Walking through darkness and discomfort
Initial experience
First impressions create powerful impact:
- Darkness adjustment: Eyes adapting to limited visibility
- Cold sensation: November evening temperature affecting comfort
- Uncertainty: Not knowing route or duration
- Group cohesion: Staying close together for safety and support
Physical challenge progression
Natural conditions provide genuine difficulty:
Muddy terrain navigation
- Puddle walking: Encouraging students to walk through rather than around
- Slippery paths: Careful footing on wet, muddy ground
- Woodland sections: Uneven terrain and natural obstacles
- Sustained effort: Continuous walking building fatigue
Environmental elements
- Darkness: Limited visibility creating disorientation and dependence on others
- Cold: Inadequate warmth despite layers, hands and faces getting cold
- Wetness: Shoes and lower clothing getting muddy and damp
- Sounds: Unfamiliar nighttime noises creating slight unease
Reflection and discussion during walk
Supervisors facilitate meaningful connections:
Refugee experience parallels
- “Refugees often travel at night to avoid being seen—how does darkness affect you?”
- “Imagine walking for days rather than an hour—how would that feel?”
- “What if you didn’t know where you were going or when you’d arrive?”
- “How would you feel if this was happening because you were fleeing danger?”
Islamic teaching moments
- Hijrah stories: Prophet’s ï·º night journey and trust in Allah’s guidance
- Seerah lessons: Companions’ sacrifices and perseverance during migration
- Gratitude cultivation: Appreciating blessings of home, warmth, and security
- Community support: How Muslims help each other through difficulties
Activities during walk
- Torch-lit games: Brief pause for “follow the leader” through muddy section
- Silent walking period: Quiet reflection on experience and refugee struggles
- Story sharing: Authentic refugee accounts shared by supervisors
- Dua making: Collective prayers for displaced people worldwide