Maysa Ezzat Hammoud
In 2017, I came to Shela to provide educational services to a grassroots charity organization. Instead, I ended up discovering the beauty of the Shela Swahili community along with the impending need to help preserve this authentic culture and religion from outside forces. In doing so, I put together a team of different skills to document, architect and hopefully preserve this hidden gem not yet appreciated by most of humanity.
Rakan DiarBakerli
My mother, Maysa, first came to me raving about this hidden gem of a place she stumbled upon off the coast of Kenya. This place very few people have heard of has preserved the Swahili culture and Islam in a way I’ve never seen before. I was tasked with documenting a trip on video and collecting first-hand account of students, teachers and long-time community members. This experience has reminded me of the importance and impact of giving. It is safe to say that investing in these people will only bring good to the world and elevate authentic students of knowledge for Islam.
Zubeir Athman Al-Ubeudy
I was born and raised of Shela and am now a graduate architect and will be the contractor for this project. I’m taking a huge responsibility in turning the tremendous quality of education of the madrassa, that I got himself, into a facility of equally immense infrastructural quality. I love playing and watching football. I love my job as an architect and leading tangible projects which is in line with my character. I love helping people in whatever way I can. I love making a difference to as many people as I can before I die.
Ahmad El Khatib
Ahmad El Khatib is a civil engineer with a passion for visual storytelling. He was first drawn to this project by Maysa’s description of the wondrous community of Shela Town. As a member of the team, Ahmad was primarily responsible for capturing the photographs displayed throughout the campaign as well as the published articles highlighting the unique facets of this community. He hopes that the emphasis on visual content in this project helps to transport you to the coast of Kenya and that you fall in love with the community as he did.
Ali Al-Amoody
Ali Ahmad Mohmmad Al-Amoody was born in Shela, Lamu in the year 1980. He is the son of the late Sheikh Ahmad Mohammad Umar Al-Amoody who was the head teacher of Madrasatul Huda. His father took over the management of the Madrasa after the death of his father; the late sheikh Mohamed Omar Ahmed Al-Amoody. Apart from being Muslim School teacher, both the father and the grandfather were also imams of the Shela Friday mosque at the same time authors of both Islamic books and Arabic poetry. Historically the family have consistently been involved in communal affairs and focused in combating social vices and advocating for proper Islamic upbringing. From his childhood Ali accompanied his father to various religious gatherings, a move that was perceived to objectively prepare him to advance the same course in future.
Ali joined Shela primary school in 1990 after attaining basic Islamic education. While in the primary school, Ali also managed to complete his secondary studies in the same madrasah. Currently, Ali is employed with Lamu County Government as the County Director in charge of Trade, Investment and Culture.
Omar Abdullah Al-Ubeidy
Omar Abdullah Al-Ubeidy is the deputy principal of Madrasatul Huda and is the imam for the town’s weekly Jummah (Friday) Sermon. He has a certificate in Islamic Studies and is fully dedicated to passing his knowledge to his students. He has been a teacher for many years and will be for many more. Ustadh Omar is absolutely thrilled to be part of this project as his passion to teach will be enhanced by the new facility. Ustadh Omar is also a part time farmer in the Manda island across the channel.
Mohamed El-Sheikh
I was born in Alexandria in 1985, and studied Architecture in the Faculty of Fine Arts in Alexandria, Egypt; and in the Faculty of Architecture and Society in the Polytechnic of Milan, Italy. I worked in the field of the design and installation of art exhibitions and museums in Egypt and Italy. I also worked in the field of theatrical scenography in Paris, France. My interests include environmental design and building, coffee, traveling, fishing, long distance running, playing the flute, and making notebooks. I created the architectural designs for proposed redesign of the school.