Al-Qalam 
By Nabeelah Shaikh
Participants of the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa’s “Ambassadors for Change” Programme described the leadership workshop as “life-changing”
The MYM programme has become an annual event aimed at transforming future generations into great leaders.
It was held from 24 to 29 June at the Al-Ansaar Conference Centre in Durban. Now in its third year, the programme attracted 22 participants from schools and universities around Durban.
“We had an interview process to select students this year. We had 55 students applying and we took in 24. We worked with a great batch of students who were dynamic and enthusiastic to learn,” said Ambassadors for Change facilitator, Rashid Chopdat.
Chopdat said some of the main themes that were focused on, looked at addressing racism and gender-based issues.
“We believe we have developed a perfect programme for facilitation and leadership skills for the MYMSA. We say this now because it was the third year, and we’ve now been able to bring in and train five co-facilitators. Our plan was always to have younger people come in and run the programme. It was very successful. We had the Department of Justice there and gender-based experts. It was good to see sensitive topics being tackled in a very professional manner.”
Now that the programme has been concluded, facilitators are looking forward to seeing the implementation of all that was learnt by students.
“The next steps for participants would now be for them to take part and organise two events in their schools, and they must participate in two MYMSA activities. They will be soon participating in a Women’s Day event to be held in Chatsworth,” said Chopdat.
Participants said the programme was life-changing for them – and they were grateful to the MYMSA for the opportunity to participate in a course of this nature.
One of the youngest participants, grade nine pupil Fizha Cassim, said: “The programme helped me invest in my personal and professional growth in which I developed valuable skills to inspire and motivate others. The course enhanced my confidence to tackle new challenges. I gained a deeper understanding of effective leadership, learned how to communicate effectively and I built strong relationships which will help me to drive positive change.”
Another participant, Aliyah Phiri, said she found the programme interesting, educational and informative.
“It discussed various issues that we don’t get to discuss at school, university or at home. It discussed topics that are real issues in the real world. It opened up our minds and brought us out of our comfort zones. I would recommend this programme for the youth.”
“It taught us how we can help by doing little things in our communities. It taught me a lot about leadership, but also how to have compassion. I am looking forward to now working with communities and volunteering my time wherever I can to make a difference,” she said.
Participant Sohaib Abdelmegeed said the Ambassadors for Change programme has allowed him to form lifelong bonds, and it helped him cultivate great friendships and memories.
“We’ve proven through the programme that effective delivery isn’t just about content, but it’s about engaging our hearts and our minds. The MYMSA has empowered us with knowledge and skills that go beyond our textbooks. Each day of the course has been a stepping stone for personal growth,” said Sohaib.
He said he learnt the value of understanding one’s self.
“We learnt about racism, gender-based violence and femicide. We gained insight into the justice system and human rights. We learnt about understanding legalities and human rights. It has challenged us to see beyond ourselves and to embody the teachings of Islam in our actions – “thank you to the MYM for this transformative journey,” he said.
Thandile Kona, President of the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa, said the programme aims to ensure that young people become leaders who are not only agents of positive change but who are also encouraging others to embrace change.
“In a complex and increasingly volatile world, change can be a source of anxiety and uncertainty, especially for young people who are still finding their way. The Ambassadors for Change programme seeks to equip young people with the necessary skills to navigate their way through the uncertainty,” said Kona.
He said the youth are best placed to tackle contemporary challenges and manage change in order to ensure that good comes from it. “They have always been at the forefront of major shifts in society and when well equipped, they are an unstoppable force. The programme is a breeding ground for future activists,” said Kona.
