FIRST SYDP GRADUATION CEREMONY
A HISTORICAL EVENT
BACKGROUND
SYDP stands for “Shia Youth Development Project”. This is a novel project that was started by the Bilal Muslim Mission of Moshi in 2004. The main aim of this project is to empower the African Shia Youth spiritually and economically. This was going to be achieved by getting the youths under one roof full time, send them to technical college for vocational skills and give them theoretical and practical training in religious education by a qualified Shia Aalim for a period of two years.
In the year 2005, 13 students were enrolled in this programme from different regions of Tanzania for different courses. They were enrolled in the government sponsored technical college known as VETA (Vocational Education Training Authority)- Kilimanjaro campus. Sheikh Hassan Mwalupa took the charge of the Islamic education and prepared a comprehensive syllabus and gave his best teachers from Madrasatul Ameerul Mumineen of Matuga – Mombasa.
In the year 2006, 13 new students were enrolled in the first year making a total of 26 students.
With the continued Guidance and Help from the Almighty Allah (SWT), blessings of the Infallible ones (AS) and constant assistance, encouragement and push from so many Mumineen around the world, the project saw its first fruition Alhamdulillah on the
22nd Dhilqaad 1427 AH ( 14th December 2006 ).
THE CEREMONY
Moshi KSI Jamaat ladies were the first to show their enthusiasm for the graduation.
3 ladies; Mrs. Sabira Raza Moledina, Mrs. Fatima Alihussein Sheriff and Mrs. Neelam Dhalla pooled their skills and resources and decorated the hostel Husayniyah in the afternoon.
By 8:45 PM the students were seated in their places and 9 PM the chief guest
Mullah Ahmed Daya, the Chairman of Moshi KSI Jamaat arrived together with the resident Aalim Sh. Mahdi Khan Iftikhari, the Jamaat Vice Chairman Br.Shafiq Kanji, Honorary Secretary Br. Alihussein Sheriff, Honorary treasurer Br. Mohamed Karim and other invited guests from Moshi and Dar –Es- Salaam.
The programme started by the recitation of Hadithul Kisaa followed by the pertinent verses from the holy Quran by the students.
The master of ceremony – Sh. Hassan Salim who is the resident guardian and teacher of the SYDP- introduced and welcomed the guests and invitees and invited Sh.Hassan Mwalupa to brief the chief guest and invitees on SYDP.
Sh. Hassan Salim then read out 3 of the many letters of congratulations received from our brothers and supporters through out the world. The letters were from Sh. Abdillahi Nassir, Dr. Asghar Moledina and AlHajj Pyarali Shivji, all very well known personalities in the Shia world in the forefront of Tabligh.
The MC then invited Mawlana Iftekhari to confer the Bilal Muslim religious education leaving certificate to the students. This was given after intensive theoretical examination professionally prepared by both the sheikhs as well as detailed oral and practical examination.
The students came forward to collect their hard earned certificates blessed by Salawaat from the audience.
The MC then invited the Chief guest- Mullah Ahmed Daya- to address the students. Mullah reiterated the importance of education and what the community expects from the graduates.
After the speech, Mullah conferred the VETA leaving certificates as follows:
4 mechanics
7 refrigeration and air conditioner technicians
1 electrician
GRADUATES – 2006
Finally, the MC invited the SYDP coordinator – Dr.Kazim Dhalla- to give the vote of thanks.
Refreshments were served and lots of photographs taken by the extremely elated graduates, they really deserve it after 2 years of very hard work.
A Cross section of students and invitees.
COMPUTER TRAINING
The graduating students have started their intensive one month training in basic computer studies. This will enable them to be one step ahead of the other technicians, be marketable at international level as well as allow easy communication within themselves and the SYDP team by e-mail.
SPECIAL FIQH CLASSES
One week before the graduation, Sh.Hassan Mwalupa personally conducted special Fiqh classes to discuss “MUA’AMALAAT” with the students. He discussed in detail all the laws related to employment – dos and don’ts- laws of contract, employer’s and employees rights and employment ethics. This was extremely important as the graduates are going to be the Shia ambassadors at the work front and we have to ensure that they are well equipped for that work. According to Sh. Mwalupa, this was the most interesting and challenging class he ever taught as the students already had work experience during their field work and thus could contribute to discussions and ask pertinent questions.
EMPLOYMENT
The SYDP team is now in the process of looking for employment opportunities for the graduates preferably within the community circles. Our well wishers are requested to keep this in mind and to let us know if they have any vacancy in the respective field of expertise of the graduates.
NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR – NEW VISION
The next academic year begins in February 2007 Inshallah. The first years will return from their holidays to begin the final lag of their training. We have 11 students remaining as follows:
Mechanics – 2
Electricians – 4
Civil draftsman – 1
Carpenters – 2
Catering – 2
The SYDP team now feels its time to go a step ahead by embarking on more ambitious project. This is to go for more professional courses rather than just vocational. The idea is to take students who have finished O level education and sending them for courses like Optometry, Physiotherapy, Medical laboratory technology, Occupational therapy, Nursing , artificial limb technology, Information technology and etc.
This will be done in collaboration with Central Bilal Board of the Africa Federation under the BLESS scheme (Bilal Loan Education Scholarship Scheme). It is our sincere hope that we will get quality students to take up this challenge and hopefully in 3 years time we can have our own paramedical team to man our community hospitals and health facilities – Inshallah.
The vocational training will also continue side by side with the availability of funds.
SYDP LAUNCHES WEBSITE
We are glad to announce that we now have our own website, www.bilalmoshi.com
Details of the students and activities can all be viewed there. We appreciate the services of Br. Muhammad Akber Shaban our webmaster and Br.Shiraz Kassam Kermali for his immense support.
LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES
Like any new project, SYDP too has its own fair share of limitations and challenges.
The two most pressing are:
Finance
Man power
Interestingly, it does not cost much to educate one student. It only costs US$ 50 per student per month for full board accommodation and another US$ 30 for school fees which is approximately US$ 1000 per student per year at the very maximum. This includes separate computer training, field trip for both technical as well as religious work. However, flow of funds has not been constant though we have never got stuck by HIS Grace Alhamdulillah. Never the less, one would like to have the entire amount in hand before venturing into a project like this.
We would also like to see more participation of volunteers for the day to day running of the project.
Our well wishers and donors can contact the undersigned for further clarification and may remit their donations to
1. Bilal Muslim Mission – Moshi branch directly or to:
2. Tanzania Bilal Board – Dar-Es- Salaam
3. Central Bilal Board of AFED – Dar- Es-Salaam
4. AFED secretariat Kenya or Tanzania.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The list of people we would like to thank is indeed very long, however, it will not be possible to do so as many well wishers requested anonymity and we shall respect that.
We can only pray to Almighty Allah (SWT) to accept their actions done for Him and by the Wasilah of Muhammad and his holy progeny (AS) May He reward them abundantly in this world and in the next – Ameen.
21/12/2006
Muhammad Ladak
Chairman
BMM- Moshi Moshi
mlk@eoltz.com
Dr. Kazim Dhalla
SYDP Coordinator
kdhalla@kcmc.ac.tz
kazimdhalla@hotmail.com
MORE PICTURES OF THE GRADUATION CEREMONY
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