SOME OF NAZLIN’S INITIATED INCOME GENERATING COMMUNITY BASED PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION, RUN BY GRASS-ROOTS MEMBERS AND BENEFICIARIES ARE, TO NAME A FEW:
Informal schooling, career guidance, sewing, carpentry, car-wash, fishing, small-scale farming, large scale irrigation of semi-arid lands and farming, bore hole drilling for clean water supply for communities, local security vigilance with the community policing of the government, cattle rearing, chicken and egg rearing, soap recycling and production, catering, kiosks, public-phones (simu ya jamii), Toilet renovation and maintenance, goat-keeping, bee-keeping and honey collection, nursery schools, madrassas, tailoring, posho mills, irrigation schemes, faming, bore-holes, cattle and chicken rearing and sale of milk and eggs, orphan centers and fostering into local families of HIV positive abandoned children and other orphans or abandoned children, orphan feeding and education programmes-even partnering with churches, mosques and temples who have such availability of resources, setting up of and access to VCT sites, merry-go-rounds, secondary-school education fees, books and uniform provision for the entire four year secondary education for brilliant children from impoverished families, micro finance, home care for orphans and PLWHA’s, counseling, anti-drug campaigns, assisting women sex-workers to gain and alternate livelihood, formation of anti- human trafficking task forces, formation of anti-drug abuse task forces and other activities scattered throughout Kenya. Through her initiative’s and projects, beneficiaries of the same whom Nazlin has trained and built the capacity of are now beneficiaries of direct funding to their community based organization from donors which are owned by the local grassroots people throughout the nation.
FOUNDING THE NMCK/NUR: ONE OF HER SENSATIONAL HISTORICAL GROUNDBREAKING ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS THAT SHE FOUNDED THE MAMOTH NATIONAL MUSLIM COUNCIL OF KENYA (NMCK) & ITS WOMEN’S WING- THE NUR- THE ONLY NATIONWIDE GRASSROOTS REPRESENTATIVE UMBRELLA BODY THAT IS REPRESENTED FROM THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO THE VERY GRASSROOTS LEVELS IN THE NATION (INDEED SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA), THROUGH ELECTED LEADERSHIP RESTRICTED TO WOMEN ONLY BUT WITH ADVISORY COUNCILS OF TOPMOST RELIGIOUS LEADERS, IMAMS AND KADHIS AS ADVISORS AND SUPPORTERS TO THE WOMEN’S WING AT ALL LEVELS. NMCK’S FREE MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN FOR INDIVIDUAL MEN AND WOMEN, PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS AND OR DISABILITY AS SPECIAL MEMEBERS BOTH MUSLIM AND NON-MUSLIM, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, NGO’S AND OTHER ORGANS. THIS IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL ELSEWHERE IN THIS WEBSITE.
NMCK is the National Muslim voice that is committed to the promotion of human dignity, equity, justice and Islamic values as a strategy of addressing zero tolerance to corruption, HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, enhancement of the rights of women, youth, social development, other human rights, anti-corruption, fight the vice of in Kenya, social Justice, promotion of peace, democracy, a people driven constitutional dispensation in Kenya, good governance and Islamic affairs. The NMCK is not only represented in all the provinces, expanding with elected office bearers throughout the countries in all the counties and on a constant rapid expansion course in its affiliations and grassroots mobilization through-out Kenya at the location levels and in villages, but is the largest grassroots representative Muslim body of its kind in Sub Saharan Africa.
The women individual leaders and self-help groups jointly form local networks and raise funds in monetary or material form to start local IGA’s to which they become immediate beneficiaries in the struggle against poverty, while raising families living standards and providing women with leadership and status in involvement with local and national agenda. The NMCK has also brought women together within local communities who then partner with men through religious leaders, towards positive policy change and implementation, community development and lifestyle enhancement.
The strength of her NMCK network also lies in that it does not take any membership fee from members, but localizes contributions at grass root levels, bringing women, youth and other citizens together through formation as community based organizations and self-help groups, leaders and individuals together to address local needs and interests including poverty reduction issues and start local income generating activities where the contributors to the IGA with support from Nazlin Umar, elect and form leaders and their committees and become immediate beneficiaries thus reducing poverty levels at the grassroots, improving family living standards, empowering the very grassroots with information, tools and access to other partners, initiatives and government programmers and hospitals, reducing crime amongst the youth as it provides an income, enhances inter-tribal affiliations, harmony and fusion and links them with representation into and beneficiaries of the local CDF, LATF and other government initiatives whilst creating formidable and powerful grassroots networks throughout the republic.
NAZLIN JOINTLY CONDUCTED A SURVEY AMONGST SEX-WORKERS IN MOMBASA JOINTLY WITH AN INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION AND INITIATED INCOME –GENERATING ACTIVITIES FOR THE SEX WORKERS TO ASSIST THEM TO LIVE DIGNIFIED LIVES, PROVIDED COUNCELING AND GROUP THERAPY PROGRAMMES INCLUDING INVOLING THEM IN HER TRAINING ON HIV/AIDS AND ITS RELATED STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS IN KENYA.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN KENYA: NAZLIN SPEARHEADED ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS, CONDUCTED A NATIONWIDE MEDIA ADVOCACY AND SENSITIZATION PROGRAMME AND TRAINING FOR GRASS-ROOTS LEADERS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEX WORKERS BASED ON A SURVEY SHE CONDUCTED ON THE VICE , IMPACT AND MITIGATION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN KENYA AND REGIONALLY
BESIDES HER WORKSHOPS TO SENSITISE AND TRAIN LEADERS AND VULNERABLE GROUPS ON THE VICE, AS DETIALED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROFILE, NAZLIN LED THE CRUSADE FOR ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKNING OF PERSONS IN KENYA AND HELD SEVERAL RADIO TALK SHOWS AND WAS INVITED ON SEVERAL NATIONAL TELEVISION TALKSHOWS TO DISCUSS THE VICE IN DETAIL AND SENSITIZE THE NATION. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNEMTNTHROUGH THE US EMBASSY IN NAIOROBI’S ANTI- HUMAN TRAFFICKNING DEPARTMENT RECOGNISED NAZLINS WORK IN PIONEERING THE ISSUUE AND THE WORK SHE DID ON THE SAME THROUGH A LETTER TO CONGRATULATE HER AND PROMISE TO FINANCE HER PROJECTS ON THE SAME.
NAZLIN CONDUCTED A SURVEY AND TRAINING FOR LEADERS ON THE VICE OF MALE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND MOLESATAION AND DRUG- ABUSE IN THE COASTAL REGION WITH A FOCUS ON LAMU AND FORMED TASK FORCES ON SEXUAL ABUISE AGAINST THE BOY-CHILD AND ANTI- DRUG ABUSE.
NAZLIN CONDUCTED THE 1ST MUSLIM WOMEN NEEDS ANALYSIS SURVEY IN KENYA AND HIGHLIGHTED ISSUES OF ALL MUSLIM WOMEN THE WORLD OVER AS THEY ARE VERY SIMILAR IF NOT THE SAME AND WAS LAUNCHED WORDWIDE IN A LAUNCH BY THE VICE PRESIDENT HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MOODY AWORI, THE AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM BELLAMY, THE USAID HEALTH AND POPULATION CHIEF FOR AFRICA JANET PAZ CASTILLO AND THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR OF THE POLICY PROJECT FURTURES GROUP ANGELINE SIPARO;
Nazlin sourced for and received support to conduct a ground breaking National needs analysis survey report of the situation of Muslim women in Kenya who number an approximate 6 million. This survey report was launched by USAID, the United States Ambassador to Kenya and the Vice President of the republic of Kenya in April 2005 during the national Launch of NMCK and its popular ‘breaking the silence behind the veil’ project in Kenya and was submitted to all relevant organs including the judiciary and the Office of the then President His Excellency Hon. Mwai Kibaki to the office of the president to the office of the vice president his excellency Hon Moody Awori, the government of the United states of America through the Ambassador His Excellency William Bellamy, to USAID-PEPFAR through the health and population chief Janet Paz Castillo, the Policy project through the Country director Angeline Siparo. All these speeches and who else was present. the launch, the decrees and resolutions of the Islamic clerics, Kadhis, women leaders and excerpts of the survey were published in the Sunday Nation on two pages in a paid for advert on the 1st of May 2005.
ON EDUCATION:
Nazlin financed and as guest of honor upon invitation, a mammoth Youth education 3 day rally for the entire coastal islands schools from Pate, Faza, Lamu held in SIYU, PATE island for all students and teachers from all the schools who were ferried to Siyu and which celebrated and gifted the leading students in various academia, sports and social areas, funded by Nazlin Umar, 2004. Discussion/sensitization pointes were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, child abuse and pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the lack of income generation on the islands which caused mass……..of the youthful men to seek job opportunities in the cities leaving behind children, women and the aged parents, the Muslim and other communities’ challenges to HIV/AIDS and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses.
Nazlin had also been elected in absentia and ran the mantle as Chairperson of the Square Gold Education Trust fund, a non-profit making national NGO that provides free education and full costs to needy but highly intelligent children through-out the four year term of secondary school education in Kenya. The project was launched at the New Stanley Hotel in Nairobi by the former minister of Higher education, the Hon. Mwiria.
THE BIRTH OF THE “NUR”. THE ONLY NATIONAL MUSLIM WOMENS NETWORK IN KENYA- NAZLIN THEN MOBILIZED KEY WOMEN LEADERS THROUGH-OUT THE NATION TO DISCUSS THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY AND TO INJECT THEIR EXPERTISE AS LEADERS ON THE GROUND. THE FORUM WAS TITLED, THE FIRST MUSLIM WOMEN LEADERS FORUM AND HELD AT KILIMAMBOGO IN THIKA, FEBRUARY 2004 AND THE ONLY NATIONAL NETWORK OF MUSLIM WOMEN IN KENYA, THE NUR WAS BORN; Other discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership. The NUR women’s network in Kenya was formed and launched at this novelle meeting, the women naming it the NUR which were Nazlin’s Umar Rajput’s acronyms and also mean a powerful heavenly light. The women made historical recommendations and resolutions which were forwarded to the president and in which Muslim women held a public procession in the streets of Nairobi, heavily captured by the press and served the president with a copy of their resolutions.
NAZLIN HELD TWO FIRST TIME EVER NATIONAL CONSULTATIONS WITH TOPMOST RESPECTED ISLAMIC SCHOLARS AND ALL THE KADHI’S (ISLAMIC JUDICIAL OFFICERS FROM THE KADHI’S COURTS) TO FORGE THE WAY FORWARD, JUNE – JULY 2004, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE HON EVANS GICHERU, HEAD OF THE JUDICIARY; BASED ON THE FIRST TIME EVER NEEDS ANALYSIS SURVEY FINDINGS AND THE RESOLUTIION AND DECLARATIONS OF THE MUSLIM WOMEN LEADERS, WHILE INVOKING THE ISLAMIC SHARI’AH TOWARDS ENHANCEMENT OF MUSLIM WOMEN’S RIGHTS, THE PROJECT PARTNERED WITH THE JUDICIARY OF KENYA, AND THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE (THE FORMER, HON EVANS GICHERU), These two ground-breaking forums brought together for the first time in East African history topmost Islamic scholars in the country for a three day meeting and then joined by all the Kadhi’s through the Judiciary of Kenya, on the fourth day and who then continued for another three days and who made wonderful declarations and Fatwa(Islamic decrees),at the Senate Hotel, Thika; discussion/sensitization pointes were the report of the needs analysis survey on the status of women in the country vis-à-vis Islamic rights and their violations, the report and recommendations of the 1srt Muslim women leaders forum in Kenya held at Kilimambogo, Thika in February 2004, the development of a comparative reference book and study of 22 Muslim country Islamic family Laws for Kenyan Kadhis courts and the Kenyan legal fraternity on the Shari’ah Law and the rights of Muslim women in family matters and personal Laws, “The Islamic Shari’ah and the rights of Women, volume I. Marriage and divorce: A comparative reference and application of the Shari’ah law worldwide.”. One of the historic resolutions passed was the need to develop such a book. Nazlin was endorsed and appointed by all the Kadhis in Kenya to research and author this book, HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, VCT for couples before marriage, VCT set –ups in Mosques, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies. Nazlins also presented her paper before the Islamic clerics and Kadhis of Kenya- Islamic HIV/AIDS hand book, sourced with authorities from the Holy Qur’an and the Hadith which form the basis of the Shari’ah on every aspect of HIV and AIDS– “The Islamic exposition into Gender, Sexuality and the AIDS scourge: Islam’s strategies and the Global Muslim community’s challenges in response to the AIDS pandemic.”
These ground beaking resolutions and Islamic decrees( fatwa) can be found at nazlinumar.blogspot.com, nazlinumar youtube and facebook group nazlinumar and elsewhere in this website.
These were launched through support by USAID, the United States Ambassador to Kenya and the Vice President of the republic of Kenya in April 2005 during the national Launch of NMCK and its popular ‘breaking the silence behind the veil’ project in Kenya and was submitted to all relevant organs including the judiciary and the Office of the then President His Excellency Hon. Mwai Kibaki to the office of the president to the office of the vice president his excellency Hon Moody Awori, the government of the United states of America through the Ambassador His Excellency William Bellamy, to USAID-PEPFAR through the health and population chief Janet Paz Castillo, the Policy project through the Country director Angeline Siparo. (Annexed at the end of this profile are the speeches of the said leaders and Nazlin, which can also be found on her blog) Details of her famed ‘BREAKING THE SILENCE –BEHIND THE VEIL’ project are as follows;
ON HIV/AIDS:
NAZLIN HAS BEEN THE ONLY NATIONAL LEADER TO TAKE PUBLIC VCT TESTING TO FIGHT ITS RELATED STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE PRESENCE OF AND FULL OPEN GLARE OF MEDIA CAMERAS AND THE PUBLIC ON THREE OCCASIONS, NAMELY;
a. Jinja, Uganda which caused sensation in the Ugandan media and caused headlines in the country where after Nazlin was invited on two top-talk shows and profiled her roles in fighting HIV and its related stigma and discrimination, the year 2010.
b. In Kenya, Changamwe Bomu clinic in the company of over a hundred PLWHA and other coastal leaders and the villagers in 2007 after the conclusion of one of her grass-roots training on the vice and its related stigma and discrimination held at Bomu primry school during school holidays, with a target of bringing trainings out of expensive workshops and into the locality and heart of the people.
c. In Kenya, at the Kenyatta international conference center after the World AIDS day events concluded in 2010
NAZLIN IS ALSO THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE HISTORICAL GROUND-BREAKING SENSATIONAL “BEHIND THE VEIL PROJECT”, WHICH WORKS TOWARD HIV/AIDS STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION REDUCTION WITHIN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN KENYA FUNDED BY USAID – POLICY PROJECT/FUTURES GROUP INTERNATIONAL.
NAZLIN’S ‘BEHIND THE VEIL’ PROJECT’S STRATEGIC PLANS AND POLICIES RELATE WITH ALL THE EXTENSIVE ISLAMIC PROVISIONS, MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS, DONOR PARTNERS GOALS AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES AND THE GOALS OF THE GOK IN PREVENTION OF NEW INFECTIONS; PROTECTION, IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND ACCESSING CARE AND TREATMENT FOR THOSE INFECTED; MITIGATION OF SOCIO – ECONOMIC IMPACT; HALTING AND REVERSING THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS AND REDUCING THE RISK OF HIV INFECTION WHILE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF OVC’S, GENDER DISPARITIES, WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND VULNERABILITIES, PROSTITUTION, CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD PREGNANCIES, DRUG ABUSE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THE MUSLIM AND OTHER COMMUNITIES CHALLENGES AND ISLAM’S STRATEGIES – THE IDEAL RESPONSES, MONITORING AND EVALUATION, STRENGTHENING GRASSROOTS NETWORKS, DATA COLLECTION, HOME BASED CARE AND SUPPORT AND WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP- ALL WITHIN ISLAMICALLY ACCEPTABLE PRINCIPLES AND DOCTRINES.
In this famed project Nazlin focused on HIV/AIDS, the rights of women and their violations, vulnerabilities and genders disparities within the community, human trafficking in Kenya, prostitution, the Islamic solution and the Muslim and other communities challenges has gained on powerful ownership by grassroots communities and leaders and has touched the lives of over 90% of Kenya’s population through direct and indirect participation and the great media impact the historical project made with heavy profiles on literally every print and electronic media in Kenya including profiles and interviews with the international press.
THE NMCK-NUR AND HER POPULAR SENSATIONAL “BREAKING THE SILENCE BEHIND THE VEIL” PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE USAID- PEPFAR /POLICY PROJECT/FUTURES GROUP WERE LAUNCHED IN KENYA WITH ATTENDANCE FROM THE WORLD PRESS, GOVERNMENT KEY MINISTRIES, THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, VARIOUS AMBASSADORS AND HEADS OF MISSIONS IN KENYA, THE DONOR COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS, TOP MUSLIM CLERICS, THE JUDICIARY, KADHIS OF KENYA AND THE LEADERSHIP OF NMCK-NUR NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP INCLUDING THE VALIANT HEROIC WOMEN WHO BROKE THE SILENCE ON THE HIV STATUS AND PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN TRANSFORMING THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND OTHERS ON STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED AT THE NAIROBI PAN AFRIC HOTEL IN 2004 BY THE THEN AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN KENYA, HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM BELLAMY, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, HIS EXCELLENCY DR. MOODY AWORI, THE USAID HEALTH AND POPULATION CHIEF JANET PAZ CASTILLO, POLICY PROJECT/FUTURES GROUP COUNTRY DIRECTOR ANGELINE SIPARO AND FOUNDER NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON NMCK-NUR AND BEHIND THE VEIL PROJECT, NAZLIN. These declarations together and speeches of these speakers also included the governments of the USA and Kenya, were published in a two page supplement in the Sunday Nation on the 1st of May 2005 funded by USAID/The POLICY Project. Excerpts of these speeches were also heavily captured as headline news in all the mainstream media in Kenya, in USA publications, USAID’s second Annual report to congress and NMCK-NUR quarterly magazine- the NUR. The speeches, many poems and fan mail from beneficiaries, leaders and women to Nazlin and NMCK-NUR can be found in the NUR quarterly magazine and at nazlinumar.blogspot.com, nazlinumar youtube and facebook group nazlinumar.
NAZLIN’ PLWHA MEMBERSHIP; IS ALSO THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, THE FOUNDER OF KENYA’S LARGEST MUSLIM PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS NETWORK PRESENTLY WITH OVER FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND (400,000) MEMBERS, MUSLIM AND NON-MUSLIM AND WITH DOCUMENTED ACTIVE REGIONAL PLWHA GRASSROOTS SUPPORT NETWORKS IN OVER 90% OF KENYA. This project was declared one of the best and most successful HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination reduction projects in Africa and is highlighted in the United States Presidents emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR) second annual report to Congress 2006, amidst extensive media coverage it has received both locally and internationally. Nazlin and the project both made headline news in Kenya when trained Muslim women living with HIV/AIDS broke the silence ‘behind the veil’ and declared their status and suffering before television cameras and workshops held by Nazlin throughout the Nation.
THE ‘BEHIND THE VEIL’ PROJECT FOCUSED AND TARGETTED TRAINING, EXPANSIVE MEDIA ADVOCACY PROGRAMME, SENSITIZATION, MOBILIZATION AND STRENGTHENING INDIVIDUAL AFFECTED AND INFECTED GRASS-ROOTS PERSONS AND IMAMS AND MUSLIM CLERICS, YOUTH AND WOMEN LEADERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THEN FORMING REGIONAL SUPPORT NETWORKS IN SEVEN PROVINCES OUT OF THE EIGHT IN KENYA NAMELY, NAIROBI, NORTH EASTERN, RIFT VALLEY, COAST, NYANZA AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN, BUT WITH A NATIONAL MEDIA AND OUTREACH STRATEGY. The project has trained and involved, Imams, Islamic scholars, all the Kadhi’s, women leaders and women councilors, male and female chiefs, village elders and other grassroots leaders and Community Based Organization’s on stigma and discrimination reduction, Islam’s strategies on addressing HIV/AIDS and the Muslim communities challenges. The leaders were certified as ‘Ambassadors of Hope’ to assist PLWA, create crucial dialogue and advocacy locally and build regional support networks of PLWAC throughout Kenya and popular grassroots training in virtually all the stated provinces within local communities and in conjunction with grassroots administration has been highly successful. NMCK has over 10,000 support groups of people living with HIV and AIDS in over 90% of the country with a national network of registered members and beneficiaries from ALL faiths, Muslim and Christian in Particular and also within the Hindu and Sikh communities. The vast training conducted through workshops regionally for topmost leaders and in the grass-roots for community leaders and beneficiaries are detailed elsewhere further in this profile. All the resolutions and recommendations of these workshops can be found at nazlinumar.blogspot.com, nazlinumar youtube and facebook group Nazlinumar.
IN SUPPORT OF THE ABOVE,NAZLIN HAD FOUNDED AND LAUNCHED A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE – THE ‘NUR’ WHICH WOULD ARTICULATE, ADVOCATE AND INFORM THE NATION AND BEYOND OF ALL THE ABOVE, RESOLUTIONS, DECLARATIONS, HER BOOK ON ‘ ISLAMIC EXPOSITION INTO GENDER, WOMENS RIGHTS AND THE AIDS SCOURGE –THE MUSIL COMMUNITIES CHALLENGES AND ISLAMS STRATEGIES IN FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC’ WJHICH IS DDISCUSSED ELSEWHERE. THE MAGAZINE ALSO PUBLISHED POEMS AND LETTERS TO NAZLIN AND THE NMCK’S WORK.
ANOTHER HISTORICAL GROUNDBREAKING PROJECT NAZLIN HAS FOUNDED IS THE ‘OASIS OF HOPE’, GENDER CRISIS CENTERS THAT PROVIDE FREE LEGAL AID, LITIGATION, MEDIATION, ADVOCACY AND REFERRALS. The project articulates Islamic, legal and gender rights and redress to domestic, sexual and all other forms of violence to women and children including counseling and mediation services to victims and all members of families facing turbulence in their relationships. The centers were based in Nairobi for Nairobi province and in Mombasa for Coast province. The ‘Oasis of Hope’ advised and represented or linked to advocates who may provide pro-bono services for referred cases from Oasis of hope for women at the law courts on family matters and personal law, including addressing all forms of violence and abuse to women and children. The centers also provide counseling and mediation to ALL persons, men and women, boys and girls, regardless of age, gender, religion or social status – with a vision to reduce turbulence in family relations. The ‘Oasis of hope’ was to be supported in Nairobi and Mombasa by Her majesty the Queen’s Government through the British Government’s Global Opportunities fund (GOF) which contract has been signed but awaiting disbursement of funds as a result of delay from the British High Commission in Nairobi. The project has a publications component which includes Islamic posters and publication of “The Islamic Shari’ah and the rights of women, VOL 1: Marriage and Divorce – an Interpretation and application of the Shari’ah law worldwide.” This book has been written as a result of the resolutions made by Islamic Scholars and all the Kadhi’s in Kenya and is demand driven for the purpose of empowering the Kadhi’s and the Kadhi’s Courts in Kenya during training and consultative forums held by the NMCK in 2003. All the Kadhis in this forum also appreciated, hailed the project as a role model and critical partner to the judiciary to support the Kadhis courts and propagated for the Judiciary to attach to every Kadhis court in Kenya which was done at Nazlin’s initiated 1st Muslim scholars and Kadhis consultations held at the senate hotel in February 2004, funded by the Canadian CIDA/GESP programme.
FOLLOWING ARE OTHER NATIONAL AND REGIONAL WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES AND TRAININGS NAZLIN HAS HELD THROUGHOUT THE NATION . Some of these groundbreaking resolutions and declarations BY WOMEN LEADERS, ISLAMIC CLERICS AND THE KADHIS OF KENYAS, can be found at nazlinumar.blogspot.com, nazlinumar youtube and facebook group nazlinumar.
§ NMCK National forum for Muslim women leaders “Tackling HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination – forging the way forward”, September 2003, held in Mombasa, supported by USAID – POLICY Project; discussion/sensitization pointes were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ National sensitization workshop for Muslim women leaders tackling HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination, rolling out the ‘Behind the veil’ project, supported by USAID – POLICY Project, Feb. 2004 discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ National review meeting of NMCK – NUR leaders and PLWA on the ‘Behind the Veil’, July 2005 supported by USAID – POLICY Project; discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ The ‘Behind the Veil’ National Review meeting the project and Nutrition, ARV’s Stigma and strengthening of support groups training of NMCK PLWA and leaders meeting held at the Rosa Mystica center in Nairobi in July 2005, supported by USIAD – POLICY Project; discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ NMCK-NUR women leaders’ capacity building for PLWAC and ambassadors of Hope, October 2005. As a policy, HIV/AIDS awareness and training is included in all our activities, including discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ We have spearheaded and broken the silence on HIV/AIDS, gender vulnerabilities and women’s rights and led programmes within the Muslim community; honored our vocal and highly active members living with HIV and stigma with awards in a televised ceremony in July 2005 supported by USAID – POLICY Project; discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ The 1st Coast Province “Tackling HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination through Islamic empowerment, formation and strengthening of regional support networks for persons living with HIV/AIDS; stigma reduction and Islamic training for grassroots community leaders from various sectors as Ambassadors of Hope”, supported by USAID, POLICY project, April 2005. discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ The 1st Rift Valley and Central Provinces “Tackling HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination through Islamic empowerment, formation and strengthening of regional support networks for persons living with HIV/AIDS; stigma reduction and Islamic training for grassroots community leaders from various sectors as Ambassadors of Hope”, supported by USAID, POLICY project, June 2005; discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support.
§ The 1st North Eastern Province Muslim leader’s “Tackling HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination through Islamic empowerment, formation and strengthening of regional support networks for persons living with HIV/AIDS; stigma reduction and Islamic training for grassroots community leaders from various sectors as Ambassadors of Hope”, supported by USAID, POLICY project, November 2005. discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ M&E training of women leaders at the methodist guest house, Nairobi in 2006 discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ Women leaders, youth leaders and religious leaders training and M&E of projects held in 2005 at the lenana house in Nairobi. discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ PLWA, women leaders and religious leaders’ sensitization and training held at the traveler’s hotel, Mombasa in the year 2003. discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ TWLEVE workshop trainings of community leaders and PLWHA on outreach, stigma reduction, positive living, home-based care and monitoring and evaluation in all the provinces in Kenya held in conjunction with the local administration and care providers held at local hospitals, provincial administration offices, mosques, community social halls and local chiefs offices throughout the nation. discussion/sensitization/training points were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s vulnerabilities, prostitution, child pregnancies, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, monitoring and evaluation, strengthening grassroots networks, data collection, home based care and support and women in leadership.
§ Twelve Political scenario leadership seminar for women aspiring candidates and Civic leaders pre-election 2002 and again another ten workshops held in 2007 – way forward for Kenyan woman in the political dispensation and governance of Kenya, held at the National headquarters.
§ On the theme – “We declare TOTAL JIHAD! on AIDS, gender vulnerabilities and women’s rights violations in Kenya”, for Coast Province leaders held in Mombasa August 2003, supported by UNIFEM; discussion/sensitization pointes were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s rights and vulnerabilities, prostitution, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses, strengthening networks and women in leadership.
§ On the theme – “We declare TOTAL JIHAD! on AIDS, gender vulnerabilities and women’s rights violations in Kenya”, for Nairobi, western, Nyanza and Rift valley provinces leaders held in Nairobi, August 2003, supported by UNIFEM; discussion/sensitization pointes were HIV/AIDS, gender disparities, women’s vulnerabilities, prostitution, drug abuse and human trafficking, the Muslim and other communities challenges and Islam’s strategies – the ideal responses and women in leadership.
§ Muslim women and the constitution of Kenya review process – a public fora widely attended – the way forward held at the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, July 2002.
THROUGH HER INITIATIVES, SHE ALSO LINKS UP DONORS TO HER LOCAL PROJECTS AND LOCAL LEADERS TO INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS PROGRAMMES, INITIATIVES AND IDEAL MODEL PROGRAMMES INCLUDING LEADERS OF THE GRASSROOTS MEMBERS TO TRAVEL ABROAD FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMERS AND LEADERSHIP CONSULTATIONS AND FORA AND WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE USA, MALAYSIA, KOREA, CANADA, SOUTH AFRICA, TANZANIA, UGANDA…ETC. Some of these beneficiaries include her regional leaders, her PLWHA vocal leaders, top political figures and Muslim clerics such as the former Chief Kadhi of Kenya Sheikh Hammad Kassim whom she took with her to Kualalampur, Malaysia for the 2nd International Muslim leaders Consultation on AIDS in 2004. Another such beneficiary from Nazlin is the former Prime minister the Hon Raila Amollo Odinga whom she took with her to Seoul, Korea, to introduce him into her globally acclaimed roles in world peace amongst world leaders and dignitaries in 2005.
Read Nazlin’s Complete Profile Here: http://nazlinumar.com/project/index.php/about/nazlin-profile
Read more about Nazlin involvement in Hiv/aids, human trafficking, education, grassroots & community development projects through the following external links:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200303280199.html
http://pemudapas_b.bendera.tripod.com/Isu_Nasional/Islam_Dihina/islam_dihina.html.
