CCMW - Press Room

CANADIAN COUNCIL OF MUSLIM WOMEN (CCMW)

BOARD UPDATE: CANADIAN COUNCIL OF MUSLIM WOMEN [CCMW] July 12/09.

Salaam/Greetings of Peace,

We would like to share with you the exciting and challenging projects that CCMW is undertaking.

We thank the federal government for their financial support and encouragement for two major projects. We are grateful to the Ontario Law Foundation for their financial support to finalize the marriage/pre-nuptial contract which has been developed by Professor Lynda Clarke.

CCMW is considering other projects which we know will be useful for all of us.

All these projects require the involvement of our chapters and of other Canadian Muslims and our friends. As the projects develop further we will provide you with more details. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like additional information.

Thank you for your continued support and interest.

PROJECT: BEING A CANADIAN MUSLIM WOMAN IN THE 21^ST CENTURY

CCMW is pleased to inform you that we have a 2 year project, April 09-March 31/11.

Project Goal:

To develop leadership among young Muslim women/girls and increase their capacity to benefit in the social and democratic life as fully participating Canadians

To prevent discrimination/violence against young Muslim women/girls

Project Objective:

Increase the understanding on the part of the education system of the issues/challenges facing young Muslim girls/women (ages 14 – 18) and develop resources which can be used by educators

Empower young Muslim girls/women and their peers to understand and face these challenges. Provide young girls with the skills to act as leaders within their schools and their communities

BACKGROUND

Since September 11, 2001, the experiences of Muslims, specifically Muslim women, have changed dramatically. Unfortunately most of the changes have not been positive, particularly as they relate to experiences of discrimination and lack of Muslim women’s socio-economic and civic engagement in Canadian society. During the past few years CCMW has undertaken several initiatives to understand and address these issues. We have conducted research into the issues, developed many tools and offered informational and educational workshops on a range of topics to Muslim women as well as to stakeholders that come into contact with them.

We have anecdotal evidence about the stress and conflicts facing young Muslim women such as racism/discrimination, clash of family and broader societal values, and the tensions in developing an identity inclusive of their multiple characteristics.

As schools play a vital role in the young people’s lives, CCMW believes it is in these settings that the issues can be addressed. Furthermore, youth can be taught how to deal with the challenges by developing a strong sense of their identity with its myriad aspects.

Project Structure & Activities

The activities of the project can be broadly divided in two: the first involves working with schools in Southern Ontario and the second involves conducting a learning needs assessment and developing an educational tool.

Seven schools in Southern Ontario are partnering with CCMW on this project. Working relationships have been established with the schools. School committees are made up of students and will carry out activities aimed at raising awareness of the issues/challenges young Muslim women face in the education system. The students on the committee and school administration have been extremely receptive and excited about the project. The main activities of the school steering committees will start once schools open after the summer break.

An output of this project will be a resource kit for educators which will provide accurate, sympathetic and culturally appropriate information and will have an educator’s guide and other material about the context, diversity and realities of young Muslim women, including discrimination and marginalization. However, before we develop this tool, a needs assessment will be conducted in order to identify issues which the kit would address. We have hired consultants to conduct the learning needs assessment and develop the educational tool kit.

An Advisory Committee has been set to guide the consultants in the development of the needs assessment questionnaires and educational tool kit. The committee membership is diverse and each member brings unique insights to the issues at hand. The membership consists of young Muslim girls, educators, others who work with Muslim girls and also parents. The committee had its first meeting on June 30. The next steps are for the consultants to draft and finalize the needs assessment questionnaires.

For further information please contact Coordinator of the Project, Eman Ahmed.

Phone 416 225 4322. Email CCMW_Board@yahoo.com

PROJECT: MYCANADA [MUSLIM YOUTH CANADA]

CCMW is pleased to inform you of the approval of our two year project, April 1/09-March 31/11.

With direct involvement of Muslim youth, CCMW has initiated the MY Canada Project which will develop a coordinated strategy that will provide opportunities for Muslim youth to:

1. Develop a stronger identity inclusive of multiple aspects of their sense of self such as "Canadian", "Muslim", their specific ethnicity and heritage language.

2. Engage more actively in their communities in such a way as to assist their development of a sense of belonging, self-confidence, and leadership skills.

3. Increase their civic participation based on improved knowledge of their democratic rights and responsibilities and acquisition of skills to effect policy change.

4. Prepare to combat racism and discrimination, and to resist radicalization and anti-social behaviour.

These objectives will be realized by a diverse team of people led by a Project Coordinator Rizwan Mohammad under the supervision of the National Board of the CCMW. A Steering Committee of youth from across the country will guide the project. Additional assistance will be provided by an Advisor Nazim Baksh, a Consultant for the development of a toolkit and video, as well as Evaluators for the project. Key partners for the development of the project will include the Afghan Women's Organization, YOUCAN, and others.

The MY Canada Project will not be delivering social services but rather educational programs and tools that serve to opening up spaces for a particular kind of dialogue on what it means to be Canadian Muslims, a dialogue that will develop common frames of reference, a shared language with other young Canadian Muslims that can shift our popular discourse from one of religious extremism based on textual literalism and other homogeneous or monolithic versions of Islam to a discourse that is respectful of other faiths and lifestyles, appreciates diversity of practice and belief, and supports creative artistic expression as well as cultural and civic engagement in terms that are at once Canadian and Muslim.

On June 21st, 2009, potential members of the CCMW's MY Canada Project Steering Committee met in Toronto to discuss the nature of the MY Canada Project, its objectives, outcomes, and work plan.

The meeting resulted in three main outcomes: (1) the members of the steering committee were confirmed as a group of 11 young Canadian Muslims from Edmonton, Montreal, and Toronto of diverse cultural and academic backgrounds. (2) Procedures for communicating and working together for the duration of the project were agreed upon. (3) Critical decision making was initiated with respect to (A) elaborating the work plan of the project and (B) designing the national strategic planning forum to be held at the end of October 200--not only with respect to the forum itself (including marketing strategies)--but also (i) documenting the forum, (ii) designing the toolkit for educators, and (iii) the companion video for the toolkit.

For further information please contact Coordinator Rizwan Mohammad

Phone 416 908 4758. Email rmohammad@ccmw.com

PROJECT: MARRIAGE/PRE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT

As a continuation of our previous project on family laws, we knew of the need for a document which provides accurate and clear information on Muslim family laws as well as an agreement which would be consistent with Canadian Family law.

CCMW commissioned Islamic scholar, Professor Lynda Clarke, to develop such an agreement, and this work is now completed. Professor Clarke has developed a full scholarly document as well as a sample contract which can be used by couples.

Our research has shown that this is groundbreaking work and there is no similar comprehensive document anywhere in Europe or North America. Professor Clarke’s work has been presented at various international conferences including MUSAWAH, and it has generated a great deal of interest from other countries such as Australia, Britain and Asia.

CCMW is excited that we are now able to translate the documents into French; make the contract itself available in easy to understand language and publish these for the use of Muslim families.

The document will also be available on the CCMW website, Insha’Allah.

PROJECT: FAMILY LAW EDUCATION FOR WOMEN [FLEW]

CCMW is one of 5 organizations who formed a consortium which was provided resources from the Ontario Women’s Directorate to develop educational materials on Ontario family law.

This was essential because there have been recent changes to the law.

CCMW has produced three brochures of specific interest to Muslims on arbitration; domestic contract; and divorce and marriage. These are available for free, in various languages and can be ordered via the FLEW website. www.onefamilylaw.ca

As well, there are 12 other brochures on various aspects of family law.

PROJECT: EDMONTON MOSQUE-AL RASHID.

The first mosque in Canada, and some say in North America, was built in 1938 in Edmonton.

The major group were the Lebanese Muslims who with help from their non-Muslim friends built the small mosque.

In the late1980s, the mosque was to be demolished but the Edmonton chapter of CCMW made the wise decision that they would raise funds to move the historic building to the Edmonton Fort Park. This was done and the mosque has become part of the history of Edmonton and of Canada.

CCMW has commissioned Dr Daood Hamdani to research the history and the part played by CCMW in the preservation of this mosque.

ONGOING PROJECT: WOMEN WHO INSPIRE

For the second year, CCMW was able to honour Canadian Muslim women at a brunch on May 24/09 at the Noor Cultural Centre.

This year we proudly honoured Sabra Desai; Soraya Hafez; Monia Mazigh; Yasmin Ratansi and Nazira Tareen.

We thank all those who came to our celebration to help honour these women.

ONGOING PROJECT: SCHOLARSHIPS

Please contact the board member responsible for the scholarship for further information.

Salima Ebrahim at salimaebrahim@gmail.com

OTHER BOARD ACTIVITIES:

New Staff:

We would like to introduce Shirin Mandani who has joined CCMW as a part time administrative person. She is a full time student completing her Masters and we are pleased that Shirin is working with us. Shirin will be assisting with communications, chapters’ contacts and the website information.

We would like to remind chapters that they can have their own chapter pages on the CCMW website. If you are interested please contact Shirin, copy Eman Ahmed at CCMW_Board@yahoo.com

MYCANADA Strategic Planning Forum

Please note that CCMW will be holding a forum in Toronto, likely at the end of October 09.

This forum is part of the MYCANADA project and will have the very active leadership of youth.

We are very excited as we are able to bring youth from across the country to participate in the forum.

We will soon be writing directly to the chapters with more details.

Media/Communications

CCMW continues to be called upon by the media to address issues of concern for Muslims and Muslim women in particular.

We have also been invited to several international and national conferences.

Chapters

Chapters continue to be active in their local communities and we look forward to our gathering at the MYCANADA Strategic Planning Forum in Toronto, Insha’Allah.

Forced Marriages Project

CCMW is a member of the project headed by the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario {SALCO]

This is an emerging issue of concern not limited to Muslims, and this project will hopefully assist all of us in some policy/procedure work on the part of community organizations and the governments.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FRIENDS

Dr Fuad Sahin has been honoured by the government of Ontario with the Order of Ontario.

This is in recognition of the years of community service Fuad has provided to Canadian society and for Canadian Muslims. Fuad and his wife Solmaz have been guiding lights for Muslims and their home has been open to all of us. He has been instrumental in the founding of organizations such as the International Development and Relief Foundation [IDRF]

Fuad has been a good friend and supporter of CCMW and Solmaz is one of the founding members of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women.

CCMW members were delighted to participate in the dinners honouring Fuad held by IDRF AND REHMA, where hundreds of their well wishers came to congratulate him.

Hanny Hassan is another long time supporter and friend of CCMW and his wife Najet has been a member of CCMW right from the beginning. Najet is currently the treasurer and this couple, like the Sahins, have worked all their lives for the benefit of Muslims and of the broader Canadian society.

Hanny has been appointed to the Senate and Board of Governors of the University of Western Ontario. We are sure that Hanny will do us proud in representing all of us. The other honour bestowed on Hanny is that he has been made a Fellow of St Michael’s College of the University of Toronto.

He is rightly described as a community leader, a bridge builder between different faiths and a social justice advocate.

Both Fuad and Hanny have devoted their lives to further goodwill as committed Canadian Muslims.

Thank you and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like further information.

Shaheen Ashraf; Salima Ebrahim; Sadia Gassim; Najet Hassan; Humera Ibrahim; Nuzhat Jafri; Razia Jaffer; Solmaz Sahin.

Staff/Coordinators: Eman Ahmed; Shirin Mandani; Rizwan Mohammad and Alia Hogben.