1) Contents p1 2) Background: Flagship p2-3 3) #THP2014: Project Outline p4-5 4) #THP2014: Issues at hand p6 5) #THP2014: Islamic outlook p7-8 6)

Transcription

1 THE HUMANITARIAN PROJECT: REPURPOSING WASTE MSA MANUAL 15 tth -21 stt September 2014

2 1) Contents 1) Contents p1 2) Background: Flagship p2-3 3) #THP2014: Project Outline p4-5 4) #THP2014: Issues at hand p6 5) #THP2014: Islamic outlook p7-8 6) #THP2014: Logistics p9-11 7) #THP2014: Communication p ) #THP2014: Glossary p14 9) #THP2014: Upcycling Ideas p ) #THP2014: End Thought p18 1

3 Background to the Flagship Project About the MSA Union 2) Background : Flagship The MSA Union of South Africa is a student body comprising of all Muslim Student Associations at universities and other tertiary institutes within South Africa. The MSA union also has supporting representatives in divisions in other organisations as well as schools in the country. The MSA aims to assist in developing students into leaders that serve the broader society. We aim to advocate for social, political and economic justice through facilitating campaigns, social projects and humanitarian initiatives. In contributing to the development of South Africa and the Ummah, the MSA Union is committed to building the desired Muslim generation in a balanced Islamic paradigm, by establishing and sustaining active Islamic work in all spheres, through exemplary student leadership. We serve as a voice of Muslim students on national and international issues. Our vision is Advancing Project Islam by representing, networking and developing Muslim youth in South Africa. How did the flagship project start? Ramadan Humanitarian Project was the first flagship project in South Africa. Nine years ago, the MSA, together with SANZAF, identified several needs of South African Muslim students that needed to be addressed the most prominent being to create unity amongst Muslim students. Thus, the Ramadaan Humanitarian Project (RHP) was born. In 2012 Project Iqra was started, which had an educational focus but was not continued due to the items, per pack, being too few and too expensive. Last year a sustainable approach was developed where a closer look at the contents of the boxes were done and more sustainable items were included. A tree planting campaign in the communities was arranged as a follow-up in conjunction with Green Deen SA (an initiative of MSA Union) in order to include an environmental aspect to the project. 2

4 2) Background : Flagship A shift in focus was then made closer to the launch of the 2013 project. The new proposed flagship project, an innovative project that does not encourage dependency and is not fundraising-centric was started. All was done ensuring that the project is Zakaah compliant and will continue to run in this way for the future years. 3

5 3) #THP2014 : Project Outline The Humanitarian Project 2014:Repurposing Aims and objectives Waste This project aims to create sustainable entrepreneurship within communities, while encouraging mass student involvement and social development of our youth. Description of The Humanitarian Project 2014 The national Muslim Student's Associations Union and its initiative Green Deen South Africa, in conjunction with SANZAF, are pleased to announce the national flagship week that will be taking place from the September 2014 (coinciding with South Africa's National Waste Week). The project is aimed at creating mass student involvement while educating and empowering both students and disadvantaged communities to turn waste into wealth. 4

6 3) #THP2014 : Project Outline The project will achieve its aim in the following ways: 1. Educating students and disadvantaged community members on waste and how it can be turned into wealth. 2. Collecting of 'waste' products that include good, pre-owned clothing items and materials like electronic waste, old cellphones, paper, glass and cans. Materials to be collected will be decided by campus MSAs. 3. Involving the students and disadvantaged community members, on campus, in the collection, repurposing and redistribution of waste. 4. Taking the waste collected and letting it enter: a. The second-hand clothing industry through SANZAF b. Selling/giving waste collected to recycling stations in your community. Funds generated will be reinvested into the THP project. We will also look into hosting a workshop within these communities to provide individuals with good entrepreneurial skills. 5

7 4) #THP2014 : Issues at Hand A society in need of empowerment South Africans are well aware of the economical and social challenges facing our societies. A combination of present and past social, economical and political issues are preventing many of us from escaping the "poverty trap". Awareness must be focussed on educating and empowering our citizens to be self-sufficient shapers of our communities, instead of relying on a continuous handout charity system. A war on waste... South Africa s population and use of resources has increased drastically over the last decade with serious consequences for our waste management. We generate more than 108 million tonnes of waste a year (over kg) - with only 10% of that being recycled. From hazardous chemical waste to compostable kitchen waste, our present habits and infrastructure practices are filling up limited landfill space with dangerous waste too quickly. Our government has mandated waste management as one of the critical areas it needs to address in terms of service delivery and sustainability. We are producing too much waste, we are recycling too little and reusing even less. Livelihoods from 'waste'? Is it possible to take what we often regard as "waste" and turn into wealth? Take what is often discarded and repurpose it to be something useful which can generate income and sustain livelihoods? Yes we can! Welcome to the MSA Union's and Green Deen South Africa's: The Humanitarian Project : Repurposing waste. 6

8 5) #THP2014:Islamic Outlook Our livelihoods are all from Allah SWT One of the main aspects that Islam teaches is that whatever we own and earn on this planet is from Allah SWT. "And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register." Qur'an [11:6] Allah SWT reminds us in the Qur'an that he has established us on the this earth and made for us our living. He admonishes us for being ungrateful. "And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful." Qur'an [7:10] Be Charitable Indeed, in Islam, being charitable is an act of worship, an act rewarded. Helping one's fellow humans is a deed cherished. Allah SWT also warns us of being miserly over and over again, e.g. in Surah Yaseen He tells us: "And when it is said to them, "Spend from that which Allah has provided for you," those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Should we feed one whom, if Allah had willed, He would have fed? You are not but in clear error." Qur'an [36:47] Empower with your charity! Hereunder follows a story where the Prophet Muhammad SAW helped empower a man who was in difficult times into earning his own living. Anas ibn-malek (RA) narrated, A man from the Ansar came to ask the Prophet (SAWS) for charity. The Prophet asked about what he has at home, and the man said that he has some fabric which they use to wear sometimes and other times to sit on. The Prophet instructed him to bring it over. Then he 7

9 5) #THP2014:Islamic Outlook asked if any of his companions would like to purchase the fabric. A man offered to buy it for one Dirham. The Prophet asked for a higher price, until a man offered two Dirhams for it. The Prophet took the money and gave it to the poor man. The Prophet told him to buy food for his family with one Dirham and to use the other to buy and axe-head and bring it back to him. The Prophet then tied a hand to the axe-head and asked the man to use it in cutting wood, then selling it. And so the man went to cut wood and began to sell it. He collected ten Dirhams which he used for food and clothes. The Prophet (SAWS) said to the man, This is better than asking for charity which you will be asked about on the Day of Judgment. Asking charity is permissible for only three cases; extreme poverty, paying off a large fine, or for paying blood-money in case of killing someone by mistake." [Abu-Dawood, Hadith no and ibn-majah, Hadith no. 2198] [ Waste and clean up: What is great about repurposing waste into livelihoods is that another means of reward can be obtained. Allah (SWT) warns us in the Qur'an that he does not love the wasters. "O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah does not love the wasters." Qur'an [7:31] Furthermore, cleaning up waste and respecting the beautiful creations of Allah SWT is considered an act of reward. "Removing harmful things from the road is an act of charity (sadaqah)." [Bukhari, Hadith no 2989; Ibn Majah, Hadith no. 3683] [ 8

10 6) #THP2014 : Logistics Deciding on the Logistics ***MASS INVOLVEMENT OF STUDENTS IS NEEDED COLLECTION & SORTING - Clothes & waste - On campus and selected collection points ***EDUCATION "Waste is wealth" WASTE SOLD TO BUYBACK RECYCLING CENTRES - Money reinvested into THP project OR WASTE GIVEN IN FOR RECYLING - Waste contributing to the waste industry+jobs UPCYCLING AND SHOWCASING ON CAMPUSES - Upcycling workshops can be done by campus MSAs or with the help of external companies FED INTO SMALLHOLDER BUSINESSES - Clothing to SANZAF - Suitable waste sent to upcycling companies 1) Collecting clothes: 1. When will clothes be collected? i.e. from how long before the week and which days during the week 2. Where will the clothes be collected from? Consider 'safe' places before the week, like in your jamaat khana, in an office or nearby masjid. During the week, boxes need to be visibly placed where you are hosting your events. 3. Sorting of clothing during the week according to (?). 4. Transportation - who will be responsible for putting out the boxes, collecting them and returning them to SANZAF. 9

11 2) Collecting waste: 1. Identify your nearest recycling station. The easiest way is to visit and search by location. What you need to be ask of your recycling centre is: a. Whether they are a 'BuyBack' centre i.e. will they pay you for your waste or will they just take it from you for recycling (still good )? b. Will they help assist with transportation of material off campus or do you have do to it. 2. Decide on what waste you would like to collect based on what your recycling centre recycles, what you can collect and what students will like want to bring to campus. E.g. electronic waste, cellphones, paper, cardboard, glass 3. Same as (1) above 4. Same as (2) above. 5. Transportation - who will be responsible for putting out the boxes, collecting them and returning them. 3) Upcycling on campus 6) #THP2014 : Logistics 1. Will your campus be able to host their own workshop (needs just a bit of creativity) or will you contact a potential upcycling company in your area to demonstrate? The company will be best if they have a community upliftment component. 2. Decide on two or three, simple projects. Make sure that enough waste is available for the students/community members. 3. Encourage student involvement from beforehand. Turn it potentially into a competition session. 10

12 6) #THP2014 : Logistics Themes The themes below can help campuses structure their weeks - national social media will follow these themes. Obviously, what works for campuses is what is best. Day Theme Suggested activities Monday - Reuse Clothing collection Tuesday - Reduce &Recycle Consumerism education, Waste collections Wednesd ay - Upcycle Upcyling education to students, competitions on campus Thursday - Empowerment & Entrepreneurship Engage with communities involved, Video screenings Friday - Educate Friday Jumuah lecture Weekend - Hike to a dumpsite/landfill/township fleamarket (may be dangerous) Resources that will be available from Union 1 - Electronic: We will keep on sending through resources and links 2 - Electronic: Video clips 3 - Electronic: A Waste-Livelihood Friday lecutre 4 - Physical: Promotional Posters 5 - Physical: Boxes 11

13 7) #THP2014 : Communication Media 1. Make sure your campus advertises well before for waste and clothing collection 2. Interact via , Facebook and twitter with both Green Deen and MSA Union Entity MSA Union MSA Union THP Green Deen Main Website a/ union@msa.org. humanitarianproject@msa.org. greendeen@msa.org.za za za Facebo ok MSA Union The Humanitarian Project Green Deen Campaign South Africa Feedback 1. Take creative photos. , tweet and facebook them. 2. Great to give feedback to students during the week of what last year's THP achieved. 3. If disadvantage community members whom the clothes and waste will be benefitting can be hosted on campus to interact with students, it will be great. 4. An article writeup on your campus event will be published on the MSA Union website and the Green Deen website 12

14 7) #THP2014 : Communication Reps and contact details Please do make sure that your campus chairs and representatives are in contact with your regional reps. Representative Name Phone (and Whatsapp) Cape Region Nasreen Hamdulay nasreen.hamdulay@gmail.com KwaZulu Natal Ilhaam Hoosen Ilhaam08@gmail.com Region Central Region Fatima Ragie fhragie@gmail.com National General Secretary Raeesa Ghoor raeesaghoor@gmail.com

15 reuse re-yooz verb 8) #THP2014 : Glossary Some useful terminology... - To use an item more than once for the same purpose, which helps save money, time, energy and resources. reduce re-dyooz verb - act of purchasing or consuming less to begin with, so as not to have to reuse or recycle later. recycle re-sahy-kuhl verb - To break waste items down into their raw materials, which are then used to re-make the original item or make new items. upcycle uhp-sahy-kuhl verb - To reuse and transform discarded objects and material in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original. empower em-pou-er verb - To give power to someone by equipping them with resources, skills and knowledge that will enable them to develop and progress in their own right. educate ej-oo-keyt verb - To transfer knowledge and skills to person through teaching and instruction entrepreneur ahn-truh-pruh-nur noun - a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. livelihood lahyv-lee-hood noun - the capabilities, assets (including both material and social resources) and activities (financial, agricultural or harvesing) needed to support one's existence waste weyst verb - Items that are unused, unproductive, or not properly utilized. Often mindlessly discarded of. 14

16 9) #THP2014 : Upcycling Ideas *Please visit greendeen.msa.org.za, we will be uploading some cool upcycling ideas there. Or don't hesitate to us your ideas! 15

17 9) #THP2014 : Upcycling Ideas *Please visit greendeen.msa.org.za, we will be uploading some cool upcycling ideas there. Or don't hesitate to us your ideas! 16

18 9) #THP2014 : Upcycling Ideas *Please visit greendeen.msa.org.za, we will be uploading some cool upcycling ideas there. Or don't hesitate to us your ideas! 17

19 10) End thought "Whatever you may be doing, and whatever portion you may be reciting from the Quran, - and whatever deed you (mankind) may be doing (good or evil), We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it. And nothing is hidden from your Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom (or small ant) on the earth or in the heaven. Not what is less than that or what is greater than that but is (written) in a Clear Register" [Qur'an, 10:61] 18