The Next 50, Part One: Youth Leaders’ Perspectives

Day Two of the WF50 Heritage Weekend, themed Vision of the Future, took place on Sunday 18 October 2026 at WF House, Harefield. The programme opened with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an and a video message from Ayatullah Sayyid Murtadha Kashmiri, before a welcome address invited delegates to consider what those gathered for The World Federation’s centenary would say about the decisions made at its 50th anniversary.

The town hall, Envisioning the Next 50 Years, was moderated by Mohammad Mahdi Karim, Nominated Councillor of The World Federation. He described Khoja identity as a vessel that has carried the community’s faith and its love for the Ahlul Bayt (a) through migration and resettlement, and which today’s young people must now shape for their generation. The panel comprised Alhaj Dr Ali Abbas Rashid Hasham (Assistant Secretary General, The World Federation), Aahil Merchant (KSI Jamaat Mumbai Youth Committee) and Ali Hassan Kassam (Secretary General, Africa Federation).

The panellists identified spiritual grounding, housing, economic empowerment, health and education as priorities for the next 25 years. Dr Hasham said economic upliftment is increasingly needed in the West as well as the East, and that “organisations have a responsibility top down, but families have a responsibility bottom up”. Aahil Merchant described how the Mumbai youth committee has engaged young people who previously stayed away, including through more than ten OneID registration camps and the first ladies’ sports tournament in the Jamaat’s history, while Ali Hassan Kassam highlighted the Africa Federation’s rent-to-own housing and education loans.

Looking to 2035, the panellists described a community that empowers people rather than relying on assistance, makes progress towards the Vision 2050 goal of eradicating poverty, and is known for honesty in every walk of life. They remained on stage for the second part of the town hall, joined by the President and the regional presidents.

In this part of the programme