Sanad Trust Youth Clubs: A Unique Opportunity
Growing up in the South Florida Muslim community, and having the privilege of working with youth through various organizations (both Muslim and non-Muslim), I’ve seen a great deal. Over the past 20+ years I’ve witnessed many youth progress from elementary school to college, then transition to married life and parenthood. Although they mostly go on to lead successful lives into adulthood, the one thing that always stands out is the significant difference between the youth that were actively engaged in (faith-based) youth development while growing up, and the youth who were not.
I’ve been fortunate to participate in numerous youth-oriented programs as a youth myself. I’ve experienced first-hand the difference it can make in a child’s upbringing and values as an adult. These programs gave me the foundation and motivation to remain connected to my religion and to my community. I learned the value of being involved in doing good work and giving back to my community. I’ve witnessed the same transformations over and over again with the youth I’ve worked with in various Muslim organizations. They are more likely have a strong Muslim identity; they are more likely to have important life skills such as leadership, public-speaking, and time management; and they are more likely to be active in their communities, and are more willing to give back.
On the other hand, the lack of quality youth engagement programs and the inability to foster our youth into strong leaders will eventually adversely impact the South Florida Muslim community. As our current leadership begins to phase out of their roles, we are seeing a big void in finding youth/young adults who have the interest and/or skills to want to fill in and lead our communities. Organizations must provide these opportunities for our youth to be connected to their religion and to like-minded youth, while giving them the training and foundation to be successful adults who give back.
Sanad Trust Foundation has done an amazing job in laying this foundation through the Sanad Youth Clubs initiative. The clubs offer fun, educational, high-quality activities for students from Kindergarten to High School, in a safe, nurturing environment, and always with an uncompromising expectation of good moral character.
- The Sanad Art Club is a unique club that explores art through creativity and exploration for students ages 5 – 7.
- The Sanad Cubs focuses on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activities for students ages 7-11 years.
- Middle School students participate in MYNA @ Sanad (Muslim Youth of North America). The youth group is student-lead and open to all youth 12- 18 years in the community. The group participates and organizes regional camps, national trips, and local social activities.
- High School students participate in MIST (Muslim Interscholastic Tournament). Each year this group, which is open to students ages 14 – 18, fields a team to participate in the regional Florida competition. Competition categories include basketball, spoken word, short film, and much more.
My youngest son participates in the STEAM club and comes home after each meeting full of excitement and ready to share about everything he learned. He loves the hands-on, team-building activities. My older son participates in the MYNA club and is learning valuable skills like teamwork, organization, planning, communication, and more. Being a part of this group has really helped him build his confidence and leadership. As a parent, the best part is seeing their character and personalities being molded in such a positive way.
I’ve also had the pleasure of coaching the Sanad MIST team for the past four years. It’s been such a fulfilling experience for me to lead these amazing youth as they showcase their many talents at the annual competition. Through the Sanad MIST group, our youth have learned beneficial lessons such as working in a team, leadership skills, communication, all within a nurturing environment where they can feel free to be Muslims. It’s a great outlet for them to express themselves and be creative. It’s always rewarding to see them expand their mindset, build confidence, and really push themselves to reach new heights. Serving as their mentor has also helped me personally. Remaining connected to the youth somehow helps keep me youthful. It also keeps me on my toes and gives me a sense of ownership, so that I am always looking to sharpen my skills and improve my character to try to be the best role model I can.
It is my hope that more children can benefit from Sanad Youth Clubs or other youth development programs, so we can continue the cycle of leadership training and volunteerism.
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