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Many of us dream of doing something good in life, either by helping the poor, needy, orphaned, or sick. Well, my dream is to help youth prepare for the future! The main things you would need to make this idea a success is money, strength, knowledge, earnestness, and zest — with all of these things, anything is possible!
I would personally love to create an Islamic youth center that is for both Muslim and non-Muslim youth. It would be a place where all youth would be welcome; and for those youth who feel isolated, it would be a good way for them to overcome this isolation and to interact and meet new friends. It would be an educational, fun, adventurous, exciting, practical, and entertaining center for youth.
I would try to find a location for it in a central area in the town it would be built in. It would be within walking distance for the majority of youth and most preferably, close to a mosque.
Imagine a massive building divided into two sections, one for females and one for males, where you'd find a variety of activities that would keep you busy for hours!
What would be educational and fun ways to keep the youth occupied and not bored? What would encourage youth to attend these Islamic youth centers? The following ideas are my ideas — and they are not only lectures and lessons:
1. Camping trips arranged for boys and girls (separately). They would be taught about environmental studies, the effects of pollution, the beauty of Allah's creations, and how to protect and keep these creations safe.
2. Outings and excursions to orphanages, homes for the elderly, poorer areas, universities, and hospitals.
3. Exhibitions on Islamic and other historical events and Islamic fashion shows.
4. A sports day or daily sports events so youth can play soccer, rugby, cricket, and baseball. Maybe mini-tournaments could be held against other centers and schools.
5. Lectures and advice given by youth for the youth about any problems they may face. Also, religious scholars should be invited to share their knowledge with the youth, and they should ask the youth to give talks on what they know or have learned.
6. Da`wah classes for people of other religions who are interested to know about Islam. Also there would be classes on how to teach others about Islam.
7. Computer education and Internet access for all and a safe place for youth to hang out with friends and to have snacks.
Both the boys and girls sections would be divided into two groups, one for 12- to 17-year-olds, and the other for 18- to 25-year-olds. The first group would have certain activities and events that would preferably take place daily after school hours so as not to disturb the school education.
The activities would be organized according to age because I think these are the ages when young people seek advice and knowledge about life. Youth of this age category would receive basic fiqh lessons on subjects such as how to make wudu' (ritual ablutions) before salah, how to perform salah, how to have good manners, how to avoid bad manners, and they would have lessons about all the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Also, the activities would include memorization of the Qur'an and small quizzes on what they have learned. The winners of the quizzes would receive prizes. The youth would work on group projects to broaden their minds. They wouldn't only have hard work and educational things, but also fun and physical ones, too. They would also play sports and games, go camping, and hold plays on the history of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and Companions. Throughout, they would be taught basic morals and values of life.
The older group would hold their activities on weekends so as not to disturb their working hours or academic education. They would take part in more practical activities, and would be taught by the religious scholars about the fiqh of marriage, women's rights, and inheritance. Also they would learn job skills and would receive advice on different careers. They would also visit orphanages and hospitals and would learn how to make da`wah.
They would conduct research on certain topics and assignments or projects and would receive a certificate at the end of the program. And between all the lessons and lectures, there would be fun events, such as camping trips, outings, gatherings, and sports activities.
It would be good to find skilled volunteers to teach the young men about household maintenance— woodworking, electrical and mechanical work — and teach the young women how to cook and sew, and they could have Islamic fashion shows. And at the end of these courses a certificate of achievement would be granted to them.
Just imagine this youth center! If it came into being, it would be my dream come true. So instead of being bored at home, hanging out at the mall 24/7, or wasting your time on unnecessary things, you could go to the youth center to learn or maybe even teach others.
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