Trials & Tribulations

Published:
Last updated:
Views: 23
Blueprints

The Trials & Tribulations Challenge is a transformative experience designed to foster resilience, empathy, and understanding of the struggles faced by refugees. Below is a detailed plan outlining all requirements to ensure the event’s success.

Event objectives

  1. Awareness: Educate participants on the trials faced by refugees.
  2. Empathy: Provide a symbolic experience of endurance and uncertainty.
  3. Spiritual growth: Strengthen participants’ faith through reflection, prayer, and teamwork.

Part 1: The gathering

Venue setup

  • Options: A community centre, madrasah building, or a sister’s home.
  • Requirements:
    • Space for at least 10 sisters to pray, eat, and sleep.
    • Facilities for ablution and food preparation.
    • Permissions for an overnight stay (if in a public venue).

Participant preparation

  • Arrival time: 9pm, Friday evening.
  • Attire: Modest abayas and hijabs, suitable for a halaqa or prayer gathering.
  • Essentials to bring:
    • Rucksack with a change of clothes, a towel, a prayer mat, and comfortable shoes.
    • Double-bagged, waterproof packaging for all items.
  • Food contributions: Organise via a shared spreadsheet to avoid duplication. Options could include simple, nutritious dishes for dinner and sahoor.

Resource: Participant guide

Schedule

  1. 9:00pm: Arrival and setup.
  2. 9:30pm: Reflection session:
    • Inspirational talk on Islamic teachings about trials.
    • Discussion on the hardships faced by refugees.
  3. 10:30pm: Isha prayer & dinner:
    • Sunnah prayers to build unity.
    • Dinner served in shared plates on the floor.
  4. 11:00pm: Tahajjud & quiet reflection:
    • Group dua for the journey ahead and for refugees worldwide.
  5. 12:00am: Rest on hard floors with rucksacks as pillows, simulating discomfort.
  6. 4:30am (approx): Sahoor & Fajr:
    • Pre-dawn meal of slow-burning foods (e.g., porridge, lentils).
    • Group Fajr prayer, Quran recitation, and a brief reflective session.
  7. 6:00am: Cleanup and departure preparation.

Part 2: Take flight

Transport

  • Options:
    • Car share: Ensure sufficient drivers and parking availability.
    • Minibus hire: Pre-arrange a vehicle large enough for participants and their gear.
    • Train travel: Plan routes, timings, and ensure participants know the schedule.
  • Drop-off point:
    • Choose a location an hour’s walk from the assault course.
    • Ensure accessibility and safety for disembarking.

Resource: Getting there and back

The journey

  • Route: Woodland or countryside trails to simulate forced migration.
  • Pace: Steady, allowing reflection but ensuring timely arrival.
  • Leader responsibilities:
    • Use a pre-mapped route or navigational app.
    • Facilitate reflective discussions on themes like resilience and Allah’s creation.

Reflective activities

  1. Silent walking period: Encourage quiet reflection on the journey.
  2. Discussion points:
    • The challenges refugees face navigating unfamiliar terrain.
    • Gratitude for blessings often taken for granted.

Safety measures

  • Carry a basic first-aid kit.
  • Assign a buddy system for support and accountability.

Part 3: Serious trials

Assault course overview

  • Duration: 1.5 hours.
  • Obstacles:
    • Tunnels: Crawling through confined spaces.
    • Tyre walls & climbing nets: Teamwork and coordination required.
    • Balancing bars: Tests agility and concentration.
    • Muddy ditches: Simulates discomfort and physical hardship.
    • Natural terrain: Fallen trees, water ditches, and uneven paths.

Resource: How the obstacles can reflect the journey of refugees

Participant guidelines

  • Carry rucksacks throughout the course to simulate the burden of essentials.
  • Wear the same clothes from earlier stages to reinforce endurance.

Post-course routine

  1. Shower & change:
    • Use the change of clothes stored in waterproof bags.
    • Wet clothing should be bagged for transport.
  2. Dhuhr prayer:
    • Make wudu with packed water bottles and pray as a group.
  3. Reflections:
    • Discuss attachment to material possessions and lessons learned about perseverance.

Final steps: Returning and wrapping up

Return journey

  • Retrace the walk back to the drop-off point.
  • Use arranged transport to return to the starting location.

Closing session

  1. Iftar preparation:
    • Break fast together with simple food, sharing the joy of accomplishment.
  2. Final reflections:
    • Encourage each sister to share one key takeaway.
    • Highlight the significance of gratitude and collective resilience.

Resource: A modest iftar

Key resources and requirements

  1. Logistics:
    • Venue booking, transport coordination, and route planning.
  2. Participant safety:
    • A first-aid kit and clear communication of emergency protocols.
  3. Volunteer roles:
    • Group leader (route navigation and discussions).
    • Event organiser (venue and transport).
    • Safety lead (first aid and contingency planning).
  4. Spiritual support:
    • Prepare a list of dua and Quranic verses relevant to trials and endurance.

By immersing participants in this thoughtfully planned challenge, Trials & Tribulations will leave a lasting impact, fostering both spiritual growth and a deeper empathy for those enduring unimaginable hardships.

Related topics