Al-Qalam 
By Nabeelah Shaikh
The Muslim Youth Movement’s efforts to empower young people through its ‘Ambassadors For Change’ workshop has been a resounding success. It gave the enthusiastic participants an opportunity to bolster personal growth and also to harness their leadership skills.
Facilitators said they were pleased with the outcome of the event held from June 27 to July 2 at the Al Ansaar Conference Centre in Durban. The primary purpose of the workshop was to train skills facilitators and activists within communities. In total, 64 people applied to be part of the programme online.
After an interview process, just 32 were accepted into the programme.
Those selected included 17 high school students, 10 university students and five Non-Governmental Organisation employees. Ambassadors For Change Co-Facilitator and Project Manager, Rashid Chopdat, said the MYMSA had great vision to host a course of this nature, as young people face many socio-economic, political, environmental, and personal problems that impact on their choices and lifestyle.
“The course created space for discussion as well as for them to gain critical analysis of the world, knowledge and skills on various topics such as personal reflection, racism, gender based violence, human rights, facilitation skills, leadership skills, human relations and various other issues. The programme was merged with theory and practice which gave participants the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge to critically analyse their lives and the world they live in. There was much fun, laughter and spiritual upliftment,” said Chopdat.
Chopdat says participants expressed that they benefited from the information provided as it would help them speak about issues.
“The course made them realize that they are in their comfort zones. They said it was well organised, it was participatory and that working in groups enabled them to meet and work with people from diverse backgrounds,” said Chopdat.
Arun Naicker, also a co-facilitator of the programme, said the course gave young people the space to analyse their hopes, dreams and fears while being able to talk openly and frankly.
“The group was a delight to work with. From their punctuality, active participation, respect and dignity for each other, it was good to see that many friendships blossomed. The group committed to imparting their knowledge and skills gained in their homes, schools, and community to make the world a better place,” said Naicker.
Naicker says MYMSA has committed to bring the group together for further capacity building programmes and to identify those who will participate in a facilitators’ course.
Some of the topics that the youth discussed at the workshop included looking into the history of racism in Africa and SA, child justice, gender based violence, self-reflection on racism, and how to approach Chapter 9 institutions, among other community organisations.
Included among the speakers were representatives from the Department of Justice’s Legal Department, the Human Rights Commission and the KZN Network on Violence Against Women.
MYMSA President Thandile Kona said participants emerged quite inspired.
“We hope that they will take whatever they’ve learnt forward and that they will become active citizens in the country. The MYMSA is involved in various other activities and we are looking to these ambassadors to be part of those activities so that they can bring about change in their communities,” said Kona.
He expressed that the idea of the workshop was for the youth to get involved in their communities and to help establish the MYMSA wherever they are.
“We also want them to do community work beyond the MYMSA, and get involved as much as possible within their communities. It is not just limited to the work of the organisation, we want it to extend beyond this too,” said Kona. All participants received certificates on completion of the programme. Due to the success of the programme, MYMSA is considering hosting a second ‘Ambassadors For Change’ workshop in the next seven months. MYM would like to thank among others Awqaf SA, a huge contributor to our programme.
