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The Communities of Success initiative is a positive and forward-looking articulation of a vision of Islam and Muslim communities that are compatible with the modern world and thrive in and actively contribute to contemporary societies. This vision is especially critical for Muslim communities living in secular political contexts and diverse social environments, as the socio-religious issues and challenges encountered in such contexts are often without much precedence in Islamic history.
Read more about the Communities of Success initiative here.
As part of the Communities of Success initiative, the International Conference on Communities of Success (ICCOS) provides a platform for global Muslim minority communities to engage on and enrich positive narratives and characteristics of successful communities embodying good Character, Competency and Citizenry. It seeks to contribute to the shaping of progressive religious leadership and development of new and contextualised bodies of knowledge to guide Muslims in responding effectively to complex socio-religious issues and challenges, and highlights the need for collaboration among religious scholars, state officials and community leaders to develop successful communities.
ICCOS 2024, with the theme “Inspiring Future Leaders: Building Trust, Empowering Communities” focused on the role of current and future community leaders in developing Communities of Success. Their role in collaborating with other societal actors is crucial to achieve a thriving life for all.
The conference showcased and explored how leaders must pave the way in developing and representing a community that is confident, self-reliant and equipped with the right attitude, knowledge, competency and vision. Leaders must also inspire the younger generation to contribute to society through their own unique ways. Lastly, leaders must also nurture trust among different groups and contribute to success that is shared by everyone at the community, national, and global level.
Similar to ICCOS 2022, this year’s conference continued to underpin the importance of partnerships among religious, community and government leaders in supporting minority Muslim communities to thrive in their societies. This trust is the common thread that binds the different segments together, and it is then the government leaders’ role to also ensure parity of treatment amongst all so that this engenders confidence in government and trust between communities, thereby strengthening social cohesion and unity in society.
Beyond simply finding solutions to existing challenges faced by the community, effective community leaders are also ideally change agents who take on the initiative to innovate and challenge existing processes where needed. Community leaders ought to have clarity of purpose, propose collective and collaborative strategies, and be sensitive to conditions to be able to adapt and respond accordingly with foresight. In setting direction and stimulating further involvement and participation by community members, they must also demonstrate exemplary behaviour that is rooted in common values shared by all.
ICCOS 2024 explored four key areas affecting present and future leadership:
Social Upliftment and Empowerment:
This area emphasises the role of community leaders in empowering and uplifting community members, especially through education and social work. It highlights the need to address socio-economic disadvantages and their potential negative impacts on community development, social mobility, and fostering trust and social cohesion.Representative Leadership:
This focus area stresses the importance of community leaders representing their community's interests effectively. It underscores the need for inclusive leadership, recognising the diversity within Muslim communities (cultural, ethnic, gender, age, etc.) to ensure fair representation and address the concerns of all segments.Social Cohesion for the Future:
This area centres on the importance of community leadership in building social cohesion. Drawing on historical and contemporary understandings of social cohesion, this area aims to foster well-being, a sense of belonging, and voluntary participation among all members of society.Considerations for the Future: Entrepreneurs, Professionals and Religious Sector:
This area highlights the importance of collaboration between different sectors in addressing future societal challenges. Recognising the complexity of issues in a BANI world (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible), ICCOS 2024 aims to bring together diverse perspectives and expertise to develop holistic solutions.