‘M’egg a Difference Campaign <strong>for</strong> ZCSSStanmore, LondonTo help instill <strong>the</strong> importance of charity and giving in<strong>the</strong> hearts and minds of <strong>the</strong> youth, <strong>the</strong> Shia Ithna AsheriMadressa (SIM) Cares launched <strong>the</strong> ‘M-egg A Difference’drive in June 2008. SIM Cares challenged students to fillCadbury Mini Egg tubes with £1 coins to help ra<strong>is</strong>e funds<strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme (ZCSS).<strong>The</strong> original school in Gopalpur,with its run downbuilding and furniture.Students rose to <strong>the</strong> challenge. <strong>The</strong> children came up withunique and innovative ways to ra<strong>is</strong>e money. Some offeredto recite surahs <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> thawab of marhumeen in exchange<strong>for</strong> a donation, while o<strong>the</strong>rs got involved in sponsored bikerides, cake sales, car washes and penalty shoot-outs. At<strong>the</strong> end of four weeks of fundra<strong>is</strong>ing, over £3,000 GBP wascollected - a fantastic achievement.<strong>The</strong> funds ra<strong>is</strong>ed were donated to <strong>the</strong> ZCSS’s school in Gopalpur, Bihar (India) where education was providedat no charge <strong>for</strong> children from deprived families.Bibi Fatima (AS) CampOrlando, FloridaIn June 2009, <strong>The</strong> Husseini Islamic Center of Orlando,Florida held a four day camp <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> children of <strong>the</strong>community. <strong>The</strong> focus of <strong>the</strong> camp was Bibi Fatima (AS).<strong>The</strong> children learned about <strong>the</strong> life of th<strong>is</strong> great lady,including <strong>the</strong> story of Hadith-e-K<strong>is</strong>a and participated inarts, crafts and crochet activities.4Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010
Launch of KHOJATVReunion IslandDearborn TableeghTrip - Toronto, CanadaIn May 2008, KHOJATV (www.worldtv.com/khojatv ) was launched in Reunion Island. Cateringto individuals of all ages and backgrounds, th<strong>is</strong>channel aims to bring a wealth of knowledge andfaith into every Shia home.Th<strong>is</strong> channel <strong>is</strong> not a Hetizian or a satelliteclassical telev<strong>is</strong>ion channel, instead it usesinternet technology to send video files between amultimedia player box connected to both <strong>the</strong> familytelev<strong>is</strong>ion set and <strong>the</strong> internet. <strong>The</strong> video files <strong>the</strong>nplay one after ano<strong>the</strong>r from <strong>the</strong> internet to <strong>the</strong> TV.KHOJATV features exclusive programmes includingQuran recitation, hadiths, majal<strong>is</strong>es, marsiyas,nawhas and qasidas, lectures, duas, tales andstories, cartoons, <strong>for</strong>mer and recent jamaatprogrammes, madressa courses and so on.Most of <strong>the</strong> original programmes are in Urdu,Arabic, Engl<strong>is</strong>h, Farsi, and Gujrati, but all haveFrench subtitles so that every viewer canunderstand what <strong>is</strong> being said. Th<strong>is</strong> also gives<strong>the</strong> opportunity to understand and practice <strong>the</strong>mo<strong>the</strong>r-tongue of Gujrati, which <strong>is</strong> dimin<strong>is</strong>hing in<strong>the</strong> new generation.KHOJATV has been described as a ‘a breath of freshair’ <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> sick, <strong>the</strong> d<strong>is</strong>abled and <strong>the</strong> elderly whoare bored in <strong>the</strong>ir homes and sometimes cannottake part in <strong>the</strong> social community life.Islamic Centre of America - Dearborn, MichiganOn 21 March 2009, <strong>the</strong> Islamic Shia IthnaAsheri Jamaat of Toronto’s (ISIJ) Tableegh Boardorgan<strong>is</strong>ed an adventure trip to Dearborn, Michigan(USA). <strong>The</strong> purpose of th<strong>is</strong> trip was to promotebro<strong>the</strong>rhood and unity with various communitiesin North America.<strong>The</strong> group compr<strong>is</strong>ed 336 people of all ages,ranging from toddlers to <strong>the</strong> elderly.<strong>The</strong> itinerary included v<strong>is</strong>iting <strong>the</strong> Islamic Centreof America, <strong>the</strong> Arab American National Museumand watching <strong>the</strong> inspiration IMAX movie, “Journeyto Mecca”.Many community leaders travelled to Dearbornincluding Br. Gulamabbas Najafi (NASIMCO VicePresident), Br. Asgher Dhirani (ISIJ-Toronto ViceChair), Br. Mohammed Molidina (Razavi Jamaat-Hamilton Jamaat Chair), Br. Shahid Juma (ISIJTableegh Board Secretary), Sr. Shirinbai Sumar(Senior Citizens group leader) and many o<strong>the</strong>rsfrom <strong>the</strong> USA and Canada.Insight Jamaadi al Ula 1431 / May 2010 5