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By Julmunir I. Jannaral, Correspondent
COTABATO CITY: A Muslim non government or ganization on Monday
launched its expanded scholarship program to Muslim students
especially those who are affected by the war in Mindanao, especially
the “bakwits” or internally displaced persons (IDPs), at the
same time intensified its relief mission to the conflict affected
areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Prof. Taha Basman, president of the Center for
Moderate Muslims (CMM), said the situation in Mindanao is continuing
to be a dire challenge to the Bang samoro people. “Hence, this is
the main reason why we have launched the CMM’s Expanded
Scholarship Program (ESP) in order to step up our effort to provide
humanitarian aid to IDPs,” Basman said.
He added that because of the expansion of the
scholarship program this has raised the total numbers of scholarship
grantees to 200 students.
“This is the CMM’s contribution to help
fight illiteracy and poverty, which is also our long-range effort to
help in achieving peace in Mindanao, which every Filipino aspires
for,” said Basman, who is concurrently commissioner for education
of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO).
Basman founded the CMM nearly five years ago as
a vehicle to launch interfaith dialogue, peace and tolerance
advocacy, provide opportunities for Muslims, particularly the youth,
through its free computer literacy program; classes on Arabic and
Islam; Imam training; day care center; giving awards to deserving
Moro professionals like its “Ten Outstanding Young Muslims,”
among others.
He cited the pioneering effort of the CMM, which
is patterned after an Indonesian organization, recalling that there
were some people who were skeptical and openly criticized him at the
earlier stage of the organization of CMM.
After close to five years, he said many of their
critics have even become their supporters while others have launched
programs following the concept of CMM.
“The effort of CMM became so interesting and
intense that the deeply engrossed staff of the CMM did not realize
that they were actually treading on pioneering ventures,” said
Basman, adding that the wide acceptance of CMM’s services and
programs indicated an acute dearth of these in Muslim communities.
Basman announced the widened scope of the
scholarship grants, from 60 to 200 recipients, covering college,
high school, elementary and now, even madrasah (Arabic school)
students. He added that those qualified scholars enjoy full tuition
fee (with a maximum of P15, 000 tuition fee assistance if enrolled
in private schools) and or a monthly stipend of P1,000 for college
level; P700 for high school; and P500 for elementary.
According to Hadja Nelia Ann Basman, wife of the
UNESCO commissioner and partner in implementing various programs and
activities of the CMM, they will give priority to qualified and
deserving Muslim students whose families have been adversely
affected by the ongoing conflict in Mindanao as recipients of ESP,
which was launched this year.
Mrs. Basman said that as CMM ventured in the
realm of interfaith and community-oriented activities, “We realize
how much everyone can contribute in making this country, in
particular and the world in general a better place.”
Commissioner Basman said some of the donors are
UNESCO, embassies of the Western world and the Organization of the
Islamic Conference and several other donors who opted to remain
anonymous.
“We are very grateful to our donors and
partners. Our brothers and friends from the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines have also been of much help and
inspiration in bringing together closer relations between Muslims
and Christians, as well as other religions,” he said.
CMM is presently linked up with moderate Muslim
organizations abroad, such as Muhammadiyah and Nadhlatul UIama in
Indonesia, with the two groups accounting for some 100 million
members between them, Sheikul Islam of Thailand and Majlis Ugama
Islam Singapura.
As this developed, Commissioner Basman said the
CMM has also set the deadline for submission of application forms
for this scholarship program by November 3, 2008 at their offices in
Marawi City, Zamboanga City, Davao City and their main office at
Maharlika Village in Taguig City.
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