This was a great opportunity for parents to accompany their six and upward/ young teens to experience an afternoon of creative self expression in the form of Pebble Art.
An extremely well planned event allowing young hands to explore the offerings of nature. Shells, large/small pebbles, twigs and paints were provided for these young minds to create their unique art works. Once assembled and glued they were framed.
Expert supervision and guidance was provided by the teachers. An extremely well thought out creative space catering for the younger years by providing height appropriate tables.
This was a lovely opportunity for parents and kids to bond in a joint activity. Also allowing parents to connect or reconnect with other parents.
Thank you KMWA Volunteers for providing such a well planned and wonderful opportunity within the walls of our blessed Masjid.
I really enjoyed the story of Ibrahim (AS) when he destroyed the idols because of the way they he (AS) got the elders and the leaders of the community to their logic to the problem presented to them to question why they are committed to worshipping something that wouldn’t benefit them.
Q What is your role as a trustee?
I am the Chairman of KMWA
Q What have you been most passionate about within KMWA?
I am most passionate about the work done to get the mosque build to this stage, all the way from inception to the current state. I am also glad I was involved with establishing a successful sisters circle at the mosque.
Q What is your 5 year Vision for the Gillingham community?
I see in 5 years that we would have a fully united community, and be able to fully support and welcome every nationality into the fold of the mosque. I am also working towards developing a number of Hafiz from within the Gillingham madrassa within 5 years.
Q Where can KMWA improve in supporting the community?
One of the many questions that we receive, is how has the donations been used so far and what has the money been spent on. Sometimes this is from new members to the community or members who can’t regularly attend the mosque. This information has been widely published and distributed, it is also displayed on the Mosque notice board as well. For new and old members that don’t know the history we have decided to do a series, of articles over the next few months, on the build to date.
Kent Muslim Welfare Association was formed in the early – mid 1970s and its primary purpose was to provide worship for the Muslim community of Kent. The members of the organisation acquired an old Irish drinking club in the 1970’s and renovated it to form the Mosque, which we still use today. It has been expanded and renovated over the years to utilize all the existing land space and we have now reached a point where we cannot expand the Mosque anymore.
The Board of Trustees had continually approached the local authorities, requesting relative improvement in the provision of facilities to cater for their social and cultural needs.
A report was commissioned by the late Syed Ikram Ali, which explored the possibility of expanding the existing Masjid or moving, the conclusion was that we had to move and that the building could not be expanded. The council would not for example allow us to build another floor on top.
The first presentation was to the Kent County Council Commissioners for Social Services on 27 September 1994 at the current Mosque. The plan was accepted and referred to the Finance and Scrutiny Committee. The Finance and Scrutiny Committee approved the proposal on 22 October 1995 and the Commissioners gave their final approval. They also allocated emergency funds for hiring an additional premise to supplement the deficient facility while search for a suitable site/building continued. The case had been put to the Mayor and any other dignitaries but this had little impact.
It was the late Ali Sahib that spearheaded this plan. Although it proved unfruitful in the end, it was pivotal in starting the motions and conversations that KMWA needed to have.
In the year 2000 the Medway Council became proactive and the search for an appropriate site/building was vigorously resumed. It remained on the agenda of monthly meetings of the Community Cohesion Committee headed by the Chief Executive of the Council. KMWA served as a full member on the committee.
We have had a busy month where we have hosted Kuwati embassy officials, reached out to the community, helped organise a careers event, continued with our usual and volunteer services. Been part of the film ‘We are Med¬way’ showcased in Rochester. Started preparing the New Masjid site for ground works in preparation for building the framework as well as dealing with unexpected storm damage.
We are gearing up for Ramadan and our target is to raise £100,000.00 during this month to take us a step closer to raising enough money to start the next phase of building.
Many people do not realise the extent of the building work carried out so far.
Our aim is to encourage and motivate people by arranging guided tours of the New Masjid site between 10.00am and 12.00pm every Friday in Ramadan. This will give an idea as to what the scale of the building will be. We hope that people will be motivated and encouraged by this.
