A HOME for elderly women, and a centre for battered women will soon come on stream, General Manager of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) Shameena Haniff disclosed on Monday.

Haniff has always championed women’s causes, and has worked strategically to use her platform as general manager to lend support to women in need.

This support, she said, is extended to not just members of the Islamic community but to any female in need, as the CIOG offers its services to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

As the organisation’s general manager, she has also played a significant role in the development of its soon-to-be-constructed Children and Maternity Hospital.

Haniff has also led and facilitated several medical outreaches, empowerment programmes, and training sessions, as well as extensions of various units within the organisation, including the orphans and vulnerable children’s project.

She told the Guyana Chronicle that her appointment as GM has allowed for greater representation of women, particularly where helping them realise that they could achieve anything that they put their minds to is concerned.

SURPRISE
She is the first female GM the CIOG has ever had since it was founded in 1976, so, understandably, the appointment took her by surprise.

“I was a little taken back by it, because an Islamic organisation generally is headed by a male for as long as I know, and their appointing a female General Manager at that time was very much shocking and surprising. But, at the same time, I was excited to go on this journey,” Ms. Haniff said in retrospect.

Before becoming General Manager, Haniff held several other posts, including that of a teacher at the Al-Ghazali Islamic Academy (AIA); Orphans and Vulnerable Children Officer; and acting General Secretary of the CIOG.

She stated that while she’s always dreamt big, she’d never imagined that someday she would be at the helm of the CIOG.

She believes that it is her drive, determination and innovativeness that landed her the job.
“I would like to think it was because of the way I was getting my work done, because, one thing I pride myself in, is being very detailed and committed to my work. If I’m doing something, I like to get it done the way it’s expected or beyond expectation. And nothing had made me feel that one day I would actually be the General Manager of CIOG,” Haniff stated.

She draws her strength as a woman from her mother, who she says is “the strongest female influence” in her life. She said that her mother was keen on her and her siblings valuing the importance of education.

Haniff, the eldest of her mother’s five children, recalled being the first in the family to achieve a tertiary education.

She related that her success in her career could not have been possible without the support and guidance of her mother, who made significant sacrifices to ensure that she could pursue and complete her studies.

Her mother continues to be supportive of her pursuing further studies.

INVOLVEMENT
Haniff has also had a significant hand in facilitating greater involvement of women at the CIOG, both as paid staff and voluntary workers.

Medical outreaches, empowerment programmes, and training sessions, as well as extensions of various units within the organisation, including the Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Project, were done under the leadership of Haniff.

She said that the CIOG’s being the premier Islamic organisation in Guyana does not mean that it caters exclusively to Muslims, as it also renders assistance to non-Muslims.

A significant number of the more than 500 children who have benefited from the Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s Project are not Muslim.

Haniff also related that as a woman in a position in power, she would always advise younger girls to dream big, and to work strategically to achieve them.

“You need to introspect yourself time and time again, and see where you’re going wrong at the same time,” she said, adding: “One of the things that helped me to get this far is that I listened to advice. You should also be able to accept constructive criticism, because we can’t see what we are doing wrong or right at the same time. So that advice would be very beneficial.”

She also noted that without the support of experienced persons, she would not have been able to be a part of the CIOG journey, and be able to make an impactful contribution to society. And in this regard, she acknowledged the support of COIG President, Al-Hajj Shahabudeen Ahmad; Deputy-President Goolzar Namdar; and Sheikh Moen ul-Hack.