Community

Awards Synopsis
The FMO Youth Awards seeks to highlight and acknowledge the efforts of Young Muslims and those dealing with young people in various fields of endeavour across the County. Within the current climate of disaffection and disenchantment the ultimate objective of the Youth Awards is to celebrate the achievements of exceptional young Muslims and crucially to inspire all young people to emulate their peers and understand that these positive achievements are both recognised and appreciated.

The Community awards recognises both individuals and organisations that have dedicated their time and often much more to the community often through volunteering with no intention other than an ingrained desire to improve the community we share.

FMO One Leicester Cohesion Award sponsored by Leicester City Council For those individuals who have made an extraordinary effort to build positive and harmonious community relations to support a shared vision of an equal, integrated and cohesive community for all based on mutual respect and trust.

Dates:
Voting Deadline - 12.03.2010
Judging Panel Meeting - 21.03.2010
Shortlist Published - 26.03.2010
Awards Evening - 10.04.2010 (Leicester Exhibition Centre

Shortlist

Organisations

Amina Chopdat – Rahat Day Centre

Working with housebound elderly women at a well established women’s group, Amina offers insightful advice and support, essentially reaching older people that would not necessarily use support groups.

Mussa Hajat – Khidmah Organisation

Founding this voluntary charitable organisation in 1999, Khidmah Organisation works with the different sectors of the Muslim community to build strong community links and providing important social and educational services citywide. The Khidmah Organisation annual unity days are attended by over 20,000 people over 2 days, making it the biggest Islamic event of its kind in the UK.

Siddique Khan – Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College Muslim Forum

Established in 2008, the Muslim Forum seeks to ensure adequate prayer facilities for Muslims at the college as well as raising money for various charities. The Forum has also arranged visits from external bodies such as the Police as well as organised the college’s first ever Islamic Awareness Week.

DMU ISOC– De Montfort University

In addition to providing adequate prayer facilities and a support network for Muslim students at the University, the DMU ISOC has also tirelessly worked for several charities, including raising over £20,000 in the 2008 DMU Charity Week (4^th highest total nationally). Annually, ISOC holds an Islamic Awareness Week which has helped build strong links with other societies at the university.

Individuals

Mu-Hamid Pathan (18 years old)

Elected to the Leicester Youth Council 2 years ago, he has raised the concerns of young people in the UK, meeting and engaging directly with high profile MPs including the Prime Minister. Amongst his many accolades, he was a runner up in the Lord Lieutenants young person of the year.

Suhail Debar (23 years old)

A key member of the DMU ISOC, Suhail has dedicated much of his time, helping and supporting staff and students in promoting Islamic Awareness, welfare issues and providing adequate prayer facilities.

Farzana Makda (16 years old)

An outstanding volunteer, she has helped out at Minds Charity Shop, Special Olympics and British Heart Foundation. She has done all this on her own initiative and encouraged her friends to join in.

FMO One Leicester Award

Irshad Baqui – Islamic Society of Britain

Working for a voluntary organisation that has been established for 10 years, Irshad has been influential in bringing together Islamic Awareness Week which has enabled young people to come together through various initiatives in sports, exhibitions and debates. This community cohesion drive has been achieved by Irshad through close collaboration with New Walk Museum, local schools and colleges and Leicestershire Constabulary.

Suleman Nagdi MBE – FMO, MBCOL & various other organisations

Living in Leicester for over 30 years, Suleman has worked on a number of initiatives. He was the founder member of the Muslim Burial Council of Leicester (MBCOL). He has sought to build strong inter-faith links through liaising with the Leicester Council of Faiths in addition to his role as Public Relations Officer for the FMO. Suleman has built an outstanding knowledge of community relations through years of consultancy work with the Police, Home Office, Foreign Office and EU. Campaigning for human rights, Suleman has worked hard to voice the concerns of Muslims in the UK which has now led to him acting as one of the key consultants of the St. Philip’s Centre as well as being a regular columnist for the Leicester Mercury.

Gerry Burke

Working in the community for over 25 years in various roles, Gerry has worked with the diverse range of communities in Leicester both on a statutory and voluntary basis. As the Area 2 Senior Youth Worker for Leicester, Gerry has worked to improve the lives of the underprivileged in Leicester.

Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra.

Shaykh Mogra has worked with various organisations and groups, working to build strong inter-faith links. He has also worked to inspire young people through his regular lectures as well as his popular show on Radio Ramadan.