According to a study by totaljobs.com, two-fifths of graduates end up on the dole following graduation. This news builds on a remorseless barrage of negativity for our aspiring youngsters. It begins at college where poorer students no longer have access to the Education Maintenance Allowance. Then, those who will manage to overcome this and who want to get into a respectable university studying something traditional and rigorous have a much, much tougher time than their predecessors. Those who get into the university and course of their choice then become laden with enormous debts, and those who graduate will have to face the prospect of joblessness because they are deemed to be inadequate in some other respect.

Employers will wail in disbelief because these so-called graduates have no skills or skills of little relevance to anything important in the ‘real world’. Students have nothing but howls of incredulity, disdain and disappointment to look forward to. Nobody will give you a job because everyone wants you to have the pre-requisite experience, but not many will have the pre-requisite experience because employers won’t offer it unless you have some…previous experience. It really is an astoundingly absurd condition of the modern job market. And I hate it with some fervour.
Hate, however, is not a solution per se. But one solution might be for universities to abandon certain courses. To be absolutely blunt, if you are the type of person to commit three years of your life to a BA in ‘Wayne Rooney studies’ at some random university, then you sort of deserve a period of destitution so that you may spend some time engaged in genuine reflection. Secondly, the government should stop telling us that we’re all equally capable at everything. This message is a manifest nonsense and has probably contributed to the vast array of unemployed youth we have.
We should quite simply have fewer but more capable people going to university. As a result, we should have suitably rigorous courses producing a small number of graduates of the highest calibre competing with fewer other graduates for the same number of jobs. In a nutshell, competition in education and the job market has morphed into something grotesque. We should retrace our steps on this unfortunate route and revaluate our understanding of what is in people’s best interests.

Are you or anyone you know currently facing this situation? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Our fashion feature from our Ramadan issue (i71) last year

Salaams!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted… The year has set off with a busy start, and its February already! We are currently going to print this week with the March issue of emel. We have also been working on a few very cool online projects for emel.

I’m looking ahead, researching and seeing what delights the Muslim market is offering, and so far it’s looking great. We have had some amazing feedback from all of you on our last couple of issues and have taken it all on-board for our future issues.

We’re looking to do a feature on beautiful scarves and Hijabs. We would like you to give us suggestions on any particular companies you like and why? Are you a company that would like to be featured?

What things would you like to see from your lifestyle sections this year? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or drop us an email at info@emel.com

I’ll leave you with a thought…

“Associate with people in such a manner, that they weep for you when you die and long for you when you are alive.”

Peace…

Fatema

Lifestyle Editor

Our friends over at Islamic Relief have asked us to send word out that they are now actively recruiting for their UK offices. You can find more information below -

_________________________________

Head of Programmes

Contract: Permanent    Ref: PUM/IRUK/1210

Base Location: Central London

Grade/Salary: UKG7 / £35,948 p.a. & London weighting £3000 (if applicable)

IRUK, one of the UK’s major aid agencies, is recruiting a Programme Unit Manager to lead the implementation of UK programme based projects that are designed to support our leading role in the fight against poverty.

In this vital role, the successful candidate will oversee and review the strategies of IRUK programme and work to promote good practice, whilst ensuring the delivery of projects meets donors’ requirements and benefits the communities in the UK and provide a quality control function for IRUK in selecting and tracking IRUK funded overseas projects.  In addition, strengthen the relations through engaging and networking with overseas IR family, donor community and  stakeholders, by attending, participating and learning from conference and other public forums.

S(He) will report to the UK Director, the role will require the person to manage a portfolio of multiple projects successfully and within set parameters. Therefore, good experience of strong project management discipline is a pre-requisite.

Equally important are a clear commitment to the aims of the organisation and a well established understanding of international development and humanitarian work. Excellent relationship and communication skills, strong planning and organisational aptitude are vital, alongside the ability to think creatively and deliver positive outcomes.

Closing date: 2^nd February, 2011

If you are trustworthy, service minded, discreet, dedicated and a highly motivated professional, with a strong commitment to IRW’s values and beliefs, please apply by downloading the application pack from our website www.islamic-relief.com and forward the completed form to recruitment@irworldwide.org on or before the closing date.

_______________________________

Head of Fundraising and Supporter Care

Contract: Permanent    Ref: HFSC/IRUK/1210

Base Location: Central London

Grade/Salary: UKG8 / £41,304 p.a. & London weighting £3000 (if applicable)

IRUK is seeking its Head of Fundraising & Supporter Care, offering a rare opportunity for an experienced and successful person to contribute to the development and growth of one of the international development and humanitarian sector’s most important network. You will report to the UK Director and liaise regularly with Trustees.

The post is at senior management level and holds significant strategic and cross organisational responsibility contributing at a high level to the delivery of our mission. Managing a fundraising team covering direct marketing, online giving, fundraising volunteers, major giving & corporate donors, you would maintain existing income streams and develop new ones, whilst building strong strategic partnerships with stakeholders, and ensuring all fundraising activities comply with relevant legislation and best practice guidelines.

Managing a dynamic and high performing fundraising team, you will have a strong background in Fundraising and have proven record of soliciting major funding, coupled with experience of working with colleagues to pull together project budgets and compelling and convincing proposals.

To achieve this you will need to be a team player with a ‘can do’ attitude and the aptitude to drive and lead a team towards delivering an ambitious fundraising strategy. You shall have strong line management skills along with ability to communicate complex information effectively within a diverse audience.

Closing date: 2^nd February, 2011

If you are trustworthy, service minded, discreet, dedicated and a highly motivated professional, with a strong commitment to IRW’s values and beliefs, please apply by downloading the application pack from our website www.islamic-relief.com and forward the completed form to recruitment@irworldwide.org on or before the closing date.

In this month’s issue of emel, we featured the profile of an artist called Julien Breton (also known as Kaalam). His work involves using light and clever stop motion techniques to create Arabic calligraphy masterpieces. You can read the profile here.

I found this informative tutorial by PhotoJoJo, who have pieced together a brilliant guide to the basics of how the photography is done. Feel free to try out some shots and send them in to us (at info@emel.com). We’ll upload the best ones on our site.  Anyway, here’s the video >

Having achieved so much in 2010, we have a lot to look forward over the forthcoming issues:

Dr Joel Hayward, Dean of the Royal Airforce School joins us as a Comment writer with his reflections on political and social issues.

We are introducing a brand new Sports section, highlight upcoming tournaments and featuring exclusive interviews with high profile sports personalities.

‘Diary of a Beardless Rumi’ will also be a new addition to the magazine, telling the tale of one man’s search for the meaning of life.

Highlighting the great contribution made by our elders as they migrated to foreign countries, we bring you ‘Generation Story’.

And last, but definitely not least, a historical piece entitled ‘Looking Back’ will highlight important events throughout Islamic history.

Salams and Greetings All,

Our friends over at Ciné lumière at the French Institute in London are always coming out with a whole range of interesting films across a variety of thought provoking subject areas. The latest film to catch our eye is ‘Slackistan’, directed by Hammad Khan who describes the film as a “very personal film”.

Slackistan is a film about a group of university graduates who waste their lives away in the capital city of Islamabad. They struggle to face their life decisions as the country outside of their own small bubble begins to fall apart.

The director also states -

“There is this intense focus on terrorism in the news, but that didn’t gel with my experience of living in Islamabad, and I felt it was important to get a different image across. Whatever the circumstances, young people are kind of the same all over the world: they get up, have relationships and try and figure out what to do with their lives, and I wanted to reflect that.”

emel have two pairs of tickets to give away to the screening of Slackistan at Ciné lumière in London. The Competition is now closed and winners will be notified by email.

If you are interested in speaking to us about your experiences or know of someone who would be, please send an email to: khadija.gulamhusein@emel.com

Greetings All,

We’d like to announce a fantastic opportunity for budding creative people out there who would like to get involved with emel. We are currently looking for someone to fill in the position of a graphic designer here at emel HQ in London. We have posted the job description below. If you are interested in applying, or know someone that could be perfect for the role, please get in touch.

————————————————————

Graphic Designer

Company

emel is a vibrant and dynamic Muslim lifestyle magazine with an ethical and positive outlook. emel is exceptional in its presentation, message and outlook.  Launched in September 2003, it now has subscribers in over 60 countries, and mainstream distribution in the UK, USA, Middle East and South East Asia. emel combines high quality with exciting features – covering everything from current affairs to big name interviews, profiles of outstanding people to converts to Islam, spiritual reflection to cutting edge comment, health and finance, education and environment, interior design and gardening, food, fashion and much, much more.

emel has been at the forefront of Muslim media for the past seven years, with a vision to promote a positive and confident. The magazine has had an outstanding reception, and has had extensive media interest worldwide.

Role

You will be working in the design team laying out the magazine. This role requires you to be in tune with emel magazine, the target market and emel’s readership.

You will need to be a creative and confident individual, a strong team player, and able to work under pressure. The ideal candidate will be creative, self motivated, a problem solver, have an eye for details and be up to date with the latest design software.

A minimum of two years work experience is required for this position. The succesful candidate will have a B.A in Graphic Design or relevant design degree, and will display a portfolio of work that is up to industry magazine standards.

Communication skills are key in this area and your job role means that you are a key team member.

Duties

• Overseeing the design and production of a layout from concept to finished product.
• Liaising with the editorial team on a daily basis.
• Tending to various visual aspects of the magazine.
• Working closely with the advertising and marketing team for editorial adverts.
• Commissioning of photography, Illustration etc where necessary.
• Photoshopping images and preparing images to repro.
• Providing images for, and support of, the website team.
• Creating adverts as and when required from the sales team.
• Preparing promotion material for emel such as media packs and adverts.
• Taking photographs where necessary (although this is not essential to the role).
• You will produce PDF’s at a format that is acceptable by the UK print industry, insuring that your PDF’s meet this criteria.

Team

Working in design means you will have to work with other departments, especially editorial, in order to achieve your daily targets effectively. You will often be under pressure to meet deadlines, and will be working with others similarly under pressure. A flexible approach and positive disposition will be essential.

Skills

• The candidate will display an excellent command of softwares such as Adobe Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat.
• Photography experience an advantage.

Opportunity

• You have the opportunity to be part of the world’s leading Muslim lifestyle brand.
• You will have the opportunity to have a very free reign creatively to put your ideas into motion and explore the boundaries of design.
• If you are motivated by beauty, passionate about design, and interested in innovating then emel is for you.

Line Management

You will be under the direction of the Managing Editor on a daily basis.

Contact

Please contact info@emel.com or 020 7328 7300

Closing

5^th November 2010

Process

CV, a covering letter and examples of work should be sent in before the closing date. Selected candidates will be invited for interview and should bring their full portfolio. Those selected for second interview will be set a task to produce a layout using the emel magazine guidelines under a set time.

Greetings All

Our friends over at Islamic Relief have a few job vacancies that have opened up and they have asked us to post their ad here. So here goes -

Following our restructuring, Islamic Relief UK (IRUK) is looking for dynamic and passion driven individuals to lead its three respective departments.

As one of the UK’s leading British Muslim charities IR has over 25 years experience in delivering humanitarian aid and providing emergency relief to some of the world’s poorest and needy peoples.

Heading each department you will be responsible for setting clear strategic targets, within the Islamic Relief family’s planning process, and ensuring those targets are met. In addition, you will strengthen IRUK’s relations with the wider humanitarian and development community to consolidate and develop the visibility and image of the organisation.

We currently have the following positions:

Head of Business & Support Services:

Senior management team, managing the following units: Accounts, HR, ICT, Facilities & Assets. Providing quality business service to internal customers in a fast paced dynamic environment.

Head of Communications

Senior Management Team, managing overall Comms & marketing strategies for UK market. Managing & overseeing creative campaigns using print, broadcast & electronic mediums.

Head of Fundraising & Supporter Care

Senior Management Team, managing overall Fund-raising & Supporter care strategies. Responsible for development of Volunteer Programme, Major Giving & Corporate donors, Direct Marketing & online giving.

Grade/Salary: UKG7 / £35,948 & London weighting £3000 (if applicable)

Closing Date: 7^th November 2010

Interested applicants are kindly requested to download detailed job description and application pack from our website www.islamic-relief.com and forward the completed form to recruitment@irworldwide.org on or before the closing date.

Join the emel team at the Global Peace and Unity event this year at London’s ExCel Centre. You’ll get the chance to meet some high profile faces who will be visiting the stall over the course of the two days. Baba Ali from UmmahFilms will be catching up with us (to promote his new Muslim matrimonal site – www.halfourdeen.com ), as well as acclaimed nasheed artist Zain Bhikha will also be coming to see us (we ran a feature profile on him earlier this year when he did a UK tour in aid of Families Relief).

We’ll have a lot more familiar faces dropping in during the course of the two-day event. We will also be running promotional subscription offers and offer some cool giveaways (including a round-trip to Umrah). You’ll be able to find us at STAND E24.

We look forward to seeing you