Trevor C. Krueger
Entrepreneur - Writer - Publisher
The World Muslim Leadership Forum
This excellent first event in London to discuss positive ways forward for Islam and the acceptance of Muslims as an integral part of every community. An excellent attendance at Somerset House gave the delagates a real opportunity to share views, learn from personal experiences and propose ideas and visions for the future.
An event that really needed to be witnessed by the general public in order that more might share and witness the true desire by Muslims all over the World to improve their image and promote true peace within the community.
HRH Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, The Crown Prince of Perak Malaysia gave a long and detailed speach about the current World position of the Islamic faith and what needed to be done to improve international relations. Former Deputy PM of Pakistan also spoke passionately about what was needed and how Islam must work together and focus on projecting positivity and how he himself had suffered at the hands of violence.
This event will build and be repeated in future years but, there is no doubt that great initiatives were already forged at this first event that will do much to help the cause. Watch this space for some exciting news in the coming months involving Global Ambassador and the Muslim Youth of the World.
Anas Al-Tikriti
CEO: Cordoba Foundation
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Brian McAndrew
Chairman: Faith Regen Foundation
H.E. Baroness Manzila Pola Udin
Member of The House of Lords
HRH Raja Dr Nazrin Shah
The Crown Prince of Perak
PC Sahira Fazil
Metropolitan Police
Dato' Sri Anifah Haji Aman
Minister Foreign Affairs Malaysia
Ms. Tiffany Limkokwing
Limkokwing University
Dato' Dr. Michael Yeoh
CEO: A.S.L.I.
S.K. Lingam
Hon: President A.U.B.F.
Dato' Mohamed Iqbal Rawther
Chairman: Malaysian Inst. Manag't
Dato' John Lim
Partner: UHY Hacker Young
The Malaysian Diaspora and Talents (Brain Drain) Conference
Malaysia is currently losing vital academic talent to overseas employers at a worrying rate. The Government is aware that something has to be done fast to stop new Graduates seeking employment overseas and also to encourage the Diaspora to return and resettle in their home country.
But, the appeal of a better standard of living and higher pay has attracted many to leave for the UK, USA and Singapore etc in search of benefits and an even better education for their children.
Current difficulties in returning home with foreign spouses fuels reluctance to repatriate as does current Visa restrictions and work permit controls on immigrants.
The new Government is looking closely at all these problems and has vowed to make changes. The conference was organised to investigate oppinion and court suggestions on what exactly it will take to resolve the situation and make working in Malaysia appealing once again.
Though some were sceptical that change was indeed possible, SK Lingam, Chairman of Malaysia Link UK was adamant and determined that the conference would yield results. The mood was positive at the end and many came away highly encouraged and pledged to contribute to finding solutions.
Krueger
Media Ltd
The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
Celebrates it's 10th Anniversary with a Dinner at the National Liberal Club - London
The sunny climate of Malaysia was a World away from the brisk October evening air of Westminster as I made my way to the National Liberal Club to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus in Jalan Broga, Selangor. Ranked in the UK’s Top 10 and the World’s Top 100 universities by the Shanghai Jiao Tong (SJTU) and Times Higher (THE) World University Rankings. In the UK, the University is consistently ranked highly in the league tables for Higher Education Institutions, published by The Guardian, The Times and The Sunday Times. It was awarded ‘UK University of the Year’ by The Times Higher Awards 2006.
Keynote speaker was former student Jeremy Browne MP. Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Also speaking was H.E. The High Commissioner of Malaysia and Neville Green OBE, Chairman of the British Malaysian Society.
The Global Business Leaders Forum - Kuala Lumpur 2010
Kuala Lumpur was a wonderful setting for the Forum as you can see from my snaps below. Read my Blog for a more detailed account... meanwhile take a look at this iconic location and the views of the Twin Towers from my Hotel window.
Dato Vijay Eswaran presents me with a signed copy of his book: "In The Sphere of Silence"
The final moments before the delegates
enter the Forum
HRM Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe of Nigeria
Great Shopping at the KLCC
Mr Zubyr Soomro, Chairman
Karachi Stock Exchange
Gregor Mackinnon M.D. C.B.C presents a memento to: The Hon. Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia
Bangladesh - Asia's Next Big Opportunity?
There is no doubt that Bangladesh has a great deal to offer in terms of potential but there are risks and a great deal of money needs to be invested.
The conference in London was a respectable attempt to market what's on offer but for me all the trouble and expense of staging the forum was undermined by a simple error. While the panel were talking and attempting to engage the audience on what is, after all a serious objective, the back of the room was plagued by constant chatter as delegates and participants enetered and left the room. They completely undermined the speakers with their lack of respect and ignorance. I had to ask for people to be quiet and for the door to be closed, but the situation did not improve much. So I voted with my feet and left at the end of the first session.
It struck me that many attending saw the forum as their opportunity to grandstand and get noticed rather than allow the panel to engage the audience without interuption. They ruined a valuable opportunity for serious and constructive debate. Questions turned into campaign statements and before we knew it the time was gone. Unprofessional and wasteful of what should have been a great day for Bangladesh.
Ahmedabad - Gujarat
The Best Introduction to India!
I recently returned from Ahmedabad in Gujarat where I had the most fantastic time and the very best introduction to India. There is so much to tell you that I thought I'd cheat and simply add this feature video which does a good job of introducing the spirit of the State and features my good friend Uttej Rao of Rao Travel Consultancy. Just for good measure I am adding a few personal photos taken on my visit!
Jagdish Patel and I at Gujatat Travel Mart
Outside just one great Sun Temple!
The Museum Home of the Great Mahatma Gandhi
Making Cotton the Gandhi Way
Royal Safai Camp - Bajana
Balaram Palace Resort
Read About Our Charity Tours to Help the Salt Children of Akaash Ganga and vist the website at: www.saltchildren.com
There are so many charities in the World, so many good causes and so many in genuine need it is often impossible to choose which is the most deserving or worthy of our attention.
Personally, I like to recognise a situation from my own experience and I like to know that any help I am able to give is actually going to reach the cause I believe I am supporting. We have all heard the stories of disappearing donations and the evidence that Africa is still struggling after so much aid, is probably all the proof we need?
Recently I had the good fortune to visit India for the first time and this was further enhanced by my journey being to Gujarat, a fine State with its eye firmly focused on the future. Yet even in this progressive part of India, the sheer volume of people ensures poverty still exists – in every corner.
In Zainabad, I visited the Little Raan of Kutch, home to the Salt Children whose families scrape a living, quite literally, from the natural Salt Pans that rise up from the water table below the desert. The families who work this natural resource are virtual prisoners of the Salt Merchants and Landlords who expect them to work up to 18 hours a day in intense heat, living in twig built shacks and surviving on one small meal a day. Look across the desert at the twinkling mirage in the distance, the blue skies, the sun shining on the salt pans and you may be forgiven for thinking - this is a pleasant place to be. But don’t be fooled. This is a dangerous and desolate region where many perish working on the salt pans, unnoticed by the world who does not even know they are there.
The only hope the children have of ever escaping a lifetime farming salt, is the project founded by Prince Dhanraj Malik of Zainabad. He has established Akaash Ganga “River of Stars”, a sanctuary home for children of the salt workers. Those, who are lucky enough to gain a place are fed, housed and educated to a point where it is hoped they will be able to eventually fend for themselves and re-enter society with skills that will sustain them. In Zainabad they believe that if a woman is educated, her family is educated – for she will be able to teach, protect and guide them.
But there are too many children in need of rescue and not enough money to house or feed them. Dhanraj Malik has a big heart, but he is not rich and it costs as much as he can ever raise to maintain the home and all who depend on him. Every day they have to turn away families at the gate who come to beg a place and a future for their children.
Life is tough at Akaash Ganga – but the foundations are there to achieve so much more and help so many more children. All it takes is money and love. They need plenty of both.
I decided I wanted to help. I couldn’t just turn away, come home and forget about these lovely children who smile and trust and show gratitude for the little they have, knowing they are indeed fortunate to have been given a home at Akaash Ganga. These are children with so much potential and a deep rooted desire to learn, work hard and benefit themselves and all others who follow in their footsteps.
The truth is that when you meet children like this, children who are not affected by a consumer society, who don’t know greed or over indulgence and who only crave survival and an opportunity to climb out of poverty, they educate us. They remind us how lucky we are to live in such relative luxury here in the West and of how much we take our own fortuitous situation for granted.
What these children need is interaction with the World, evidence that there are people out there who care and will help them to help themselves. Remember, all they know is their own life. They cannot compare their situation to our own or other children in the World – for they know nothing of it. They don’t watch the TV news or read newspapers, all they know is their own existence.
So what I am trying to do is offer a unique opportunity to help these very deserving kids by inviting people to get involved in their care. After all, a visit to incredible India must be on everyone’s list of things to do and what better way to fulfil that ambition than by using charity as an excuse to get acquainted?
Akaash Ganga needs teachers and builders, painters and artists, musicians and motivators to contribute a few short days interacting with the children and colouring and embellishing their lives to a point that gives them hope and confidence in themselves and the future.
We are looking for people who can bring these skills, and others, to Akaash Ganga for just four short days. Working on the buildings, or with the children, with a view to doing anything that will generally improve life for all who depend on it. The essential work volunteers can provide will also contribute to expanding the premises and make room for others who await the chance to enter Akaash Ganga too. Until the gates open for them, they remain panning for salt in the heat and the poverty.
Ideally, I hope to encourage parents and young adults to come as a team so that the learning experience can truly be shared by both the giver and the receiver. There is no doubt that all who enter the home with one viewpoint, will most certainly leave with another.
If you would like to offer your time and skills to help this worthy cause we would love to hear from you. At the end of the four days you can enjoy a wonderful holiday touring Gujarat. But, I guarantee the children will travel with you twice, both in your heart and in your mind.
When you arrive at Akaash Ganga you may like to consider bringing a little something more than your luggage. Perhaps some clothes you no longer need and can donate, or toys or small luxuries the children may never otherwise experience. I personally will be taking a dozen knitted toys with me next time I go and, on top of that, I fully expect to go shopping... I will buy paint, building materials, food and whatever is necessary or needed within my budget.
I am not rich myself, so I have decided I must do something more than my personal finances will allow. I have decided along with my 16 year old son Ashley, to do a sponsored walk to raise a million Rupees. We will do that by walking from London to Manchester, around 200 miles. I consider it as a selfish endeavour – as I could really use the exercise!
If you want to get involved our tours will run from October to March, places are limited so you need to book as soon as you can.
As I’m 51 I guess I am a bit overdue for a mid life crisis – I really don’t know? But I do know something; the kids of Akaash Ganga are going to benefit from it.
Please make a donation or book your place on a tour at: www.saltchildren.com
Hard Work & Poverty Creates Children Like This
There Isn't Much Scope For Play or a Future
But - Akaash Ganga Turns Poverty Into Positivity!
