Bilal and Michael

Tickets on sale NOW! Featuring: Three-course meal, special guest speakers, charity raffle and auction (including David Beckham and Andy Murray signed merchandise) entertainment, drama, comedy, 'The Faith Monologues' and much more!!  
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What we are about! If you're new to the movement, Faiths Act, Leicester Interfaith Youth Hub, click here! 
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The only mosquitoes in sight at the fund-raising dinner, held on World Malaria Day (25 April) at the Empire Banqueting Suite in Leicester, were young people masquerading as the deadly creatures during the evening’s dramatic entertainment. Excitement filled the air as Michael Tweed and Bilal Hassam, the FaithsAct Fellows who have been located within St Philip’s Centre since October 2009, compèred a splendid three hour event which hosted at least 250 people... [From Guest Blogger Dr Alan Race] 
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"It's good to give something back to the community." wrote the young volunteer. "Faith matters, because without it, we have no hope!" This was just one of the reasons why... 
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With a three course meal, special guests, entertainment and a football, tennis ball and shirt signed by David Beckham, Andy Murray and Denise Lewis up for auction, World Malaria Day on the 25th of April will be event you'll not want to miss! 
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I first met Sheikh Tamboule in Mangochi, on the shores of Southern Lake Malawi. The Sheikh ushered me and my friends in for our lunch, and we could sniff the aromas in the air. He proceeded to bring around a basin and jug for us to wash our hands. I thanked him, and encouraged him to sit and eat with us... 
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The value of service was brought home to me during my recent trip to Northern India. I journeyed to the city of Benares in Uttar Pradesh, where the River Ganges meets the plains. My local friend Krishna took me to a temple far from the bustling streets, where I could show my respect by bathing in the River Ganga. After we had dipped, we spotted a man on the bank, sitting out just outside his tent, his skin browned from the sun beating on his back during his morning meditations. His wife waved to us to sit down beside him... 
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It was 9.45am on Saturday 20th February. Myself, Raheema, and a few council members were loitering nervously around the St Philip's Church hall, looking at exhibitions, sampling council freebies, and stamping to keep warm. "How many people are you expecting, Michael?" asked Mo, the City Warden, as he looked at his watch. "A few more than this.." Michael replied... 
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Volunteer Maddy, 18, from Leicester, gives us a personal account of what's going on in this part of the world! "On Wednesday 20th January a small yet diverse group of young people gathered in the front room of the St Philip’s centre in Evington, Leicester. Some had been to similar evenings organised by Bilal and Michael, some had come with no real idea what to expect, some had come to socialise and meet new people, and pretty much everyone had been enticed by the prospect of free pizza... I first learnt about the work of Bilal, Michael and the Faiths Act Fellows because my church, St Philip’s, is inextricably linked to the centre where they are based. I went to an event at the start of December last year, where they explained about the work of the Fellowship and the many exciting ideas they had for the months ahead. I came along again to the Wednesday evening because, since then, I have wanted to support the work that they are doing. I had never really thought specifically of malaria before." 
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Join thousands from around the world... Become part of the Movement... Make your voice heard... Take Action...! Sign the Faiths Act Declaration today 
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Students at University of Leicester and Leicester College help raise hundreds of pounds for Malaria No More! 
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During this Christmas season, I wished to share a special insight by one of my friends, who placed into words the beauty of this season much better than I could. I wish each one of you a special Christmas, as I and Christians across the world remember the birth of a remarkable man in history, Jesus of Nazareth. As the joyful and rich Christmas season approaches, we all look forward to the lovely music, the beautiful liturgies, moving sermons, nice presents and big dinners. I hope it will also be an event that touches your innermost self, your life in family and community. I see the celebration of the birth of Christ as the celebration of the greatest of mysteries. In the baby Jesus, God becomes Emmanuel, "God with us". In the incarnational Christ, God reveals what He is like. He shows us through Christ that He is awesome, and the immensity of His love is beyond our conception. He is so well acquainted with everything about us, details that even we're not interested in, like how many hairs we have on our head. His goodness reaches out to us with great intensity. As Jesus wandered the Galilean countryside with no place to lay his head, He was showing us what God is like through his love, his touch, his breath, his life. He was in the homes of lepers; the poor were all around him. He lived close to those who suffered. He showed the world another way to live. He demonstrated God's limitless love and goodness. At Christmas, He is reminding us once again that He wants to share His divine life with us. Paul says, in Him we live, and move, and have our being. We can then develop the same divine capacity for love and compassion. God can then radiate His warmth, His tenderness and His healing through us to others. He can enable us to see the difficulties and sufferings of others, and reach out to them. 
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Here are details of how you can get involved with "Faiths Act", and get to know the Mosquito Man!  
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On Wednesday the 2nd of December 2009, young people from Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Jain faith backgrounds came together to discuss how the people of Leicester can join the global movement to help end deaths caused by Malaria, one of Africa’s biggest killers. We kicked off with some provocative topics to discuss over a cup of tea; statements included “Young people aren’t that bothered about other people half way around the world”. Anay responded, that from his group, "the fact that we are here now shows that we care - we are now discussing our understanding of the problems across the world - like malaria. This shows that we all care." 
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Faiths Act is looking for young leaders to join us in the movement – a global effort from all faiths, to fight against malaria. Leicester is a university town, so this week we have been looking for young leaders of faith at Leicester University. 
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On the 14th October 2009, 'Faiths Act' Leicester was launched into the city, with a buzzing reception of faith leaders, young people, and delegates from key institutions from around Leicestershire. St Philips Church, Evington was the base from which the work begins, with representatives of organisations as diverse as the Leicester Council of Faiths, Leicester College, and the University of Leicester represented.

 
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Our two months of training has taken us to places as diverse as London, Malawi and Chicago. A theme that has arose time and time again in our last two months of training, has been "investment". This word, conjures up images of cash piles and stocks, shares and returns, but I refer to investment in people.

 
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Who are the Poor? And who are the Rich? Reflections from Bilal prior to the fellows visit to Africa 
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Every 30 seconds somebody dies from Malaria.
Adding up to over a million deaths every year, this disease is entirely preventable and now the people of Leicester will be joining in the global fight to end deaths caused by Malaria permanently.

 
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