national muslim youth summitMentorship Program PROSPECTUS

Many young Muslims raised in Australia find themselves feeling underrepresented and without a voice. Young Muslims are lacking accurate and

diverse representation and a constantly omitted from issues concerning their community. Some suggest

that this is due to a lack of a platform where they can share their opinions and engage with others to

address the issues they are facing.

The National Muslim Youth Summit (NMYS) is a biennial summit for Muslim youth that facilitates and

addresses this need. By engaging youth in robust discussions on cultural, socio-political and religious viewpoints in conjunction with the challenges facing

them in the current social climate; the Summit provides an opportunity for young Muslim leaders to

network and meet other socially and religiously active and successful Muslim youth from around Australia. It serves as a platform for open dialogue, gathering opinions on different topics for future projects and

programs. From the NMYS attendees, a committee was formed to transform these concepts into tangible

initiatives.

National MuslimYouth

Summit Initiative

VisionTo become a representative platform for all Australian Muslim youth

MissionNMYS Committee aims to empower Australian Muslim youth by conveying their voice and providing opportunities for growth in faith, professional development and community service. Values1. Sincerity – in intention and action2. Service – to God, humanity and environment 3. Excellence – in practices and outcomes4. Balance – in self, life and organisation5. Consultation – with all stakeholders

ObjectiveOrganise the NMYS Summit bieniallyPrepare a NMYS Report based on the outcomes and suggestions of the SummitExecute and expand suggestions of the Report through initiatives and projectsDevelop the NMYS as a consulting platform for Australian Muslim youthInspire and cultivate a generation of young Muslims by supporting their spiritual, intellectual and social developmentMaintain and grow the NMYS Committee

Sydney, 2018The 2018 NMYS was held in Sydney for young Muslims to share their perspectives on a range of contemporary issues surrounding the notion of leadership in the wider Australian Muslim community. Approximately 150 Muslim youth, aged 15- 30 years old, attended and included men and women from culturally diverse backgrounds from all states of Australia. Topics that were discussed included professional leadership in the workplace, gender issues in leadership, political participation and leadership, Muslim community leadership, leadership opportunities for youth and the transition of leadership from the older generation to the new generation.

Canberra, 2016The 2016 NMYS was held in Canberra and attended by approximately 150 Muslim youth delegates from almost every state in Australia. Extremism, religious discrimination, social exclusion, unemployment, drugs and alcohol abuse and mental health were amongst topics discussed. The Summit included prominent speakers from the Muslim community including: long-term youth worker Shaykh Wesam Charkawi, leading Muslim youth activist and author Yassmin Abdel-Magied and author, activist and academic Mehal Krayem.

NMYS 2018 Report and FindingsOn Saturday 6th of April 2019, the National Muslim Youth Summit Committee (NMYS) launched the 2018-2020 report which was a compilation of the findings from the 2018 Summit.

Some Report Findings

• Disconnect between the standing leaders and younger generations.• A lack of support and opportunities from older generations.• A need to focus on empowering youth from a young age.• Youth perceive themselves as the ‘other’, regardless of whether they are in truth perceived as such by the broader

Australian community.• Psychological barriers to taking initiative and actively participating. Such psychological barriers include: young age,

inexperience or lack of long-term vision.

• Youth should be willing to take up opportunities to engage with their colleagues in a positive manner.

Addressing the Report Findings The NMYS Mentorship Program

OutlineThe NMYS Mentorship Program aims to connect Muslim youth with Muslim professionals in their respective fields of study. The Report has demonstrated that as the Muslim community grows, a process of intergenerational learning must take place between current Muslim youth and already established Muslim professionals. This is to ensure that the upcoming generation can learn how to successfully navigate their professional careers as Muslims.

Vision: To provide a platform for Muslim youth to connect with Muslim professionals and to gain exposure in their field of interest.

Mission: The NMYS Mentorship Program is tailored to aspiring young professionals, allowing them to enhance their skills whilst maintaining their Muslim identity.

Mentorship ProgramLayout and OverviewMENTOR TRAINING Providing mentoring skills to effectively undertake the mentorship program. Introduction to a framework to be used with mentees that is guided by Islamic values.

Introduction Workshops Mentorship ceremony

MENTORS: introduced to mentees at a kick-off night

MENTEES: interviewed, selected, and introduced to mentors at a kick-off night

MENTORS: attend a workshop on effective

mentorship and provided with useful resources

MENTEES:• Workshop on being an

effective mentee• Multiple workshops on

topics of relevance for mentees (e.g. leadership,

communication)

MENTORS: provide mentorship to mentees over the course of four months

in early 2020

MENTEES: engage in mentorship program and

are mentored for four months

THE FIRST part will consist of mentor training.

MENTEES: attend final ceremony and provide

feedback on the program

Outcomes for Mentors and MenteesProgram Outcomes:

Mentor Outcomes • A strong application of professional leadership in the context of working with an aspiring young professional in your field. • Development of new skills as a mentor with effective goal setting and implementation strategies. • Network with other Muslim professionals and increase one’s network pool.• Personal insight into the upcoming generations’ Australian Muslim experience as well as insights into how youth perceive and un-

derstand your profession. • Opportunity to partake in intergenerational learning by passing on the valuable lessons you have acquired as a Muslim in your re-

spective profession. • Recognition for ‘giving back’ to the Muslim community by being an integral part of the process which aids in the development of

the next generation of Muslim professionals.

Mentee Outcomes• Mentees will develop personal relationships with professionals in their area of interest.• Engage in a mentoring relationship that offers first-hand experience in how practice, growth, and success looks like.• Insight and guidance on how to successfully and practically navigate the profession as a Muslim. • Opportunity to network with both Muslim professionals from various industries and like-minded mentees from various backgrounds

and career interests.• Provision of a certificate that recognises the program participation.

“The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.” (Daraqutni)

National Muslim Youth Summit‘Nothing for us, without us’Thank you for your support