Young Australian Muslims and our responsibilities to them

Young Australian Muslims have the world at their feet, and it’s up to us as their parents, teachers and mentors to bring out this amazing potential.

That was the resounding message from an insightful gathering at Punchbowl in Sydney’s southwest on Sunday 11 February, where Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry (AACCI) President and National Chairman Mohamed Hage OAM and his Deputy Fawaz Sankari were the keynote speakers.

The event was hosted by Dean Mousad, CEO of the rapidly growing company for good Invictus Solutions and attended by its staff and selected other guests.

Mohamed Hage boasts over 20 years of global market expertise, particularly in investment research and serves as President and National Chairman of the Australian Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI), facilitating trade and investment between Australia and the 22 Arab League nations.

He has been recognised for his many achievements in the business world, receiving the Order of Australia (OAM) and the NSW Premier’s Medal for Economic Participation.

Mr Hage has witnessed amazing growth over his time on the AACCI board – trade between Australia and the Middle East now exceeds $20 billion.

Both Mr Hage and Mr Sankari are full of enthusiasm about the potential of young Australian Muslims but stressed it is up to us as their ‘elders’ to provide strong mentorship and leadership.

“I have spent a lot of time travelling and I can tell you that Australia’s Muslim youth have a great opportunity, but we have to give them a purpose,” Mohamed Hage said. “Once they realise their purpose, the ‘world is their oyster’.”

“But the one thing they must have is gratitude and to realise that young people here have it better than anywhere else in the world.”

Mr Hage pointed out the disparity in terms of opportunities available to young Australian Muslims, in comparison to their counterparts in the Arab League states.

“The Arab League is one of the fastest growing areas in the world and a region where 65-70 percent of the population is under the age of 35.”

“The region has exceptional minds – exceptional people with exceptional performances; they work hard but deserve more opportunities.”

Mr Hage also pointed out that Muslim youth in Australia have a wonderful opportunity to be industry leaders in a range of sectors that benefits Australian trade and investment globally.

“Trade and investment goes beyond just the exchange of goods and services as it also involves the exchange of knowledge from one generation to the next….and each generation empowering the next,” he explained.

“I just hope that the youth of Australia understand  that they are so blessed to be in this country as a starting point.”

“I am also very proud of the work that companies like Invictus Solutions do as such organisations are on the ground, dealing with issues every day.”

Fawaz Sankari is the Chief Banking Officer (CBO) at Bank of Sydney, overseeing Corporate & Institutional Banking, Retail Banking, Digital Sales, International Banking, Third-party Distribution and Products across multiple Australian states.

He is also the NSW Chairman of the AACCI, Treasurer at the Sydney University Australian Lebanese Foundation, promoting cultural and educational exchange and the Chairman of Al Noori AMS College, achieving top rankings since 2016.

“I was one of a family of six children who grew up in Belmore in the 1970s-1980s and I can tell you that our kids in 2024 have it much easier than we did growing up,” he said.

“Education is very important as it levels the playing field; it doesn’t matter your background or if your family speaks English as a second language or if you’ve come from a disadvantaged community.”

““I’ve been on the board at Al Noori for 12 years; when I took over as Chairman, we had around 300 students, now we are just under 3,000. Alhamdulillah.”

“We are one of the biggest Islamic schools in Australia and in the 2023 HSC results, we were ranked number 16 school in NSW, whilst  competing against the likes of Kings and Knox Grammar where school fees are around $40,000-$60,000 per year and ours are around $2,000.”

“Being  ranked 16, we’ve received numerous inquiries, including calls from the Premier and the Minister of Education, at both federal and state levels.”

“Organisations like the Board of Studies and the Australian Institute of Education are curious about our success, wanting to understand how a school situated in an area notorious for drive-by shootings and with over 95 percent of students speaking English as a second language, managed to secure university placements for all Year 12 students before ATARs were even released.”

“The parents of all our students have given their kids a great opportunity to attend our school and by the will of Allah they will all make a real difference in our community.”

“We are still a young community, finding its feet, and we are giving our kids the understanding of what their faith is about, first and foremost.”

“Giving our kids an education also comes with them understanding that nothing happens without the will of Allah and to be grateful for everything they have.”

“Today more than ever, education is so vital and in this country, the saying that ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ holds true.”

“There are a lot of youth willing to have a go but while our kids are very fortunate, we also have to  give them guidance.”

“So we need to implement some programs where organisations like Invictus Solutions and AACCI work together with disadvantaged or people in need, and find them a job, for example…..programs that can make difference.”

“I have a lot of admiration for Dean (Mousad) and Invictus Solutions for the work they do.”

“My philosophy has always been that you cannot put a price on a life, so if you can help one person, or if you can help more than one, may Allah reward you for it.”

Dean Mousad thanked the AACCI for sponsoring the event and for generously upgrading Invictus Solutions’ AACCI membership to corporate recently.

“I only met Mohamed Hage three months ago but I know that the AACCI  has been functioning for close to 50 years, doing great work between Australia and the Arab League so it has an awesome reach,” Dean Mousad said.

“Australian companies are looking at work in global markets so it was great to  have the opportunity to hear from experts in that area tonight.”

“It’s a wonderful intention for AACCI to support local businesses like Invictus Solutions, which is a for-purpose company providing Counselling, Consulting, Mentoring and Educational Workshop services in the Australian Muslim Community.”

Jayden Kowaider, the founder of Build Alpha Kids is typical of the intelligent and resourceful young Muslims in Australia that Mohamed Hage and Fawaz Sankari are talking about.

Just 25, Mr Kowaider is already grasping the opportunities that are coming his way with both hands, establishing his own businesses including Building Alpha Kids, which recently formed a partnership with Invictus Solutions in a five touch point program called Reviving Manhood, which will involve 50-100 kids every school holidays.

“I really want to thank Dean Mousad for inviting me to this elite gathering,” Jayden said.

“Dean does an exceptional job for the community and in the schools and it’s an honour to attend and listen to brothers Mohamed Hage OAM and Fawaz Sankari as well as Dean.”

“Both Mr Hage and Mr Sankari emphasised that young people in Australia have a great opportunity that not many other youth around the world are blessed to have.”

“What I learnt tonight was great to hear first-hand and Inshallah my company can build on this and incorporate some of it into our work with our youth and community.”