Fatima: Making her point
Muslim Girls have been urged not to rush into marriages before completing their studies.
Radio Islam Malawi journalist Fatima Daud told her fellow youth at the Muslim Girls Youth Camp organised by Muslim Sisters Youth Organisation (Musyo) in conjunction with World Assembly of Muslim Youth (Wamy) held at Mai Halima Girls Secondary School in Mulanje from Friday April 11 to Sunday April 13.
The talented and youthful female journalist said there is no an easy road to success but self determination and perseverance is what will make one realise his or her dreams.
“I will give you my example. I am where I am today because I made a choice – not to get married until I complete my studies. It wasn’t that simple as said but because I was aware of what I wanted to be plus the passion I had for my career it is what made me realise my dream.
“Therefore, the most important thing is for you to know whom you want to be and perhaps work hard in your studies, don’t think about marriage now and then you will be able to achieve your ambitions,” said Fatima.
Fatima who acted as a role model, further said poverty should not be used as a bargaining tool nowadays to the extent of making someone to rush into marriage.
She said: “When I completed my secondary school, I had no chance to pay for my tertiary education because my parents couldn’t afford to do that. But because of the choice I made and the hope I had, Allah answered my prayers. I was among the four girls who was chosen by Wamy to be paid tertiary education. As I am saying now, I am working at Radio Islam and happily married without any regrets of my life because of Allah and the choice I made.”
On the same development, Programme Coordinator for Musyo Munira Abdullah advised the Muslim girls to behave well in their respective schools.
She said her organisation is concerned with the reports that other Muslim girls are indulging in bad behaviour such as smoking Marijuana and drinking alcohol, the thing she described as sad.
“I am a member of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) in one of the Islamic schools. But I can tell you that most of the girls in these school do not behave like Muslims. They do drink, smoke, you name it. Previously, Musyo thought that it is the problem with administration but we were surprised to note that 90% of the problems are caused by girls themselves. This is very sad,” she said.
Banda therefore said it is from this background that made Musyo to start organising Muslim girls youth camps and workshops in order to hear the girls’ concerns and perhaps find ways on how to solve them.
One of the participants mentioning some of the challenges the Muslim girls face in their daily lives
According to Munira Banda, Musyo invites several professionals to act as role models including doctors and nurses who offers some counselling to the girls.
This year’s event was held under a theme “Creating a Sustainable Development through higher Education for Youth Muslim Women.”
Participants standing for a group photo with the Cancer Awareness Team
