Continuing our ten-year-old tradition, we take a look back at the news stories of 2011 and pick out the ones that give us reason to reflect, to hope, and to believe in better days ahead.

When British Muslims are able to work collaboratively on projects that benefit the larger community with like-minded youth together across faith lines, it gives them a chance to explore their abilities, interpersonal skills and dynamism. And many of those go on to become role models for others.

Much of the world has rightly welcomed a unity agreement between competing Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. It is now up to the hardliners within Hamas and Israel’s ruling Likud party to drop their rejectionist stances on a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders.

Through appropriate planning and disclosure on behalf of organizations, and investigation and research on behalf of donors, Muslim charities can set an example of good governance.