The All Ceylon Muslim Women’s Association celebrates 60 years

Using this divine message as inspiration, a group of conscientious ladies banded together in 1952 to dedicate and work for the welfare of the deprived and less fortunate members of our society. Thus, was born the All Ceylon Muslim Women’s Association (ACMWA), one of the oldest and leading women’s organisations in Sri Lanka focused on social development.

Through the blessings of almighty Allah, the visionary leadership and the tireless work of the ladies of ACMWA, the generous and continuous support of patrons, well-wishers and partners, the Association has gone from strength to strength in helping the marginalised and under-privileged.

Throughout the 60 years, the ACMWA has been successfully initiating and implementing projects that have benefitted many people across the entire Island. The main areas of focus of the Association have been supporting and nurturing orphans, as well as offering education and capacity development for girls and young women.

As they move forwards towards the next phase, the Association hopes to expand and consolidate some of its flagship projects, as well as to build a solid platform that will set the foundations for more interventions to help those in need.

The most pressing focus is to undertake Phase II of the Fathima Welfare Centre, which seeks to create additional facilities to accommodate more orphans and needy children, as well as hostel facilities for more university students and working women. In this regard, they intend to construct a new six-storey building complex capable of housing up to 600 persons. The project is likely to cost approximately, $133,000 per floor and has a total projected cost of $800,000. They awaiting building plan approval and construction is scheduled to commence by the end of 2012.

The second key project is to support the Fathima Girl’s School, especially in covering the operational costs, upgrading of the school facilities and including the establishment of a Vocational Training Centre.  

To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Association hosted a lunch on 26 May at the Ramada. The chief guest for the occasion was Seema Ilahi Baloch the High Commissioner for Pakistan in Sri Lanka. In her message on this occasion, she stated “I would like to appreciate the Association for placing their focus on the important and often neglected area of social development of orphans and women. Their support for the orphans, as well as offering education and capacity development for girls and young women would go a long way in creating a healthy and prosperous society in Sri Lanka.”

The guests of honour for the occasion were Farzana Jameel, Additional Solicitor General, who was also be the keynote speaker; Dr. Rahmanthu Nissa Rahman and Shariffa A. Azeez, Directors of the Crescent School in Chennai.