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ICM Offering Tutoring to Help Bring Youth to the Masjid

Community News - Community News

Written by Yaman Shalabi, Muslim Link Staff Writer

Thursday, 04 February 2010 09:23

In an effort to attract the youth to become more involved with the masjid, the Islamic Center of Maryland (ICM) organized an event January 17, 2010 from 2-4pm in the masjid’s library where students attending high school and college could come and get tutored prior to examinations.

Youth Committee Coordinator Shafiq Ahmed expressed his concern in the diminishing number of youth attending the masjid. He believes holding tutoring sessions and similar events might give the youth an incentive to become more involved with ICM activities.

With little time to publicize the event, the number of students that did show was less than expected. Students received help in Geometry and Chemistry and “found it to be helpful.” Tutors from within the community and one brother from the University of Maryland volunteered to help.

“The students were engaging with the tutors,” explained Ahmed. “There was a nice back and forth communication and students wanted to stay in touch [with the tutors].”

It has been a challenge trying to get the youth to become more active and involved with the group but Ahmed is confident and believes “that once a relationship is established, the youth will be more engaging during further events.”

The Board of Trustees is supportive and would like to institute a program to help the youth on an ongoing basis. The recently created Youth Committee has a lot of resources that it is eager to use yet it is still in its “infancy stage and the idea is to have small events and see how it goes,” said the Coordinator.

“Trying to rejuvenate the Youth Program has been a struggle but we have great community members who are very instrumental,” Ahmed pointed out.

The Committee is planning its next study session for students during late May and early June before finals. A date has not yet been decided.