The good Samaritans

Their contribution in the works of community development and charity is continuous. In the running year, Sri Lankan Majlis Qatar (SLMQ) have contributed to the construction of a Building Block at CSM School for Special Needs in Akurana, Sri Lanka with QR20,000.They also awarded five one-year scholarships to deserving students Al-Khaira Foundation, Mawanella with QR17,000 to enable them to continue their studies. And now the community welfare organisation based in Qatar, is considering helping build kitchen and dining places for Dharul Hasanath, a home for orphans in Hemmathagama, Sri Lanka.They are also planning to collaborate on a project with Muslim Aid in the Colombo district to help deserving women who are widowed breadwinners to enhance their earning under the programme ‘Enriching Lives.’Established in 2001 with the aim to bring the Sri Lankan families living in Qatar together, the SLMQ has been facilitating interaction and fellowship among Sri Lankans in Qatar besides serving the Sri Lankan community by supporting community-building efforts both in Qatar and in Sri Lanka.“Initially, the aim was to bring all the Muslim Sri Lankan families living in Qatar together through different community activities. At that time we had some 50-60 families living here. We also initiated Holy Qur’an classes,” Hazim Hamza, President of SLMQ, tells Community in an interview.“As we grew (with membership and outreach), there were demands to move into some areas of charitable nature. We started helping the charitable causes with the sources that we had,” adds the president.The main source of fundraising, he says, is through sponsors and well-wishers. They started organising an annual symposium where they would print a souvenir and get advertisements which remain the main source of funds.A part of it is used to promote Sri Lanka and organise events in Qatar for the Sri Lankan Muslim community.“Our main focus is on education. Then, we also support single mothers with vocational training. Whenever there is any natural calamity, we come forward by organising and collecting aid and sending it forth,” says Hamza.They were at the forefront of rescue activities when tsunami hit Sri Lanka. SLMQ collected about four container-loads of relief goods for the affected people and sent to Sri Lanka.Besides sponsoring the deserving children continue their education in Sri Lanka, the SLMQ through different initiatives has been providing regular career guidance to Sri Lankan students based in Qatar as well.In Qatar, the SLMQ is also there to help the Sri Lankan community whenever there is a need. They help the affected through all possible means in case there is a fire in a camp or an individual needs assistance.Having more than 200 Muslim families based in Qatar, in its membership, and a wing for bachelors or singles, the SLMQ has been active in community development and community engagement in Qatar.“We have a calendar of activities. Some of them are focused on Muslim families while others are national focusing on Sri Lankan identity. We participate in the activities of all important days of Qatar, engaging Sri Lankan families and children,” says Mohammed Lafir, the General Secretary of SLMQ.Recently, they introduced a Young Muslim Writers’ Award and Independence Day Competition, targeting Sri Lankan children, aimed at their extra-curricular development. In other community activities, the SLMQ organises an annual Cookery and Talent Day for women.Their marquee event every year, however, is the symposium where they engage the local Sri Lankan community in their activities. The organisation also regularly organises Islamic lectures which are both public and family-oriented only.“On education, we have funded students from high school to higher studies. Roughly more than 50 students would have been funded through different initiatives in Sri Lanka. We have also been organising examination preparation seminars for O and A level students,” says Lafir.The SLMQ has also helped undergraduate university students with skill development programmes by sending experts and trainers.“Whatever projects we are doing in Sri Lanka is monitored by one of the local organisations familiar with the area and report to us on the progress,” says Hamza. The positive impact the SLMQ projects have been making on people’s lives is already becoming visible.A daughter of one of their members studied medicine and has gone on to become a doctor, the SLMQ president proudly adds.Every year, they have a theme such as ‘Unity and Brotherhood in 2012’ that governs their activities for the year. In 2013, the theme was community welfare and development. In that year, the organisation carried out several community development programmes.SLMQ alongwith YWMA in Sri Lanka assisted over 24 single mothers to set up their own income sources. Sewing machines, gas cookers and electric ovens were distributed among them. The organisation also funded a vocational training programme for under privileged young women.SLMQ also contributed to cater to the educational needs of the children with special needs by helping erect a centre for such students. Located in Dehiwala, Sri Lanka, the centre is fully operational, up and running.The community organisation also provided financial assistance for a teachers’ training programme at Hameed al-Husseini College in Colombo to enhance the quality of teaching methodologies in key subjects.Besides many other initiatives, the SLMQ sponsored to share 50 percent of expenses of a major scholarship programme with its affiliated body Al Huda Foundation for vocational training courses for youth with Insight Institute, Sri Lanka.In 2014, the SLMQ organised and helped community interactions between Sri Lankan Muslims and other ethnic groups through different events to promote better understanding and brotherhood. Hamza says the Muslim community, who are mostly professionals, living in Qatar are always forthcoming.They participate in good numbers in all activities organised by SLMQ throughout the years.“It is a religious duty as well. God has gifted us all with some qualities and wealth, so it is our responsibility to give back to the society and to share it everyone with whatever we have —  wealth, spare time or skills,” says Hamza, explaining his personal motivation to join the organisation.He thanked Prof. Dr W M Karunadasa, the ambassador of Sri Lanka, and the embassy for their continuous support to SLMQ and its activities. Hamza and Lafir along with their colleagues as SLMQ pledged to continue their contribution to social development through SLMQ.