Updated 30 June 2009
 
Last week The World Federation introduced two of its student helpers that will be part of the Bab al-Ilm Summer Courses to be held in Qum this year. This week we will get to know more about two more of the helpers in the Bab group on the sisters side:
 
3. Sister Aliya Datoo - Stanmore, UK
Aliya completed her A levels in the subjects of Biology, History and Sociology. Having the aspiration of becoming a teacher, Aliya completed a BA in Education and then a PGCE in Primary teaching. She currently teaches at the Al-Zahra School in London as a primary school teacher. She has also completed some study at Jamiatuz Zahra in Qum, where she studied the one year foundation course consisting of Farsi and subjects like Ahkam, Akhlaq, Tareekh and Aqaid.

Aliya enjoys working with youths and finds it comfortable to relate to and communicate with them. She undertakes a great deal of mentoring within her school setting. This has helped her to be a helper in both 2007 and 2008, an experience she found very rewarding and fulfilling.

Aliya states, "It's amazing how just three weeks away from a daily routine, and with a focus on one's inner self, has allowed so many of the participants to reform their lives and re-invigorate their path to Allah swt.  For me, just witnessing these realisation points, and being given the chance to aid some of these participants, (in very small ways), in order for them to reform their lives, has been so rewarding.  I too have learnt so much from these experiences and this is what has inspired me to re-apply as a student helper again this year."

4. Sister Swaleha Karim - Lake Mary, USA
Having had the privilege of being born and raised in Kenya, Africa, Swaleha says that the religious environment and her own family structure allowed her to build a strong religious foundation and she was able to gain awareness of her religious duties and priorities from a very young age.

Swaleha moved to the United States 9 years ago and joined the youth body at her high school. She soon realised that in order to be successful both academically and spiritually, she would need to strike a balance in life. She began to teach in the Islamic Education Center Madrasah in 2006 which has given her cherished and important experiences.

She is currently attending the University of Central Florida in her third year working towards a Bachelors Degree in Psychology.

Swaleha states, "With the Grace of Allah (s.w.t.) I was fortunate to attend the Madinatul Ilm Course last summer in 2008. I look forward to attending again this year, however with a different perspective of what I expect to achieve. My future goals include attending Iran for a two year course in Islamic Studies or attending the Muballigheen Program, as established by The World Federation."

For more information, please email islamiceducation@world-federation.org