As 2009 drew to a close, I was delighted to be invited to the FOSIS Wales and West Awards Ceremony on Sunday 6 December at County Hall, Cardiff. The event was held to celebrate Eid, as well as the successes of the Muslim Youth in Wales during 2009. This was the first time I had attended a FOSIS event and I was looking forward to meeting some of our membership from the student Islamic societies in Wales.

I have to say, the dinner and award ceremony were absolutely fantastic. It was a pleasure to meet so many inspiring students from a variety of campuses across the nation. I went along with Luke Young, President of Swansea University SU, who has done a lot of work to build a strong relationship between the students’ union and the Islamic Society – something that other SUs could learn from. There are lots of active and passionate Islamic students in Wales, but the links between Islamic societies and the students’ union are not always as strong as they could be. As we enter a new year, I urge students’ unions to build relationships with their Islamic students and societies, to ensure that SUs are representative of, and responsive to this group of students. I was blown away by the energy and commitment that I-Socs across Wales had shown this year – get them involved in your SU!

One of the highlights of the evening was the video that documented the annual FOSIS Charity Week, something that everyone involved should be really proud of! Islamic students across Wales (and further afield) are involved in raising thousands of pounds for charity every single year, and NUS members are right at the centre of many of these efforts. Islamic students in Wales raised a grand total of £10,669.34 this year, with the money going to Islamic Relief, an international relief and development charity, which aims to alleviate the suffering of the world's poorest people. The following Charity Week awards were presented to I-Socs in Wales. Well done all!

• Overall Best Charity Week in Wales: Swansea & Swansea Met ISoc
• Most Raised: Cardiff ISoc
• Most Creative: Newport ISoc
• Most Dedicated: Glamorgan ISoc

Another fantastic part of the evening was the main awards ceremony, with I-Socs and individuals being recognised for their hard work and dedication. I was of course very pleased to see the Swansea Met I-Soc receiving the first award of the evening for most improved Islamic Society! The following awards were also announced:

• Outstanding Islam Awareness Week: Newport
• Most Improved ISoc: Swansea Metropolitan ISoc
• Outstanding Community Relations: Newport ISoc
• Best Host: UWIC
• Outstanding Student Union Relations: Cardiff ISoc
• Outstanding Creativity: Cardiff ISoc
• Outstanding Mosque Provision: Glamorgan ISoc
• Outstanding Event: UWIC ISoc
• The Ummah Award: Glamorgan ISoc
• The Interfaith Award: Lampeter ISoc
• The Knowledge Award: Swansea ISoc
• The Ihsaan Award: Cardiff ISoc

I would like to thank FOSIS Wales for inviting me to this event, I had a great time and it was a privilege to spend the evening with so many inspiring students and activists. I hope that 2010 is successful for Islamic students and I-Socs across Wales – keep up the good work!

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Also in December...

• Strategic Plan meeting, Cardiff
• Hidden Costs of Study steering group meeting, Cardiff
• HEFCW Council, Cardiff
• General Election meeting, Cardiff
• NUS Christmas party, London (representing the students of Wales...)

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