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Our approach

image of girlOur approach is based upon the following set of principles. We believe that:
  • the responsibility for ensuring that British Muslim children become good citizens is a shared responsibility between children, parents, the community, madrassahs and the mainstream school sector
  • it is essential to ‘catch’ young Muslim people at an early age and to instill good Islamic values so that they learn that their faith is compatible with broader shared citizenship values
  • debate and discussion around tricky and controversial issues faced by young British Muslims will help to protect them from becoming radicalised and influenced by extremist messages
  • the success of this project is based on the active participation of all key stakeholders from the project outset to completion, which means involving children, teachers, parents, Ulama and the community in meaningful discussion
  • the processes involved are crucial to a successful delivery; it is insufficient merely to produce materials and resources that can be taken and used ‘off the shelf’
  • resources and materials produced during the project and methodologies employed to disseminate them will be endorsed by a Validation Board consisting of Ulama (Islamic scholars) from a broad range of traditions and groups that comprise Islam
  • Muslim women must be involved at all stages and all levels of the project so that a clear statement is made about their valuable and crucial role in conveying Islamic faith and values to children
  • Islam and democracy are perfectly compatible and this can be justified from the Quran and Sunnah (as said by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him).
     

The project will initially run until March 2009 with the possibility of an extension, and is jointly funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Communities and Local Government (CLG).