Maulana Saheb, My Dear Elders, Brothers and Sisters,

Asalaamun Alaykum

I would like to begin by sincerely thanking Toronto Jamaat for hosting the Executive Council meeting that it is to be held this Saturday. We thank you for your hospitality and efforts I pray that Allah (s.w.t.) to reward you in this world and in the hereafter.

My short talk to you today will concentrate on some recent work of The World Federation, as well to focus briefly on the Relief & Economic Development department which I lead.

The World Federation has a variety of objectives which include promoting the Shia-ithna Asheri faith throughout the world, to relieve poverty and to educate members of our community. To this end; The World Federation Secretariat has five departments within the World Federation: Education, Islamic Education, Family Affairs, Health and Relief & Economic Development. In addition, the Secretariat operates the Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme which sponsors students in several countries and has made a real difference in the lives of thousands of children.

Each department is led by an Assistant Secretary General who is responsible for meeting certain strategic objectives. The section that I have the opportunity to lead is the Relief & Economic Development which is focussed on uplifting members of our community and our faith out of the cycle of poverty. The World Federation under this header carries out a number of campaigns, to aide the deserving. This includes the annual Ramadhan Relief, the Hadithe Kisa blanket drive, the Al Qaim Sponsor our Seniors scheme, various Housing projects, water & sanitation projects as well as microfinance and economic upliftment initiatives.  In addition, we are charged with the responsibility of leading our community’s response to natural disaster in the last two years this has included cyclones in Madagascar and Myanmar, landslides in Gujarat and the Kenya Post Election Crsis.

However, it is important to acknowledge that this work could not be done with the constant support of donors, well wishers and community members and we are ever so thankful for that. In particular it is ever so humbling to note the significant contribution of our community in North America to this and we can only thank you and pray for your continued support.

So apart from the Relief & Economic Development section, what else has The World Federation recently achieved? 

In 2007, The World Federation gained special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. This in itself brings a wide variety of opportunities for our community: an opportunity to promote further the Shia Ithana-asheri faith to organisations outside our community, the opportunity to raise awareness of key issues affecting our community and possibly even at a later stage external funding opportunities.

Another important milestone has been the establishment of the Islamic Institute of Postgraduate studies in Damascus, Syria. The Institute was a vision of our community Aalims and leaders, a wish of the Dubai Conference 2006 and has now become a reality. Alhamdulilah, the first year of the Institute has been completed and it has been a resounding success. Much effort will no doubt continue in creating a permanent centre and building awareness worldwide of the benefits of this Institute to our community.

Another achievement has been the growth of youth leadership. Although work has begun in this area, a great deal more emphasis must be placed if we are to continue to strengthen our community institutions. At present, within The World Federation there are many youths who have high levels of responsibility and we must continue to search for more.

A fine example of this is the recent India Documentary entitled: ‘The Journey Home’ which consisted of 21 youths from across our worldwide community, including many youths from Toronto.

It was the youths that came up with the vision of creating a documentary and persuaded the leadership to allow them to undertake this innovative project. The youth planned the project, they travelled to India to film the documentary, and launched the project worldwide where it was screened in North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Pakistan and in other parts of the world. In fact these youths excelled in producing a professional DVD, and this is a good example of our community youths fulfilling their potential. Copies of the DVD are available here today in both the gents and ladies section.

There are many other examples of youth leadership – another example is the work of the JIY (Jaffery Islamic Youth) here in Toronto to see the wonderful work they can and have produced. But we need to place a much greater priority here, in encouraging our youths to not only take part in the community, but to lead it. Indeed, brothers and sisters it can be argued that rather than looking at our youths as leaders of tomorrow, we should instead look upto them as leaders of today. This change in mindset, coupled with a real intention to build capacity by unlocking their potential will ensure that these wonderful institutions will prosper in years to come.

At the Executive Council meeting we shall be discussing the community’s policy to Water & Sanitation as well as how to implement Economic upliftment strategies as well as other important community issues. I would strongly urge all brothers and sisters to attend and to provide us with your feedback and your thoughts. There are items in the agenda which allow questions specifically from community members and observations from all can be made throughout the meeting.

But although much of my talk to you today has been on looking forward to our youth, let us also spend a minute or two to remember our past leaders with a Sura Fateha.

Let us remember Marhum Mullah Asgher MM Jaffer, the founder and inspiration behind The World Federation, let us remember Marhum Sultan Davdani the former Vice President, let us remember Marhum Zulfiqar Khimji the former Chairman of Africa Federation, let us remember Marhum Habib Jafferali Mulji who worked tirelessly as the Chairman of Africa Federation, let us remember Marhum Rajabali Dosasni who did a wonderful job as Chairman of the Gujurat Council and unified our community there and who only recently passed away and Marhum Dost Mohammed Bhojani of Pakistan who had an inspired great work for our community in Pakistan. Let us remember all our other leaders from all parts of the world and all our Marhummen. Al Fateha.

Wassalamun Alaykum

Shan-e-Abbas Hassam
Assistant Secretary General
Relief & Economic Development