Muslim Ladies Study Circle fetes 50 years of empowering the underprivileged

AMI training 

Dressmaking lessons  

By Divya Thotawatte 

Muslim Ladies Study Circle (MLSC), recognised nationally for its decades of social service and empowering women through skills development, is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary on 26 August with a fete held at Ramada Colombo. 

MLSC, a social service organisation originated in Galle in the year 1972, founded by six members who were schoolgirls at the time, with a vision to support the underprivileged in their community. Today, MLSC is a leading Non-Governmental Organisation based in Colombo, with vocational training centres established in several cities including Colombo, Galle, Panadura, Warakapola, Kahatowita, Atulugama and Weligama. They have undertaken and conduct numerous projects to help communities across the island, irrespective of ethnicity or religion. 

Social work and programs carried out by MLSC include poverty alleviation, providing houses and aid to those in need, supporting those affected by national crises and natural disasters. The organisation has provided 228 houses to the needy, and afforded scholarships to students in low-income families.

“We have been very active during national crises and helped the underprivileged and the affected parties. Eventually, we realised that as women engaged in social work, we have to do something more for the woman. That’s when we first started vocational training classes for women,” MLSC President Sikhamani Ameena Faisz Musthapha told the Daily FT. 

She said establishing the vocational training centre in Colombo for women in low-income families, widows, school dropouts, etc. in 2006, was one of the best activities undertaken by the organisation. It has helped equip women in different backgrounds to strengthen their income and support themselves and their families as well.

The MLSC training centres around Sri Lanka provide training in dressmaking, cookery, computing, AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction), beauty culture, bridal dressing, cake decorating and spoken English. On completion of the courses, the trainees are awarded certificates by the Tertiary Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). 

Elaborating on the success of these educational programs, Ameena said, “Many of our students have started their own businesses in different fields. They can now earn their own money and support themselves. They now had more money to give their children a better education, clothing, and other necessities. We realised that training a woman was similar to training a whole family, they became breadwinners of the family, and are able to provide themselves a better life.” 

The organisation has further carried out programs such as, maintaining the cancer ward at the Kalubowila Hospital and a ward at the Castle Street De Soysa Maternity Hospital. Moreover, MLSC is only funded by compassionate donors, Ameena added.

The 50-year anniversary event on 26 August is to celebrate MLSC’s activities and achievements so far. The fete includes musical programs where two orchestras, namely, Friends in Harmony and Soul Sounds Soundarie David Rodrigo Orchestra will perform. 

Cookery training by MLSC