Student Orientation Program
The Africa Federation Africa Youth Network in collaboration with the AFED Education Board, AFED Tabligh Board (SAP Team) organized ‘Student Orientation Program’ at the KSI Jamaat Gents Imambargha in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, 1st & Sunday, 2nd August 2015.
This program was primarily aimed at preparing the prospective students from our Member Jamaats in Africa for higher education and equipping them with relevant information about the various experiences and challenges that they may encounter in the pursuit for higher education (whether locally or abroad). The program was attended by 50 community youths (girls and boys) from Member Jamaats, namely – Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Mombasa, Arusha & Tanga. Sadly to state, youths from other Jamaats did not attend this important program.
The program had four major sessions:
1. A Capacity Building Session: conducted by the Capacity Building Group of Africa Federation which was facilitated by Br. Shabbirhussein Khalfan & Sis. Shama Dewji. This session included ice breaking activities and thought provoking topics such as tolerance vs. respect and stages of learning to build the capacities of the students for the higher education set up. Br. Murtaza Versi, CBG AFED Secretariat Coordinator also presented a perspective/talk on ‘Emotional Intelligence’ to the students.
2. A session on Academic aspects: by Sis. Zeenat Thawer, a specialist in soft skills training and career coaching. This session included aspects such as research in university, the various activities the students can do to keep their brains healthy and active, research etc.
3. A session on Social aspects: by Br. Akash Karia who is an award winning speaker, trainer and presentation skills coach. This session guided the students on goal setting, planning, use of public speaking and body language in higher education etc.
4. A session on the Spiritual aspects of higher education: by Sheikh Dr. Murtadha Alidina, Sheikh Nuru Mohamed & Sheikh Saqalain Alavi. This session covered topics such as gender interactions, interfaith faith dialogue, respecting other faiths and beliefs and issues such as islamophobia and general guidelines from the Sheikhs on the preservation of faith.
The students also had good opportunity to interact and exchange views with current students and graduates from various countries so that they could learn from their experiences and ask any questions that they had.
The program concluded with a presentation ceremony on Sunday, 2nd August and was graced by various dignitaries from the Africa Federation and Dar es Salaam Jamaat and facilitated by Br. Tehsin Takim, the Vice Chairman of the Education Board of Africa Federation.
The Africa Federation Youth Network, AFED Education Board and AFED Tabligh Board (SAP Team) would like to thank Dar es Salaam Jamaat for providing the facilities of Imambargha to conduct this program and the volunteers for being there for us all the time and assisting in this program that benefitted the students and provided them a glimpse of the life ahead.
We extend our deep appreciation to Br. Zahir Panjwani for photography and videography services of the entire program at no charge. Appreciation also goes out to the facilitators, Member Jamaats for promoting this program, the parents for encouraging their children and the students themselves for their interactive participation and making this event a success.
We are very grateful to the office bearers of Africa Federation for funding this program and for all the support and encouragement extended to us in organizing this event.
Secretariat
Africa Federation Youth Network (AYN)