“Actions are judged by their intentions.” (Hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
The day begins at the madrasah, in ordinary clothes and with quiet nerves. This part is about setting out well: with good intentions, a calm start and everyone accounted for.
Your job is to make the morning feel normal and kind. The mums are simply coming along to support, and the girls are simply setting off on a challenge.
| When | Where | The heart of it |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00am to 10:00am | The madrasah, then the minibuses | Setting out together, with the surprise safe |
Everyone arrives
Mums and girls gather at the madrasah at about 8:00am, together. The girls are in their normal madrasah dress, with old trainers. The mums are in elegant abayas and flat shoes, as supporters.
A named leader ticks each girl and each mum off the register. Stand-ins are welcomed in just the same way.
Greet every girl and every mum warmly, and remember their names. Some will be nervous and some will be excited. Both are fine.
At the door, a leader takes each girl’s bag quietly and checks that it is labelled. A second leader greets the mums a little apart and takes each mum’s bag in the same way. The bags go straight to the minibus that will stay at the venue.
Keep the handover low-key. A simple “all packed?” is enough.
A short briefing
At about 8:30am, gather everyone for ten minutes. Keep it warm and brief.
Cover these points:
- a short dua and a reminder of the intention for the day;
- the timetable in one sentence: a challenge, a walk and a meal;
- how to ask for help, and who to ask;
- a reminder that anyone may ask for a break.
Say nothing about the mums’ part. If a girl asks, use the honest line from “The surprise”.
Check that everyone has water and is wearing sensible footwear. Spare trainers, if you have them, help anyone who forgot.
The journey
The group leaves the madrasah at about 9:00am. The journey may take up to an hour. Keep it relaxed, with quiet chat or a gentle recitation.
Mums and daughters sit together, as on any family outing. The driver should be a professional, and a woman where possible. A leader sits in each vehicle and counts everyone at every stop.
Some safety points:
- seatbelts on for everyone;
- no standing or moving about while the vehicle is going;
- a travel-sickness bag and wipes in each vehicle;
- a first-aid kit and the emergency numbers to hand.
If a girl or a mum asks what is coming, there is no need to lie. A calm “Let’s wait and see” is true and keeps the surprise safe.
Before you leave
Before the minibuses move, one leader reads through this checklist.
- Register complete, for girls and for mums
- Every bag, girls’ and mums’, loaded and labelled
- Participation, health and consent forms collected for every mum, showing her standard
- Plain abayas and hijabs packed and labelled
- Medical details and emergency contacts with two leaders
- Water, wipes and first-aid kit on board
- Driver briefed on route and times
- Every vehicle has a leader
The minibuses are now moving. Soon the day will really begin.