Masjid At-Taqwa in Manukau-Papatoetoe is once again is organising its annual youth summer camp bringing together youth of the community for three days of activity in the second week of February.

The applications for the summer camp have been opened with an overwhelming response in sign-ups so far.

“Our summer camp has activities for children as young as eight years old who can be attended by a guardian and for older children as well,” Tanzeel Hussain from Masjid At Taqwa told The Indian Weekender.

“From the youth who have registered so far, we have youth from Malaysia, Fiji, Australia, Indian and other ethnic backgrounds who are eager to join and learn some new skills from this summer camp,” he added.

The camp will be held from Saturday, February 7, to Monday, February 9 at Epworth Retreat & Recreation Centre in Cambridge, Waikato.

The activities organised for the camp includes an Olympic relay, volleyball, water slide, swimming, archery, ripper rugby. This will be balanced with educational classes by learned scholars, Islamic history sessions, team building events, time to read and recite the Holy Quran and fresh meals to be served.

This will be Masjid at Taqwa’s 14th annual summer youth camp after beginning in 2006 at Kiwani Lodge with only 45 participants.

“The camp will take youth away from their comfort zone; participants will share life experiences, feel empowered through authentic Islamic knowledge as practised by our beloved Prophet Muhammed.

“The youth are in an environment where they are pushed to work as a team allowing them to develop different life skills all while being in an Islamic environment,” Mr Hussain added.

Masjid At Taqwa runs many educational Islamic events throughout the year such as weekly lectures every Thursday, monthly lectures every first Saturday of the month, Mana Islam a programme focused on new Muslims, quiz nights for both men and women, Madrassa classes for boys and girls from Monday through Thursday.

“All our programmes are educational, and events, Masjid at Taqwa also runs many physical activities to encourage our brothers and sisters to stay active,” Mr Hussain added.

The mosque community hosts football every Sunday at Barry Curtis Park, cricket almost every day of the week at Papatoetoe cricket grounds, badminton, table tennis and volleyball every Tuesday and Friday. There are also sports activities run by ladies every Wednesday for sisters of all ages by the Masjid.

Registration is still open:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftDqyijdtTUvX6tWyaFj5upp8KlEq3tGMLX0f_NyXzb8PDKw/viewform