For every community, there is a direction to which they face (in their prayers). So hasten towards all that is good. Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you together. Truly, Allah is Able to do all things. Al-Quran, 2:148

We're Back and More Committed Than Ever!

In 2017, we took a hiatus and now we have returned in 2018 more motivated and wiser. Help us succeed in our 2018-19 projects!

Our Mission

The Junior Alliance for Worship, Action, and Development (JAWAD) is a nonprofit organization serving the unique needs of Muslim American Adolescents.

In 2012, JAWAD was created in response to the growing need of Muslim youth in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. We are dedicated to providing a safe and enriching environment for Muslim youth to:

• Create a cohesive sense of self as Muslims and as Americans


• Enhance their socio-emotional skills and promote their mental health  

• Positively impact their local/global community through service and dialog

Our program is unique because our participants (known as the "JAWAD squad") gain the confidence and skills necessary for effective participation as Muslim members of their individual and communal spaces. They learn how to think critically, collaborate, problem-solve, reflect and empathize - all tools that positively impact the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of themselves and those around them.

A unity circle, connected by two sets of siblings, brings the weekend activities to an end. (May 2016)

Our Work

JAWAD has addressed the unique needs of Muslim adolescents through 4 types of programming, including seasonal retreats, youth-led community projects, global exchange projects, and peer mentor training programs. 

• JAWAD retreats have a 93% youth retention rate from event to event, attributed to our focus on providing relevant programming that stresses spiritual development, a sense of belonging, life-skills training, community action projects, and psychosocial support.

• Successful youth-led programs, including plays, classes, and art exhibits have brought the community together to learn and grow.

• JAWAD’s Peer Mentor Training Program has harnessed the talents of many of our young adult graduates. Peer mentors receive rigorous training to serve in leadership positions within the organization. They are integral in planning retreats, running workshops, promoting the organization, and creating promotional materials for the program.

• Our groundbreaking Global Exchange Program has created long-lasting bonds between our youth and Muslim youth from other countries. During these exchanges, youth participate in Islamic education opportunities with local youth, engage in grassroots community work, and learn about host cultures.

• JAWAD youth have gone on to share their voices in different arenas in our society. Of our regular members and graduates, over 50% of them have started or joined initiatives to contribute to their communities.

• They have gained confidence too! Many of the JAWADSquad have won awards from competitions in the arts, sciences, and forensics.

We Need Your Support

The cost to run JAWAD and its programs is $23,000. 

By implementing successful programming and partnering with concerned families and experts from within the Muslim community, financial and in-kind support has helped keep costs low.

Our goal for 2018 – 2019 is to raise $23,000 will allow us to complete:

• Global Exchange Program | Iran Summer Tour  $14,000

Your contribution will subsidize the cost of airfare for 7 income-eligible youth and cover the cost of lodging, transportation, food, and other local expenses for 13 youth, two peer mentors, and three chaperones. 

• Seasonal Retreats | Nurturing Identity and Expressions of Faith $5,000
  

Your contribution will cover the cost of food, lodging, materials, and supplies for three retreats throughout the year. Further, your contribution will cover the registration fees for income-eligible children.

• Peer Mentor Training Program | Training Future Leaders $3,000

This program has already been sponsored by generous donors.

• Youth-led Projects | Building Leadership Skills $1,000

Your contribution will cover the cost of venue, promotions, refreshments, and food, and incidentals.

Our survival depends on donors, like you, who believe that Muslim American youth deserve a safe place to learn and grow.

Our Youth

Muslim adolescents are faced with extraordinary challenges as they navigate their way through Middle and High School in America. They face alienation both from the outside and from within their Islamic communities. It’s easy for them to feel disconnected and alone. Through interaction, learning, and service, JAWAD youth gain the requisite skills to navigate and impact the complex world around them.

Will you join us?

Are looking for a place to belong, grow, and succeed? With JAWAD, you will receive the skills to become the next generation of leaders within the Muslim community, the country, and the world.

For more information about joining us, visit www.jawadyouth.org.