homeless and the water wells. To sponsor
a well in Pakistan it costs $400.00- a complete hand pump with wash bay and maintenance
and the donor could have a recognition plate installed. At minimum administrative
fee and as for Zakat there is none.
This Ramadan lookout for the
IDRF team and flyers as well as the new webinar by famous Imams and Scholars dealing
with water and Zakat in a Canadian context.
Moeen Centre held their
annual fundraising Gala
Is there a place anyone who
has a young adult who is developmentally challenged can go to and feel comfortable
that the culturally sensitive centre will take good care of their loved ones? Mooen
centre started year ago after the loss of Mrs Qaiser Alam’s son in a tragic
fire that left her to find closure and healing by helping those who have physical
and mental challenges. People who get help are those adults who have children
and siblings and cannot find government funded services. Mostly the children
with such physical and mental challenges get free help or those adults who are institutionalized.
But young adults have to suffer alone. Many of these have learnt to read, use a
computer, work outside in the summer and even make prayers for the first time.
Dr Abdullah Hakim Quick spoke
eloquently from the Quran and Sunnah about the importance of helping such persons
of disabilities and Yin Brown, a visually challenged woman, working in
International Development primarily with persons with disabilities, spoke to
the importance of not pitying but seeing the potential of those like her.
Fatima Omar Khamissa spoke about her own journey with her son who was diagnosed
with cerebral palsy some 22 years ago and condemned to a be a vegetable. However,
today he is doing many things for himself and an ardent reader and sports fan,
although he uses a wheel chair. Shaikh Habeeb Alli was the MC and fundraiser
and along with a beautiful silent auction, that brought to attention the dire needed
30,000 per year budget the Centre needs to survive.
The food was great and many organizations
and business had booths and sponsorship to make the event successful including
Muslim Welfare Centre and IDRF and A bamboo made children clothing company.
Two Muslims cop the Aroni
wards scholarships
For the last 10 years the
Aroni Awards, like the GEMINI, caught the attention of celebrities and media,
like the in the Eritrean and wider community. Aroni was only 30 years old when
died tragically in Eritrea, visiting his father from Toronto. He was buried on
his birthday and his siblings sang his birthday wishes on his grave, in
Eritrea, Africa, pledging to celebrate this erudite young man by presenting bursaries
and inspirations to young boys and girls in the Toronto Black community.
This year Nafeesa and Khadija
did exceptionally well in academics and social enterprising but not being finally
able to continue into higher intuitions, this scholarship will set the stage for
them to pursue higher education.
The food was halal prepared
specially this year because of these two successful young Hijabis candidates and
their guests including Ehsan Moosa and his team.
Aroni awards had a number of great
speakers and sponsors and MCs with Hill Harper from CSI Hollywood making a
special appearance! Among the other awardees was JANE-FINCH.COM a place that
serves many Muslim youths.
www.aroniawards.caom
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