Appointment of the Africa Youth Network (AYN) 2025 - 2028

CIRCULAR NO:   AFED/025/25                                Date: November 26, 2025 

APPOINTMENT OF THE AFRICA YOUTH NETWORK (AYN)

The Africa Federation Chairman Alhaj Amine bhai Nassor is pleased to announce the appointment of Sister Zahra Samir Habib as the Chairperson of the Africa Youth Network (AYN) for the term 2025 – 2028.

Following her recent appointment, Zahra bai has finalized her team for the term, and we are pleased to share their brief profiles. The Africa Youth Network brings together a dynamic group of dedicated individuals, each contributing a wealth of experience, commitment, and passion towards the growth and wellbeing of the youth in our community.

Zahra Samir Habib is currently pursuing a degree in Child Psychology, driven by her deep passion for emotional well-being and her commitment to helping children understand, process, and express their emotions in healthy and meaningful ways. In February 2025, she founded Parenting Brews, a growing community that hosts monthly workshops for parents and provides a safe, supportive space to strengthen parent–child connections.

In 2023, at the first-ever WF Youth Conference in London, Zahra was selected to represent AFED in the Youth Task Force, formed and endorsed by the ExCo, where she served as Chairperson during its inaugural term. She also previously served on the AYN Board, playing a key role in organizing the August 2023 AFED Youth Conference in Arusha, where she headed the marketing team.

Beyond youth leadership roles, Zahra has been an active member of the Development Society, serving first as Welfare Coordinator and later as Vice Chair, contributing significantly to community service and youth engagement. She is also a dedicated Qur’an teacher at Husayni Madrasah, where she continues to nurture young minds both spiritually and emotionally.

Azhar Sadiq Alishan is an active and dedicated member of the community, serving in various committees including the Shia Boys Troop Scouts Executive Team and the KSIJ Mayaat Committee in Dar es Salaam. With over a decade of experience in the media team, Azhar has successfully organized numerous events as a convener for the Scouts, demonstrating strong leadership, coordination, and a commitment to youth engagement through diverse community initiatives.

In recognition of his dedication to entrepreneurship and youth empowerment, he was featured in the Africa Federation Samachar as a Youth Trailblazer in 2023. Azhar is deeply passionate about youth upliftment and community development, frequently contributing his time to mentorship and voluntary service.

He proudly carries forward the legacy of service and humility instilled by his parents, Sadiq Alishan and Marhuma Zaheeda Alishan.

Professionally, Azhar serves as a Business Development Manager at CSS Limited, a family-run IT solutions company, where he focuses on driving business growth, problem-solving, and developing meaningful and strategic client relationships.

Fatema Jabbir Roshanali is an ACCA-qualified professional from Arusha, Tanzania, and the founder of Iqra Academy, a home-based Quran learning space built on her passion for accessible and engaging Islamic education. She previously led the Ladies Media Team for a full two-year term and is now serving her second term as Secretary of the Ladies Managing Committee, Arusha Jamaat. 

Fatema is also the founder of Banaatul Islam, a youth group established in 2019–2023 to empower and support young girls within the community. In June 2023, she was selected as part of the AFED delegation for the WF YCON, representing her community on an international platform.

Khushi Rowjani, born and raised in Nairobi, is a passionate educator who graduated with honors from Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, Canada, earning a diploma in Early Childhood Education.

An active member of the Nairobi Jamaat, Khushi serves on both the Youth Committee and the Children’s Tabligh Committee, where she helps organize programs and volunteer initiatives that encourage community engagement and spiritual growth among the youth. She is also part of the Ladies Media Team, contributing her creativity and collaboration skills to strengthen community communication and outreach.

Guided by faith, compassion, and a commitment to service, Khushi aspires to continue supporting AFED’s mission by fostering youth development, unity, and a deeper sense of belonging across the Federation.

Mohamed Abbas Merali is an IT specialist with a degree in Computer Science.  He is passionate about ICT, youth development, and creating positive change.

He volunteered for three years with the Haideri Arbaeen Walk in South London before returning to Mombasa.

Mohamed Abbas enjoys football and contributes actively to community-focused initiatives.  As a Youth Board member, he aims to inspire and empower young people.

Zamin Raza Rowjani, born and raised in Nairobi, has grown up within the SAAJ community and remains grateful for the opportunities it has given him to serve. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at Strathmore University alongside ACCA, where he has received Dean’s List recognition in both 2023 and 2024. He also serves as Treasurer and a founding member of the Pakistani Community at Strathmore.

Zamin has been part of the SAAJ Youth Union since 2023, later taking on the role of Vice Chair in 2024 and continuing in the 2025-2027 term. He has also served as the AYN Representative for Nairobi Jamaat. His community involvement includes supporting the SAAJ Security Team and contributing to the Who Is Hussain Nairobi Chapter as Head of Gents Volunteers and Interim Vice Chair. He also teaches at Haydari Madrasah Nairobi and enjoys Teaching/Mentoring younger students.

Zamin hopes to support AYN by offering a holistic perspective and contributing to efforts that strengthen unity and wellbeing among the youth.

Alijawad Esmail has been actively involved in the KSIJ Dar es Salaam community and AFED initiatives, including Solidarity Day, Khoja Heritage, and the ZNZ Sports Festival. He has volunteered with Who Is Hussain Dar and is the founder of Youth Islamic Service (YIS), a platform dedicated to organizing creative events and conferences that engage and inspire participants while sharing the message of the Ahlulbayt (‘a). Through YIS, Alijawad has developed a strategic approach to community engagement designing programs that connect meaningfully with the next generation and strengthen their grounding in faith and values.

Professionally, Alijawad serves as a Brand Engagement Manager at a multinational tech distribution company, specializing in brand experience, communication, and creative strategy.

He is also the co-founder of ARC, a trend-focused creative agency known for delivering innovative campaigns and fresh storytelling. Alijawad aims to bring this combination of strategic community building, creative leadership, and professional expertise to AYN helping shape initiatives that are relevant, impactful, and aligned with the core values of the community.

The AFED Secretariat extends its heartiest congratulations to Zahra bai Habib and her team on their appointment and wishes them every success in achieving the goals and objectives of the Board for the 2025–2028 term.

The Email contact of the Board is youth@africafederation.org

Secretariat