Imagine starting off feeling flushed. The fever gets worse; it doesn’t go away, you feel weak, you lose your appetite, so weak you can’t even move.
Then imagine falling unconscious, and then waking up in a hospital surrounded by other sick people and strangers and you don’t know what’s happened. You’re miles from home, and for the next two weeks you’ll not be able to see your friends or your family, you won’t be able to go to school, play on your video games or watch your favourite TV shows.
And then imagine your nearest hospital is 3 hours away from where you live and your only transport is a bicycle. Imagine this is all because of one mosquito which bit you while you were sleeping, something that could have been avoided but wasn’t because your family couldn’t afford a bed net.
This is the reality faced by millions of young people, the same age as you, across sub-Saharan Africa and many other parts of the world.
Let me tell you about a young person I met in a town called Ifakara in Tanzania. His name is Antony, a dedicated Chelsea football supporter who loves nothing more than to impersonate his hero Drogba on the pitch. Antony lives 2 hours away from the hospital and had what is diagnosed as severe malaria. One afternoon he was found unconscious having fallen ill from it. When I met him in the hospital we asked him if he has a bed net. To that he replied “no, where I live we don’t have mosquitoes.” When I heard this I was shocked and surprised, and asked him how does he think he got malaria if he lived in an area such as this. He said he didn’t know.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Monday, 24 August 2009
Women are the key.
This is an important extract I took from an article entitled The Women’s Crusade
WHY DO MICROFINANCE organizations usually focus their assistance on women? And why does everyone benefit when women enter the work force and bring home regular pay checks? One reason involves the dirty little secret of global poverty: some of the most wretched suffering is caused not just by low incomes but also by unwise spending by the poor — especially by men. Surprisingly frequently, we’ve come across a mother mourning a child who has just died of malaria for want of a $5 mosquito bed net; the mother says that the family couldn’t afford a bed net and she means it, but then we find the father at a nearby bar. He goes three evenings a week to the bar, spending $5 each week.
WHY DO MICROFINANCE organizations usually focus their assistance on women? And why does everyone benefit when women enter the work force and bring home regular pay checks? One reason involves the dirty little secret of global poverty: some of the most wretched suffering is caused not just by low incomes but also by unwise spending by the poor — especially by men. Surprisingly frequently, we’ve come across a mother mourning a child who has just died of malaria for want of a $5 mosquito bed net; the mother says that the family couldn’t afford a bed net and she means it, but then we find the father at a nearby bar. He goes three evenings a week to the bar, spending $5 each week.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
My Personal Struggle
Islam for me is a beautiful religion and way of life and one of the strongest values that I draw from Islam is compassion. This value is what inspires me the most and I take this value with me in all that I do.
I work to alleviate poverty and Islam is what inspires me to do this. Allah says in the Quran in Chapter 5 verse 32, ‘He who saves a single life, it is as if he has saved all of mankind.’ This is a very important verse for me in that God is telling us in all His wisdom the value of saving a single life and that is not a Muslim life but A LIFE regardless of race, gender or religion. To save the life of a Christian, Jew, Hindu or Sikh is just as important as saving a Muslim life.
Being around my Faiths Act Fellow colleagues and friends we learn from each other’s common values and compassion is one value that is consistently and continually one that we share and arises in our discussions.
Every morning while in Tanzania the Fellows wake up before breakfast and have a brief morning reflection where we take turns leading the reflection and learn from each other and what in our faith inspires us to be on the road that we have chosen to travel along.
Pritpal my friend from Leeds in the UK is a Sikh girl and when it was her turn to lead the reflection she said one thing that really stuck out for me. She told us that “we are like birds, one wing is prayer and the other wing is service. It is only with both wings we can fly successfully”
When I discussed this with my good friend Amy we both agreed that often we as aid workers sometimes lean too much towards service and not enough towards prayer. I for one am extremely guilty for this and in many ways am writing this blog post as a reminder to myself to pray, take time out and remember why we do what we do and then to thank God for what we have and for what we have to give.
I work to alleviate poverty and Islam is what inspires me to do this. Allah says in the Quran in Chapter 5 verse 32, ‘He who saves a single life, it is as if he has saved all of mankind.’ This is a very important verse for me in that God is telling us in all His wisdom the value of saving a single life and that is not a Muslim life but A LIFE regardless of race, gender or religion. To save the life of a Christian, Jew, Hindu or Sikh is just as important as saving a Muslim life.
Being around my Faiths Act Fellow colleagues and friends we learn from each other’s common values and compassion is one value that is consistently and continually one that we share and arises in our discussions.
Every morning while in Tanzania the Fellows wake up before breakfast and have a brief morning reflection where we take turns leading the reflection and learn from each other and what in our faith inspires us to be on the road that we have chosen to travel along.
Pritpal my friend from Leeds in the UK is a Sikh girl and when it was her turn to lead the reflection she said one thing that really stuck out for me. She told us that “we are like birds, one wing is prayer and the other wing is service. It is only with both wings we can fly successfully”
When I discussed this with my good friend Amy we both agreed that often we as aid workers sometimes lean too much towards service and not enough towards prayer. I for one am extremely guilty for this and in many ways am writing this blog post as a reminder to myself to pray, take time out and remember why we do what we do and then to thank God for what we have and for what we have to give.
Friday, 21 August 2009
More Than Just Malaria...
We came to Africa with a goal and that goal was to speak to the communities out here, to hear their stories and to learn about the effects of Malaria. Being here for a week now we understand that the goal is much bigger then what we first anticipated and that malaria is just a smaller part of the bigger picture.
You see the Faiths Act Fellows program and what we are doing here is very unique and pioneering in many ways and if successful I whole heartedly believe that we truly change the world for the better.
Think about the impacts faith based NGOs have both on a grass root level in fundraising, capacity building and raising awareness and then in the field by understanding the cultures and religious observances of the community. From my experiences in working with Muslim faith based NGOs in disaster response situations in Muslim lands such as the Pakistan earthquake and Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh it was these organizations that were the most effective. It is the faith of these organizations that really infuses the value of giving and compassion from people to the people.
Our dream of promoting interfaith relationships for positive social action using our common faith values is a new and very integral part on the global fight on poverty. Imagine a global movement of faiths using their best practises and cultures to benefit all of mankind; that is the dream of my role as a Faiths Act Fellow.
We are here in Tanzania to learn about Malaria and its impacts on its community and then to take back what we have learnt and the stories of the community to raise awareness and to lead a push towards a world where deaths due to malaria are eradicated. So how does this fit into the bigger picture?
Well the eradication of deaths due to malaria builds bridges in alleviating poverty. If we look at the Millennium Development Goals we can make a distinct relationship in how this can be achieved and although the connections might seem obvious it is only while spending time here did we really see the connection for ourselves.
If we eradicate malaria we can stop breadwinners of the family from getting sick or even dying, reducing the time that the breadwinners are in hospital and away from their jobs which provide the incomes for their families. Even missing one or two days at work could financially cripple a family to live in extreme hunger for a month.
Malaria is a major cause of child mortality, especially Africa, and if we can eradicate deaths due to malaria we can actually empower an entire community. If children stop dying they live long enough to go to school and then get an education and then a job. This can effectively break entire societies out of the vicious poverty cycle.
So you can see how by taking malaria out of the equation it has a ripple effect and it elevates communities out of poverty.
Our job as Faiths Act Fellows is an important one and a journey that a group of 30 cannot do alone. To find out more about more about the Faiths Act Fellows program and how you can help visit: http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/projects/faiths-act/fellows/
You see the Faiths Act Fellows program and what we are doing here is very unique and pioneering in many ways and if successful I whole heartedly believe that we truly change the world for the better.
Think about the impacts faith based NGOs have both on a grass root level in fundraising, capacity building and raising awareness and then in the field by understanding the cultures and religious observances of the community. From my experiences in working with Muslim faith based NGOs in disaster response situations in Muslim lands such as the Pakistan earthquake and Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh it was these organizations that were the most effective. It is the faith of these organizations that really infuses the value of giving and compassion from people to the people.
Our dream of promoting interfaith relationships for positive social action using our common faith values is a new and very integral part on the global fight on poverty. Imagine a global movement of faiths using their best practises and cultures to benefit all of mankind; that is the dream of my role as a Faiths Act Fellow.
We are here in Tanzania to learn about Malaria and its impacts on its community and then to take back what we have learnt and the stories of the community to raise awareness and to lead a push towards a world where deaths due to malaria are eradicated. So how does this fit into the bigger picture?
Well the eradication of deaths due to malaria builds bridges in alleviating poverty. If we look at the Millennium Development Goals we can make a distinct relationship in how this can be achieved and although the connections might seem obvious it is only while spending time here did we really see the connection for ourselves.
If we eradicate malaria we can stop breadwinners of the family from getting sick or even dying, reducing the time that the breadwinners are in hospital and away from their jobs which provide the incomes for their families. Even missing one or two days at work could financially cripple a family to live in extreme hunger for a month.
Malaria is a major cause of child mortality, especially Africa, and if we can eradicate deaths due to malaria we can actually empower an entire community. If children stop dying they live long enough to go to school and then get an education and then a job. This can effectively break entire societies out of the vicious poverty cycle.
So you can see how by taking malaria out of the equation it has a ripple effect and it elevates communities out of poverty.
Our job as Faiths Act Fellows is an important one and a journey that a group of 30 cannot do alone. To find out more about more about the Faiths Act Fellows program and how you can help visit: http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/projects/faiths-act/fellows/
Monday, 17 August 2009
The Development Struggle
We know humanity has failed; has the humanitarian ‘industry’ also failed?
Today I attended Catholic Mass in Ifakara, south central Tanzania. The congregation was huge and the church was full with many at standing at the back of the hall for the entire 2 hour service. I noted how many young, enthusiastic and vibrant people attended the mass in contrast to the services I have attended at home in London. Young people made up a huge portion of the congregation; is this because of the level of community spirit that exists? The shear poverty that people are in that means church is the only hope? Or is it that most of the population don’t make it to be old enough to be considered old? Probably it is all three.
We attended mass today as a group of 10 from all different faiths - Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Sikh and Theists; our message a simple yet complicated one. People of different faiths working together for positive social action. This could be anything from campaigning on climate change, promoting Fair Trade or doing something about the global fight on poverty. For us it is trying to achieve the Millennium Development Goals with special attention to the eradication of deaths caused due to Malaria.
I feel the locals here in Ifakara are not familiar with the idea of faiths working together and hope at some level we have at least inspired them to ponder on the concept.
After mass the Faiths Act Fellows were invited to take stage and talk to young people for what I think is the Sunday school. We introduced ourselves and took questions on our educational backgrounds and the type of schooling system we have in the UK. We also discussed how Tanzania is a great country because the people have spiritual and religious freedom and have the right to practise whichever faith they feel is their calling.
A 15 year old boy stood up and very confidently walked up to the microphone and asked us ‘Why are you in Tanzania? What are you doing here? We have a big problem of HIV/AIDS in Africa; what are you doing about it? The Father of the church took it upon himself to answer the question. I do not know what he said because he replied in Swahili.
This makes me think that we as Development Workers have failed in our jobs, our lives and in our dedication to the victory in the global fight on poverty. You see, that 15 year old boy demonstrated to us how dependent Africa feels on the West. Walking around Ifakara it is clear that we are not from around here and are foreign. We are 8 hours away from Dar es Salaam the capital and any form of tourism. Therefore the general feeling amongst locals here is we must be here to deliver aid and a solution to their problems.
I am a big believer in dignity not poverty and the world needs to wake up to the idea that food and aid distribution is not the answer. We need to understand that the solution to Africa’s problems is in Africa and will come from Africa. We need to push the idea of empowerment of individuals and communities so that they can be self sufficient.
The Ifakara health institute is pioneering in this in many respects. They use real African communities and African doctors to lead life changing research in Malaria, Aids and tropical diseases. They do this by empowering communities to protect themselves safely and effectively.
In many ways EMPOWERMENT is the world of the day for me. This is why the more of the developing world I see the more I feel that micro finance projects are the future in poverty reduction. To empower a woman to start and run a dry fish business in Cambodia so that she can sustain her family and then repay her micro loan so a loan can be given to another family so they can start their own venture is testament of community empowerment that elevates entire districts out of poverty’s vicious cycle and takes away the dependence on the western world. I truly hope that when I visit these very remarkable countries in the future, it will be because of cultural exchange, beauty and to learn not to be this foreigner who people look at as responsible for delivering aid.
To learn more about the Faiths Act Fellows Program please visit: http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/projects/faiths-act/fellows/
Today I attended Catholic Mass in Ifakara, south central Tanzania. The congregation was huge and the church was full with many at standing at the back of the hall for the entire 2 hour service. I noted how many young, enthusiastic and vibrant people attended the mass in contrast to the services I have attended at home in London. Young people made up a huge portion of the congregation; is this because of the level of community spirit that exists? The shear poverty that people are in that means church is the only hope? Or is it that most of the population don’t make it to be old enough to be considered old? Probably it is all three.
We attended mass today as a group of 10 from all different faiths - Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Sikh and Theists; our message a simple yet complicated one. People of different faiths working together for positive social action. This could be anything from campaigning on climate change, promoting Fair Trade or doing something about the global fight on poverty. For us it is trying to achieve the Millennium Development Goals with special attention to the eradication of deaths caused due to Malaria.
I feel the locals here in Ifakara are not familiar with the idea of faiths working together and hope at some level we have at least inspired them to ponder on the concept.
After mass the Faiths Act Fellows were invited to take stage and talk to young people for what I think is the Sunday school. We introduced ourselves and took questions on our educational backgrounds and the type of schooling system we have in the UK. We also discussed how Tanzania is a great country because the people have spiritual and religious freedom and have the right to practise whichever faith they feel is their calling.
A 15 year old boy stood up and very confidently walked up to the microphone and asked us ‘Why are you in Tanzania? What are you doing here? We have a big problem of HIV/AIDS in Africa; what are you doing about it? The Father of the church took it upon himself to answer the question. I do not know what he said because he replied in Swahili.
This makes me think that we as Development Workers have failed in our jobs, our lives and in our dedication to the victory in the global fight on poverty. You see, that 15 year old boy demonstrated to us how dependent Africa feels on the West. Walking around Ifakara it is clear that we are not from around here and are foreign. We are 8 hours away from Dar es Salaam the capital and any form of tourism. Therefore the general feeling amongst locals here is we must be here to deliver aid and a solution to their problems.
I am a big believer in dignity not poverty and the world needs to wake up to the idea that food and aid distribution is not the answer. We need to understand that the solution to Africa’s problems is in Africa and will come from Africa. We need to push the idea of empowerment of individuals and communities so that they can be self sufficient.
The Ifakara health institute is pioneering in this in many respects. They use real African communities and African doctors to lead life changing research in Malaria, Aids and tropical diseases. They do this by empowering communities to protect themselves safely and effectively.
In many ways EMPOWERMENT is the world of the day for me. This is why the more of the developing world I see the more I feel that micro finance projects are the future in poverty reduction. To empower a woman to start and run a dry fish business in Cambodia so that she can sustain her family and then repay her micro loan so a loan can be given to another family so they can start their own venture is testament of community empowerment that elevates entire districts out of poverty’s vicious cycle and takes away the dependence on the western world. I truly hope that when I visit these very remarkable countries in the future, it will be because of cultural exchange, beauty and to learn not to be this foreigner who people look at as responsible for delivering aid.
To learn more about the Faiths Act Fellows Program please visit: http://www.tonyblairfaithfoundation.org/projects/faiths-act/fellows/
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
The Great British Ramadan
One of the greatest achievements that Islam has had is the ability to adapt to and co-exist in communities that traditionally are not Islamic. The early companions of the Prophet (saw) never imposed a new culture into a community but would bring in the beautiful aspects of Islam and live alongside the cultures they found. Now we are not talking about things that compromise the commandments of the Almighty but about becoming active members of the community we live in, showing that Islam is a way of life that is not difficult or a burden on people but beautiful and flourishing.
The same is true today - we are young British Muslims who have an identity of being British and yet hold dearly our beliefs - nothing can show this more so then the blessed month of Ramadan. As the moon is sighted to signify the beginning of Ramadan, our attitudes change and we make more of an effort to concentrate on our spirituality while continuing to get on with our normal British lives; we must go to work and yet we must try and get the most and best out of this month and we can do this like the companions who migrated to cities far from their original homes.
Working in an office, one of the first things we do is grab for that cup of tea, and is general courtesy to offer a round of tea making to our friends and colleagues but now for one month we as Muslims aren't drinking that morning cup of tea - so what to do? Maybe you just explain to your work friends that you are fasting and explain to them why you fast or maybe you still offer to make the teas; from experience the generosity of Islam truly shows when you are fasting and you still offer to get the tea rounds for your colleagues instead of not going for an entire month.
A lot of the times I am asked how do you manage to fast and I tell people it isn't as difficult as they think. A good idea would be to challenge them to fast with you for a day so they can understand the concept better and then you have a Iftar (ending of the fast) together to celebrate the achievement; what a great opportunity to invite non-Muslims to our homes to interact with Iftar and observe our prayers and family lives. Imagine the impact you can have on people who will better understand what it is like to observe Ramadan and how blessed this month is to us all.
Ramadan is a great chance for us to seek forgiveness from Allah and get the most from our time by being in prayer and reading from the book of Allah. Maybe our obligations like work mean that we cannot spend all our time in the masjid (mosque) as we would like to in Ramadan but we can still demonstrate the beauty of what it is to be a Muslim to our friends, work colleagues and neighbours.
Ramadan Mubarak to you all; I pray Allah gives you the best from this month and every month after for as long you live. Ameen.
The same is true today - we are young British Muslims who have an identity of being British and yet hold dearly our beliefs - nothing can show this more so then the blessed month of Ramadan. As the moon is sighted to signify the beginning of Ramadan, our attitudes change and we make more of an effort to concentrate on our spirituality while continuing to get on with our normal British lives; we must go to work and yet we must try and get the most and best out of this month and we can do this like the companions who migrated to cities far from their original homes.
Working in an office, one of the first things we do is grab for that cup of tea, and is general courtesy to offer a round of tea making to our friends and colleagues but now for one month we as Muslims aren't drinking that morning cup of tea - so what to do? Maybe you just explain to your work friends that you are fasting and explain to them why you fast or maybe you still offer to make the teas; from experience the generosity of Islam truly shows when you are fasting and you still offer to get the tea rounds for your colleagues instead of not going for an entire month.
A lot of the times I am asked how do you manage to fast and I tell people it isn't as difficult as they think. A good idea would be to challenge them to fast with you for a day so they can understand the concept better and then you have a Iftar (ending of the fast) together to celebrate the achievement; what a great opportunity to invite non-Muslims to our homes to interact with Iftar and observe our prayers and family lives. Imagine the impact you can have on people who will better understand what it is like to observe Ramadan and how blessed this month is to us all.
Ramadan is a great chance for us to seek forgiveness from Allah and get the most from our time by being in prayer and reading from the book of Allah. Maybe our obligations like work mean that we cannot spend all our time in the masjid (mosque) as we would like to in Ramadan but we can still demonstrate the beauty of what it is to be a Muslim to our friends, work colleagues and neighbours.
Ramadan Mubarak to you all; I pray Allah gives you the best from this month and every month after for as long you live. Ameen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
AddThis
Follow Me on Twitter
