Day One
The day started early meeting up at Gatwick Airport as a group at 7am. The donations that the Majlis is taking were distributed amongst all members.
From there we took a direct flight to Banjul and landed around 4:30pm. The Gambia Jamaat, including their Atfal, gave us a warm welcome at the airport.
The group travelled to their accommodation and spent some time together to get to know each other better, followed by dinner and Namaz.
Overview
Eight Atfal from the UK had the opportunity to travel to the Gambia from 28 March to 4 April as part of a trip organised by the Atfal UK Khidmat-e-Khalq Department. The purpose of this trip was to visit the Model Village Project that the Atfal have been fundraising for in Murreh Kunda and to also gain experience and knowledge from Jamaat members living there. The trip was led by three members from Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK and three parents also accompanied the Atfal.
Attendees
- Murabbi Usman Shahzad Butt - Naib Sadr MKA UK and Trip Lead
- Rohanullah Cheema - Secretary Khidmat-e-Khalq Atfalul Ahmadiyya UK
- Intesaar ul Haq - Atfal Khidmat-e-Khalq team member
- Talha Akram - 10 years old from Birmingham North Jamaat
- Iftikhar Ahmad - 12 years old from Baitul Futuh East Jamaat
- Qasid Mashhood Ahmad - 13 years old from Roehampton Vale Jamaat
- Tahir Ahmad Dar - 13 years old from Wandsworth Town Jamaat
- Danish Ahmad - 13 years old from Bordon Jamaat
- Zachariah Noor Elahi Qureshi - 13 years old from Redbridge North Jamaat
- Hamza Sami - 14 years old from Nottingham Jamaat
- Ayaan Khan - 15 years old from Ewell Jamaat
- Muhammad Akram - father of Talha Akram
- Musa Sami - father of Hamza Sami
- Ahmad Raza Qureshi - father of Zachariah Qureshi
Planning and Fundraising
Planning for the trip started two months in advance after approval was received by beloved Huzur (aba). Fida ul Haq from IAAAE was the first point of contact and then Amir Sahib Gambia appointed Murabbi Abdur Rahman Cham and Sadr Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Gambia, Murabbi Demba Bah Sahib as the organisers for the trip. Dr. Muhammad Asif, Mohtamim Atfal and brother Hanif from MTA also accompanied us for the duration of the trip.
Along with the trip, the Atfal were also given a target of fundraising £1,000 each for the Model Village Project. By the end of the trip the group had collected over £9,000. This report highlights the activities conducted on a daily basis during the trip and the feedback received from the participants afterwards.
Feedback
The general feedback received was that all attendees enjoyed the trip and they all asked about the next opportunity to take part in such an event. Below are some comments shared by the Atfal and their parents.
“I really liked the country. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. My favourite part about the trip was going to Basse, Murreh Kunda, and helping in the charity work. I am very thankful to Gambia members for their support in this trip, especially Sadr Sahib and Cham sahib. Jazak'Allah
“I am very thankful to the Atfal UK team for organising this beneficial trip to see in person Jammat progress related to the development of schools, hospitals and mission houses. The hospitality was exceptional by The Gambia Jammat members who showed great care with love and affection. Special thanks to Respected Amir Sahib of The Gambia and his team. The members who accompanied us for our whole trip included Sadr Sahib Khuddam Al Ahmadiyya, Respected Murabi Cham Sahib. Dr Asif sahib and Hanif Sahib who showed affection and took great care of all of us. May Allah bless all of them with good health, prosperity and happiness Ameen. Jazak'Allah”
that the trip was ‘very fun and the Jamaat was very welcoming. His parents also expressed that they were very satisfied as their son was very happy after coming back.
“The trip was a huge success due to the brilliant efforts of the organisers and the unwavering love and hospitality we received by the Gambians. This made us really feel grateful for what we have as well as bonding with the people there, the fellow atfal who went with us.”
that he ‘was really happy about the trip and is already missing Gambia as well as the friends he made. This trip has really made him be grateful for water and not to waste it.’
“It was very good and was organised very well. I liked Gambia and felt very welcome. If I had a chance I would go back and would consider living there.”
“This was an excellent trip in terms of hospitality, organisation and spiritual and religious focus. May Allah bless all the individuals involved there are too many to individually name. I would recommend other parents to put their Atfal forward for such trips and think there is a space for young Khuddam to have such trips as well. For me personally it was humbling to see the fulfillment of the prophecies of Hadhret Masih e Maoud 'I will spread thy message to the corners of the earth', 'I will give you a large party of Islam' and 'Kings will seek blessing from thy garments'”
“Jazak 'Allah to all members of The Gambia Jamaat who played a part in organising this trip, especially Sadr Saab of The Gambia. I am extremely grateful to have met you and learnt things from you on this trip, may Allah bless you all, it has been such an eye-opening experience and I'm so grateful to have gone on this trip, I hope more Atfal get this same opportunity at some point as I strongly believe that it brings about a good change to people who experience this, insha'Allah, ameen”
“Jazak'Allah to organisers for a well planned and smooth execution of the trip. Communication prior to the trip was regular and very helpful. May Allah bless your efforts”
“I really loved this trip and I think that more people should go on trips like this. I really loved the hospitality and the food there. I learned that water is one of the best creations by God and I learned to be empathetic and sympathetic to others that don’t have the same luxury as us. I also learned to give even more zakat towards less fortunate people”
“I would like to express my gratitude to the Jamaat, who arranged such an amazing trip and managed everything there very well. May Allah the Almighty reward everyone. Tahir learned a great deal there, which makes me very happy. Indeed, all of this is a blessing of Khilafat.”
Conclusion
By the grace of Allah, the trip was a success and proved to be very beneficial for the Atfal and parents who attended. The Gambia Jamaat displayed excellent hospitality and planned the trip in a way that maximised the activities the Atfal were able to take part in, and thus contributed towards their moral and spiritual training. As an organiser for the trip it was very heartwarming to see the positive messages from the people we met in Gambia and the Atfal who attended the trip.
