A participant expressing his gratitude to Ishmail Kaunda.

International Visitor Program Participant Encourages Youth Involvement in Socio-economic Development.

When U.S. International Visitor Program Alumnus Ismael Abdul Majeed Kaunda set off for the U.S. in June, he was uncertain of the type of reception he would get from the American people with whom he would spend the next three weeks. 

“Being a Moslem I thought I would get problems in the U.S. but to my surprise, I was readily accepted wherever I went.” Kaunda told a highly engaged audience in Lilongwe that attended a round table discussion on Economic Empowerment and Social Work in Islam.

Kaunda attended a three-week program on U.S. Political Process for Emerging Moslem Leaders that took him to five states where he met with various professionals including highly respected Moslem leaders. 

Addressing over forty young Moslem leaders that attended the event in Lilongwe, Kaunda shared his U.S. experience on religious freedoms, judicial independence and the role of young Moslems in social and economic empowerment programs. 

He said contrary to fears of lack of freedom of worship, American Moslems are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination. 

He praised the food pantry program run by the Iowa-based Des Moines Interfaith Council which he said provided a reliable source of food to the less privileged and encouraged participants to implement the concept in their communities.

On economic empowerment Kaunda drew from his Los Angeles experience of the Lariba Finance House, a microfinance institution that operates on principles of interest-free Islamic banking, to emphasize the need to pool resources together and form lending institutions that would help to empower young Moslems economically. 

One of the participants, Sheikh Rashid Wasike, Director of Programs for the Association of Sunni Madrassas lauded the U.S. government for inviting Moslems to America and enabling them to share experiences with fellow Moslems.  He said “I now have a different view.  At first I had a negative picture about the U.S. on freedom of worship mainly for Moslems.  Actually there is a lot we can learn from our American counterparts”

Acting Public Affairs Officer Pamnella DeVolder praised the Moslem youth for actively participating in social and religious activities in an effort to improve their livelihoods

During the event, participants watched a film, “Islam in America” which provided a deeper insight on the universality of Islam and how American Moslems practice their faith.