SAMNET director Mohamed Kharwa has been recognised by the Dawn Education and Leadership Centre for his part in the pilot Citizenship Journalism Bootcamp for Muslims, held in Durban on 27–28 May 2023.

The bootcamp drew a deliberately mixed room: high school and tertiary learners, ulama, activists, teachers, housewives, du’aat and working media. Participants reported that the training had benefited and inspired them to become citizen journalists and community activists, and a few left considering a career in journalism itself.

Why This Work Matters

Communities that cannot tell their own story are told about instead. Most of what is written about South African Muslims is written by people outside the community, working at speed and at distance. A citizen journalist — someone who can record an incident accurately, ask a fair question, and write it up so that an editor can use it — changes that arithmetic one person at a time.

That is the same conviction behind SAMNET’s media advocacy and training work, and behind the journalism bursary the organisation funds.

From an Attendee

The area that impacted me most was the presentation completed by Mohammed Kharwa. Understanding that the gap between watching something wrong and doing something about it is much smaller than we tell ourselves, and all it takes is a little effort to light the spark toward change. We don’t and probably won’t change the world, but we can make a difference.

A bootcamp participant

That is the whole argument for this kind of training, put better than we would have put it.

The Certificate

The Dawn Education and Leadership Centre (incorporating Junior Achievers) issued an appreciation certificate reading:

Shukren for participating in the pilot training programme Citizenship Journalism Bootcamp for Muslims. I thank Allah SWT for this milestone achievement held in Durban, South Africa from 27–28 May 2023. It was attended by high school and tertiary learners, Ulama, Activists, Teachers, Housewives, Duat and Media persons who stated the training benefited and inspired them to strive to become Citizen Journalists and community Activists. A few are considering a career in one of the fields in Journalism. Jazakallahu Ghairan. May Allah SWT Bless you in abundance.

Rashid Chopdat, Director · Annisa Esack, Project co-Founder

SAMNET thanks the Dawn Education and Leadership Centre for convening the programme, and the participants who gave up a weekend to be in the room.