youth Testimonials
“I attended a MAPS Youth Session nearly ten years ago. I was a high school student who had just moved to the Seattle area with my family. I was immediately impressed by Brother Ahsen and Sister Sarah - who were young, cool-looking, and still practicing and committed to Islam. I attended MAPS Youth sessions periodically afterwards, including the sandwich making sessions where Brother Ahsen took vans full of kids to make and deliver sandwiches to Tent City. Those experiences were impactful for me as a student attending a public high school - and those positive feelings and fond memories stuck with me for a long time. Despite not being deeply involved in MAPS or MAPS-Youth once I started college and later law school, due to my positive experiences I always felt like Brother Ahsen was someone I could turn to for community support. He is a trustworthy and honorable person in the community, who has shown a decade-plus long commitment to his service. He is an invaluable community resource, and he has touched the lives of so many youth. As a UW student and working professional, I have sought advice from him on multiple occasions on MSA and other community issues. He, and his wife, have a profound sense of justice and sincerity. I pray, and believe, that Brother Ahsen will continue to impact the lives of hundreds, and even thousands, of youth locally and around the country. He has my full sponsorship for his youth group and consulting work.”
— Malak Shalabi
“High school is a really hard time for Muslims because so much of your identity is being questioned constantly and it can feel very isolating when your peers and even your family don’t seem to understand you. I was lucky to have MAPS Youth to help me feel less alone. Having open discussions about relevant topics and building good relationships with Muslims at the mosque really helped me feel less alone growing up and that there were many others going through the same thing as me. Through having both Islamic meetings and also social events I found a space where I felt comfortable with being Muslim. It also helped me prioritize finding a Muslim community so when I went off to college that’s what I looked for.”
— Haykal Mubin
“I regularly attended Ahsen’s youth group in high school and I was able to gain many benefits from being a part of it. Not only did I meet new people, we were able to develop relationships through various experiences Ahsen would carefully craft for us. I remember his model of service, spirituality and fun. Many of us continued to lead in our MSA’s and took elements from his guidance to those settings. Alhamdulilah we were able to take our experiences and give it back and invest it in our communities more. Additionally, Ahsen himself is a gem to learn from. My senior year of high school, I was having a difficult time picking a school to attend for university and dealing with some hard rejections. I didn’t like to reach out for help but he took time to notice and spent one of our hikes discussing pros/cons and his personal experiences. He was able to support me to make a decision that was best for myself. I can now say that reflecting on all of this, I will always remember Ahsen as an inspiring person and having his youth group as a monumental part of my growth.”
— Ghina Mubin
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I was thinking about all the people that had an impact in my life, and the first thing that came into my mind was Maps youth. During the toughest times of my life you were there for us without you ever knowing. Showing up to those events saved me from a lot things. I just wanted to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. Maps youth has impacted my life in ways that I can’t even put into words. Çok teşekkür ederim (thank you so much!)”
— Rayan Farah
“Throughout my years in high school, I’ve always looked to MAPS Youth as a source of comfort and support. It has given me so much, from everlasting friends to life changing experiences. It helped me see the value of giving back to the community and holding on to your deen in the most difficult situations. Although I have gained so much from MAPS Youth, the most worthwhile benefit of it is Ahsen Nadeem, a generous mentor who goes out of his way to make all youth feel included and valued.”
— Reyan Haji