The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Creating positive change
A social enterprise is on a mission to change negative perceptions of Islam in Dundee. Gayle Ritchie meets Faisal Hussein, CEO of the Yusuf Youth Initiative
How can Muslims bring about positive change in society? That’s the question Faisal Hussein wants to address. As the CEO of the Yusuf Youth Initiative (YYI), Faisal, 37, says he and his team are on a mission to help deprived communities in Dundee and change negative perceptions of Islam.
“It’s about social change to the benefit of Dundee,” he told The Courier. “It’s about being Muslim and wanting to contribute something to society, supporting people and changing the way people perceive us.
“It’s about letting people know that we can and do help in communities throughout Dundee, whether through our support cafes, employment projects, foodbanks or curry kitchens.”
Faisal said negative perceptions about Muslims tend to focus on “terrorism, nationality and loyalties”.
“The lack of open conversation breeds misconceptions and sometimes hate crimes,” he added.
Crown Office figures released in the summer revealed a sharp increase in the number of people charged for religiously, racially or disability aggravated crimes in Dundee.
In the year 2017/18 there was a 23% increase in the number of racist crime cases brought before a court, rising from 94 in 2017/17 to 116. To combat this, the team at YYI wants to see more schools actively engaging with YYI to create “open spaces” to discuss misconceptions.
The group already works with young people across all high schools in Dundee and plans to branch out to help primary schools, too.
“Young people are our future,” said Faisal. “As society is becoming more multi-cultural so too must our understanding. That said, minority communities also need to better understand cultural norms of Scotland.
“We would like to hear more positive contributions Muslims bring to Scottish society, as opposed to the narrative created by individual ‘Muslims’ overseas.
“This conversation shouldn’t be limited to young people, schools or even presentations but extended to the wider population and in a wider context including volunteering at our support cafes or events.”
Faisal said that already in communities like Strathmartine, Dundee East, North East, Lochee and Maryfield, there are joint-community activities with people working together from all backgrounds.
“That has a massive ripple effect,” he said. “It’s not about us creating our own ghetto or being against Scotland – it’s about being Muslim and supporting people from all kinds of backgrounds.
“Someone asked me who our core beneficiaries are and while we set out to support Muslims, the vast majority of beneficiaries are native Dundonians – no longer just Muslims.”
Set up in 2004 and based within two properties, at Bellfield Street and Dunsinane Avenue, YYI is an organisation that creates and supports community projects, with work focused around education, health, youth development, anti-poverty and employment and work spanning five regeneration wards in the city.
It reaches out to more than 700 clients weekly across five projects (Taught by Muhammad, Future Leaders Academy, ChangeMakers, Engage and YYI Youth Clubs).
Taught by Muhammad (TBM) runs the only foodbank that delivers right across the city, including four support cafes, offering warm meals to 300 people every week. The project is a lifeline for many single parents, the homeless, those on low incomes, benefits and people with mental health issues.