Faith in Action

Jason Davies-Kildea

Steve Denenberg

Hyder Gulam
 Faith in Action
How Faith-Based Organisations
Care for People in Need
Jason Davies-Kildea
 Faith in Action
The Jewish foundations of Faith-
Based Care
Steve Denenberg
 Faith in Action
The Victorian Muslim Perspective

Hyder Gulam
The Islamic Council of Victoria

The Islamic Council of Victoria (‘ICV’) is the peak body
for Muslim organisations in Victoria.

The ICV represents Victoria’s more than 90,000 Muslims,
through its 32 member organisations located throughout
metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria.

The ICV is a member of Muslims Australia (AFIC), which
is the peak Muslim body in Australia.
The Quran

The Quran encourages generosity in volunteerism, kindness and charity.
The following verses indicate the attention and priority that the Quran has
given to help and to support those who are in need regardless of their
ethnic or religious background.

In Chapter (4) named “Women,” the Quran states:

Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good-to parents, kinsfolk,
orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers,
the companion by your side, the wayfarer (you meet), (Surah 4/36)

In chapter 76 named “the Man” and “the Time,” the Quran states:

And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the prisoner.
(Saying),” We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from
you, nor thanks. (Surah 76/8-9).
Helping those in need is an inherent value

Principal of Islam to help the community (social justice).

Provide Zakat/Sadaqa to those in need.

Zakat – this is the compulsory charity that all Muslims must pay
based on the wealth they possess at the time of payment. Surah At-
Tauba, verse 103 of the Quran, says: “Take alms from their wealth
in order to purify them and sanctify them with it.” The minimum
amount to pay is roughly two and a half per cent of the wealth you
possess.

Personal interaction.

Common challenges also facing the Muslim community.
Who’s doing What in Victoria?

Australian MADE - http://www.australianmade.org.au/.

Youth organisation – with a focus on emerging communities including
African and Afghani communities in the Dandenong area.

Programs are usually run at schools which have a significant population of
these kids.

Programs include camps, martial arts, work experience, art therapy,
mentoring etc.

Substance abuse and violence is emerging as one of the main problem areas
within these communities and the youth are increasingly getting into
trouble.

The statistics in Dandenong show that Muslims within the city of greater
Dandenong are more likely to leave school at year 10, less likely to get a
job and are living on very low incomes.
Who’s doing What in Victoria?

Mercy Mission - http://www.mercymission.org.au/

Daar Aasya Muslim Children Foster Care Program.

Focus is to provide the means by which Muslim children in
care can be placed with Muslim families.

Need to educate the Muslim community about the importance
of foster care.

Program to also educate non-Muslim community about the
importance of religious and cultural care with the foster care
of Muslim children.
Who’s doing What in Victoria?

Islamic Women's Welfare Council of Victoria Inc. -
http://www.islamicwomenswelfare.org.au/about.htm

Community welfare organisation established and managed by Muslim women for
Muslim women. Not Faith based, but IWWCV is based on the gender and faith of
members, executive and staff but not clients.

The IWWCV was established in 1991, as a non-religious organisation reflecting the
sectarian, ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity of Muslim women living in the state
of Victoria.

Current work priorities of the IWWCV include:

• settlement of newly arrived women into Victoria
• violence against Muslim women
• poverty and housing
• capacity building and leadership development
• education and training
• economic participation
Who’s doing What in Victoria?

Zero Tolerance - http://www.zerotolerance.yolasite.com

Goal is to promote drug awareness and education to the Muslim
community.

Aim is to do this by accessing or creating own resources that are
Islamically appropriate. Vision is to create awareness on this taboo
problem and by doing so hopefully the community can get past the denial
stage and actually start taking action and fighting back in this war on drugs.

Currently working towards promoting drug and alcohol awareness and
education for Muslims.

This program works to empower Muslims and helps them recover and
remain away from addiction.
Who’s doing What in Victoria?

ICV – http://www.icv.org.au

Soup Kitchen Project (provision of halal food)

Prison Chaplaincy Program (Aust Muslim population is
less than 2%, but Aust Muslim population in jail is 7%)

No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS)
Challenges

Stigma?

Most centred around tax-exempt religious and charitable services, however not centralised
or coordinated.

Opportunity for positive engagement with the wider community.

Understanding the community (relational vs transactional).

Funding and long terms strategy.

It is difficult for faith-based organisations to avoid becoming social service providers.

For Muslims essentially religion is about providing support to those that need it.

Muslims may not have the confidence to go to a Church-based welfare based organisation so
they will come to the Mosque even if they are not 100% sure they will get support.

As a community (like all communities) Muslim have evolved. 30 years ago all we could think
of was prayer houses and schools (the first social support institution that most communities
begin with).

Embryonic services – growing.
Conclusion and Next Steps

The need for further research

Continue discovering and articulating the
distinctives

Building upon our strengths