International Islamic Federation of Student Organisations (IIFSO) organized international conference on Future Change Makers in Istanbul, Turkey on 6th and 7th April 2019. As SIO is the member organization of IIFSO, it was also invited in it. Syed Azharuddin who is currently the General Secretary of SIO represented SIO.
In the general assembly meet held on 6th April 2019, Syed Azharuddin was appointed as Executive Committee member of IIFSO along with other office bearers, while Enes Yalman was elected as Secretary General.
IIFSO is an international student and youth federation with a membership of 100+ student and youth organizations in more than 60 countries. IIFSO was started as a student initiative in 1966 and officially formed in 1969.
IIFSO joined the United Nations in 1977 as an NGO with a special consultative status in the economic and social council and thus having mutual grounds in support of UN’s initiatives. IIFSO has organized hundreds of capacity-building trainings for youth activists everywhere. IIFSO participated in several conferences including topics such as human rights, islamophobia, women rights and social development.
Syed Azharuddin, while addressing in the international conference said, students and youth have a big role in reconstruction of society in present times. Even though Islam and its followers are facing tough time, still we have various opportunities to contribute in our respective countries.
Azharuddin pointed out four important domains in which students and youth can contribute to bring back peace in the world.
1. Presenting Islam before the humanity and clearing the misconceptions among the masses is the biggest tool to counter Islamophobia.
2. Eradication of illiteracy and creating awareness about the importance of education is another aspect on which we need to focus, which will give the dignified life to the various communities which are still under the pressure of power hunger politicians.
3. Providing equal opportunities to marginalized communities will improve the economic condition of them. Economic upliftment of entire humanity for world peace is another important factor.
4. World politics is only for power, for gaining power, the so-called self claimed world leaders are destroying the social fabric of nations. In this grave times, we need leaders like Hz. Umar bin Khattab (R.A) who reached to every citizen of his geographical area where he ruled and solved the problems of every individual.