Zahra Rahimi
Staff Writer
There are many opportunities for students at Alexandria City High School to organize clubs and activities to demonstrate leadership skills. There are many religions represented at ACHS, but there is a large community of Muslim students, staff, and teachers.
Dr. Ahmed Khalil, an English teacher in the International Academy, and students Yasmeen Mukhtar, Zuha Hassen, Amine Mers, and Faris Zaraoun formed a new club called Muslim Youth Union to coordinate Islamic cultural events and facilitate prayer services for Muslim students. Their goal is to foster an environment where Muslim students can interact with one another’s cultural backgrounds. MYU students will be able to participate in prayers provided in Arabic and English, which is one of the important pillars of Islam.
The MYU club welcomes Muslim and non-Muslim students to learn Islamic culture and will teach Arabic to those who are interested in learning. The club also offers opportunities to learn more about Islam’s concepts and principles.
Hassen, an executive member of MYU said, “Having the Muslim Youth Union is important to allow Muslims throughout ACHS to have a community where they can make connections while also helping out the local community [through] volunteer work. Islam can be perceived negatively, and the Muslim Youth Union disputes this by teaching lessons on Islam and how Islam is a peaceful religion.”
Before the creation of MYU, members arranged Ramadan bouquets, prayer services, and cultural nights, such as The International Bazaars. Last year, they organized the Ramadan Night Banquet, Iftar, in the school cafeteria. Students spent precious time with Muslim and non-muslim students and staff on the Ifrari night where they served different foods from different countries and Muslims prayed and broke their fast at school.
“Building intercultural relationships through peaceful events, cultural nights, and learning forums are equally beneficial”, said Dr. Khalil. In addition, MYU’s annual plan is to arrange educational and cultural trips for the group members. Their plan for this year includes a suggestion of performing Umrah or Hajj (pilgrimage), which is the fifth pillar of Islam.
Besides the events held in the school, the club also arranges a variety of educational projects and social activities off-campus to collaborate and support the Alexandria community. They support the local community through volunteering for societal institutions and relief organizations. The group has provided support to poor student populations abroad for several years such as books, school supplies, uniforms, and other learning equipment for students in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and El Salvador. On November 10, 2022, the group successfully participated in the Islamic Relief meal packaging, where 18,000 meals were prepared. On November 19, they participated in food distribution with the ALIVE organization in two different sites within Alexandria City.
“We highly value and appreciate all of what ACPS administration is providing to our association by giving us every necessary support to our events and activities,” said Dr. Khalil.
Featured Image from left to right: Hosai Rasuli, Dr. Ahmed Khalil
Photo courtesy of Gabriel Elias
