Youth Engagement

Planting the seed of Islam in the hearts of our kids

“Youth engagement means planting the seed of Islam in the hearts of our kids. Through consistent nurturing and education, youth develop a strong Muslim identity, which fully blossoms when they reach adulthood” -Shadi Jabali, youth leader.

Youth would define youth engagement as:

  1. Being respected and trusted

  2. To be a part of something, and directly involved in it

  3. Empowerment

  4. Power to make a change, to do something

  5. Teamwork

Why Youth Engagement?

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, told us that those who invest with their wealth, with their knowledge, and in their children will continue to receive reward for that investment even long after their death. He encouraged us to plant a seed of goodness even in the most desperate of times and to trust that Allah will never leave a good intention unrewarded. In these difficult times, when the faith of our children is challenged and when holding on to faith is like holding onto a hot coal, engaging with our youth is, now more than ever, an honorable way to live the immaculate Prophetic example, and to be, as he was, a mercy to mankind and beacon of light for all creation.

Benefits of Youth Engagement

According to the paper series An Emerging Model for Working with Youth Community Organizing + Youth Development = Youth Organizing, there are numerous benefits to youth engagement. These include:

  • Positive identity
  • Increased knowledge and skills
  • Deeper commitment to community
  • Cultural Competency – it gives youth a stronger self-esteem, cultural awareness, and self-reflection. It also builds youth confidence by helping them identify what they can do to positively impact the world.
  • Personal Competency – being able to make personal decisions, solving one’s own problems, helping others solve problems, as well as being thoughtful about their values, and how they apply them to their life conditions.
  • Political Competency – an increased understanding of the values of institutions (like Masjids and schools) and confidence to effectively interact with and positively influence public and private institutions.
  • Cognitive Competency – improvement in analytical, literacy, communication, strategizing and organizing skills, among others.
  • Social Competency – increased understanding of teamwork in terms of conflict resolution, team-building, and respect for diversity. This allows young people to build stronger and better relationships with everyone in their lives.

Barriers to Youth Engagement

Based on a thinking retreat conducted by Muslim Youth Spirit (MYSpirit), a joint initiative of Sound Vision and DawaNet, and other research, the following are some barriers to youth engagement:

  • Absence of Halal entertainment for youth
  • Youth identity crisis
  • Lack of youth & women’s representation in mosques
  • Absence of tolerance within the Muslim community
  • Generational and cultural gaps
  • Lack of funding for non-Masjid projects/youth organizations
  • Lack of mentors & role models
  • Absence of professional counselling for youth
  • Irrelevant and unwelcoming Khutbas, programs, and structures in Masjids and Islamic centers
  • Lack of unity and networking among Muslims
  • Parents being disengaged from the community
  • Being treated like a child, without respect, being tokenized
  • Lack of formal guidance to execute a project
  • Youth being too busy
  • Youth not knowing how to get involved
  • Youth not being asked to get involved