Our Beginnings
There were a number of issues we had to consider before embarking on this project. Without any experience in early learning we ventured out on this project with our pure niyah and clean intentions of shaping the very young minds of becoming worthy human beings towards their Creator and develop that caring attitude towards all of humanity.
We were blessed with someone who could be our coordinator
The Marhaba project was the dream and creation of a mother filled with the passion and a great love to work with children. She was dedicated and selfless with a sound knowledge of the Arabic language and a good knowledge of Islam.
After acquiring suitable premises she ventured out to encourage other mothers and sisters to join forces with her to make her dream a reality.
Today Marhaba is in existence for over a year where a number of others have joined in to share this vision and reality. Today there is a very pleasant atmosphere of co-operation and sharing taking place at Marhaba.
There is always room for more people to join us as volunteers, who are very hard to come by today. We are looking for the day when younger people from the community can devote a few hours of their time to this project. Any job or registration profile that carries experience in voluntary community work will always be an added advantage to the applicant.
We needed to find enough interested families in the community to establish a new group
The Ministry of Education will fund up to 25 spaces in any parent educational venture.
(You are welcome to use the attached Marhaba questionnaire form and proposed project as a guide in the early planning stages.)
We considered the aims and objectives of our group.
For
Marhaba, we saw an on-going need in the Auckland community for Arabic
language to be taught and learned from the early years. The playgroup
provides Muslim children to interact with their brothers and sisters
who may be scattered across the city. We also wanted to support parents
in their role as first teachers, developing a network that can foster
friendship and strengthen the community as well as encouraging the
happiness and wellbeing of their children in the rich home environment.
Marhaba is not only a great service to children, it also helps all
ethnic groups to work together in a safe and secure setting we provide.
We had to find a suitable venue
This was a big issue for us as our families are spread across the city, so even though we were in an ideal suburb we still had to investigate all other venues. We looked for
- safe indoor & outdoor area
- toilet facilities
- storage for equipment
- a reasonable rental to suit our budget
Alhamdulilah, our searching paid off as we are now in a very good setting with very good facilities.
A schedule for weekly sessions had to be agreed upon
From the questionnaire to parents we gained information that will helped us to decide on the best times for our classes to the target families. Today Marhaba is open for seven hours a week with the Ministry of Education funding our pre-scholars. Funding for up to 15 hours a week is presently available.
We planned a programme of educational activities
The Ministry of Education’s booklet “establishing a Community Playgroup” has many valuable ideas and it can be found in the education section of libraries. Insha’ah Allah, we will also be very happy to share ideas with you so that we can a broad-based educational programme, promote the Arabic language, and encourage the manners and values of our beautiful deen.
For more detailed information contact your Early Childhood Development co-coordinator, they are very helpful in giving support.
We gathered suitable materials and equipment
These items can be donated, purchased, rented, loaned or bought with funding from Early Childhood division in the Ministry of Education. However, don’t wait until you have all the equipment. Just get started with what you have at hand. Recycled materials are always useful and your cupboards also get cleaned out while the children are engaged in their play.
Storage for collage materials, art supplies, sand pit gear, toys and dress-ups all needs to be considered in advance.
We prepared a budget
The budget will require establishment costs, and then on-going operating costs.
Consider sources of funds from fees, donations of goods or services, sponsorship, grants, fundraising events
Consider the on-going expenses for consumable materials, rental, etc.
Plan to operate a bank account in the group’s name. A treasurer and two signatories will need to keep the accounts in good order for future funding applications.
We set an opening date…
We made it a real community celebration! Our parents hosted local newspapers, dignatories, grandparents, and officials to announce the new facility and reinforce the obligation of a Muslim to seek knowledge.
