Muslim Community Center for Economic and Social Services

LETTER OF INTENT

1.1 Organization Description

MCCESS Uganda is a registered non-political, non-profit, a Muslim founded Non-government Organization aiming at humanitarian and development work in Uganda with a vision of empowering Muslims and Muslim Communities to participate effectively in the social economic development of the Country. Our Mission is to ensure that Muslims especially the vulnerable groups are part of the potential resource base needed for the purpose-driven development of the nation at all levels. MCCESS offers socio-economic support to Vulnerable Muslims in Uganda (Orphans, widows, schools, Mosques etc), Daawah, health, among others.

2.0 Population to be served

The Muslim Community with special emphasis on orphans/needy, widows, Mosques, education, health, Islamic media, New Muslims, School Support, Tahfiidh, Daawah, poverty alleviation and community development.

Project Title: Voice of Islam FM.

Date of this Request: 14/03/2022

Contact person: Mr. Kalema Yahaya, President MCCESS Uganda

E-mail: mccesuganda@gmail.com   

Telephone: +256 392 585 058

Estimated Total Project Budget: $166148

Length of Project Funding Request and Desired Project Start Date: The project will begin as soon as we get at least half of the funds

3.0 Project Description

The project will be implemented at Kabale Municipality Kabale district to serve Kigezi region as the 1^st Muslim Media House in the region of about 2 million people and above. The establishment of a Muslim Media House was reached upon after along research on the impact of radio stations in the community. For the purpose/objectives of this project are:-

• Teach, preach and propagate the Islamic faith.
• Fighting for the human rights of the minorities and the disadvantaged people.
• Provide community education in areas of hygiene and health (including Covid 19, cholera, Ebora virus, HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Hepatitis, Malaria and TB etc), family planning, education, Islamic moral value, local and world news
• Encourage members to participate in government programs.
• Advocate for peace, reconciliation, religious co-existence, equality, gender and labour.
• To carry out debates, seminars, workshops and talk shows about socio-economic development.

3.1 Project Justification

Islamphobia, poverty, distorted Islamic image are increasing despite availability of existing media houses in Kigezi region. Lack of Islamic based media house(s) to reply the accusations and allegations to Islam, Muslims and addressing many problems facing Muslims such as lack of Islamic financial institutions, lack of Islamic based orphanage centers, lack of community sensitization among others, Muslims are choosing existing options of which most are haram products and services. A need for Islamic media house to advocate, lobby and educate about Islamic based services.

The Quran was revealed to the whole humanity (And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) not but as a mercy for the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists) Quran 21:107. This radio station will therefore be a tool used to teach the Quran to the target audience. We are largely experiencing large number of people denouncing Islam in South-Western region due to lack of enough knowledge about Islam and also other social economic factors facing Muslims with fewer opportunities. Many Muslim projects established for development, have failed due to lack of sensitization in which a call for a Muslim Radio station to tackle the Muslim situation and provide solutions to these problems.

Faced with the prospect of compromising the integrity of Islam taking into account the rising cost of materials, we cannot raise $166,148 for the project without your assistance. If the radio is not established the integrity of Islam and Muslims will remain compromised. We are therefore confident that the project would create a direct impact towards Muslims and the community both socially and economically.

3.2 Sustainability measures

Once the project stabilizes, it will remain self sustaining through the normal charges in form of advertisements and sponsorship of programs. All this will sustain the project beyond the project time.

3.3 Estimated Completion date of the Project

The project will commence as soon as funds are available, and subject to the flow of funds. Our preferred date is not dedicated however after assuming funding in place and there are no unexpected interruptions with respect to labor or material, it is our dream that this project starts in 2025 and we are working to achieve this by you help and support

4.0 Appeal for Funding

We are requesting for your kind consideration of a donation or any support to assist us raise money for this Voice of Islam Radio project

4.1 Funding type

Grant, Donation or in-kind giving

5.0 Expected Outcome

Our three-point intervention (Humanitarian and Relief Aid, Daawah, sensitization for Development,). The project will promote Islamic faith and Muslim social and economic development, remove misconception attributed to Islam, strengthening Muslim community through establishment of Islamic institutions. We predict that this approach will significantly decrease negative stereo type towards Islam and Muslims, and create a harmonious living among people of different religions, as currently the Muslims seem to be sidelined.