Junior High Saturday Halaqah is a beneficial program that provides a very welcoming and knowledgeable environment for girls (ages 9-13) and boys (ages 9-15) from 6-8pm every Saturday. Not only does it allow children to learn more about Islam, but Junior High Saturday Halaqah also allows them to have fun doing it! The children are set into a classroom-like structure and assigned a counselor that educates them and bonds with them. When asked what made her decide to take a leadership role within Junior High Saturday Halaqah, organizer and counselor Aya Hasan provided her input on what makes this program valuable.
Aya Hasan says “The way I found out about Junior High Saturday Halaqah was through people from my MSA who volunteered at the masjid and were looking for help. I had a couple options of doing high school or junior high programs, but I chose junior high because I absolutely love kids. I love talking to them; I feel like they’re all so smart and ambitious and just want someone to listen. I also loved the idea that, for a lot of these kids, the halaqah would be their first experience in the masjid and maybe the first time they’re learning about Islam. I felt like being a Junior High Saturday Halaqah organizer would be so rewarding, and I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity. Alhamdulillah I was blessed to have people in my life who volunteered their time to teach me about the beauty of Islam. Those people have made a huge impact on me, and I still talk to many of them! I feel like my way of giving back is by being a part of a program that can make a positive impact on kids, just the way it did for me.”
By Maryam Mohamed