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Woking Pakistan Muslim Welfare Association (PMWA) celebrates its 40th anniversary

25/08/2010

PMWA is one of the oldest minority ethnic community and voluntary groups in Surrey; it was set up forty years ago in response to the needs of the Muslim community in Woking. The group arose from a specific community need, as is typical of many minority ethnic voluntary groups, and in this case it was to cater for services around death and burial rituals. Pakistani community leaders in Woking were faced with the issue of providing a service that would cater for a Muslim burial service in line with teachings of Islam. Members of the community got together, pooled resources and created a fund that each family contributed to, so that if there was a death in the community all the religious rites could be performed in an appropriate manner according to the tenants of Islam.

Forty years on, PMWA celebrated its Annual General Meeting on a Sunday afternoon at the Maybury Centre, which is home to its offices. Mohammed Jameel, Chairman of the organisation, welcomed everyone and gave an impressive update on the annual achievements of the group including the setting up of a membership database, the development of a funeral pack, attaining a quality mark for its Neighbourhood Advice Centre and the continued provision of pertinent immigration advice and Urdu language classes.

Ray Morgan, Chief Executive of Woking Borough Council, spoke warmly about the group and its achievements and reiterated his commitment and support for PMWA's campaign for a designated area for Muslims to bury their dead; he also confirmed that PMWA would be allocated a larger office from which to deliver their services. His speech also highlighted the major social issues that were facing the Pakistani community, which were sadly: high unemployment rates, low educational attainment levels and a higher mortality rate. Ray also welcomed the sprit in which the Woking Mosque had opened itself to holding civic events and commended the election of Surrey's first Pakistani mayor Cllr. Mohammad Iqbal as a positive step towards strengthening communities.

The AGM was aptly concluded by a truly inspirational talk by Professor Humayun Ansari, who is Director of the Centre of Minority Studies at the Royal Holloway University, on the history of the Muslim community in Britain and its positive contribution to civic life in Britain. Dr. Ansari challenged perceptions that Islam is an alien religion and that Muslims are newcomers in Britain, he very eloquently traced the history of the community in Britain, their contributions and their resilience in the face of overwhelming negative media post 9/11. Click here for the full text of Dr. Ansari's speech.