Bridging the Gap: An Interview with the ISRAA Advisor of MYNA
By Sarah Soleman
“First of all, how are you?”
That simple question kicked off our conversation—and what followed was a testament to the sincerity and heart behind ISRAA. Although she graduated from college two years ago, her passion for youth programming and education still burns brightly.
Currently advising ISRAA, MYNA’s flagship educational initiative for Muslim girls, she explained how her journey began: “I was part of the ISRAA initiative back when I was on REC and EC for MYNA. I saw it built from the ground up...and I really liked what it stood for—especially the chance to connect with female scholars, which I always felt was missing in my community.”
What is ISRAA?
ISRAA is a program tailored for Muslim girls aged 12 to 18. At its core, it offers accessible Islamic education led by female scholars—an intentional effort to bridge the gender gap in spiritual learning spaces. “We wanted to make it accessible for Muslim girls and be able to foster those connections—with each other and with scholars. ISRAA creates that space.”
The program includes not only online classes but also personal interactions with instructors, group chats, and office hours to deepen student-teacher relationships. It’s more than curriculum—it’s community.
The Challenges of Post-COVID Programming
While ISRAA thrived during the pandemic, transitioning into a post-COVID era has come with challenges. “Now people prefer in-person experiences, and it’s been a little harder to maintain that same momentum online,” she explained. Additionally, while female scholarship is on the rise (alhamdulillah), maintaining a consistent instructor base for ISRAA remains an ongoing effort.
The Beauty in Mentorship
As an advisor, she’s taken a step back from planning and now finds joy in watching the current team thrive. “I just love seeing it come together—seeing ideas go from brainstorming to reality. The current team is doing such an amazing job.” For her, watching the classes foster community and heartfelt connection has been the most fulfilling part.
A Decade with MYNA
Her relationship with MYNA goes back to when she was just 13. “I went to my first camp in the Pacific region—it was spring camp—and I immediately fell in love. I started going to every camp I could.” Eventually, she joined the leadership team and served for two years on the Executive Committee during college. “I wanted to give back and create the same space for others. MYNA brought me lifelong friendships and a sense of purpose.”
Her passion for expanding access to programming like ISRAA was driven by a simple but powerful question: Why doesn’t every Muslim youth in America know about MYNA?
Parting Wisdom: Cherish the Connections
When asked for advice she’d give incoming MYNA girls, she didn’t hesitate. “Hold on to the connections you make. Some of my closest friends today are girls I met at camp years ago, even if we’re in different states now. It’s rare to find friendships formed for the sake of Allah—cherish that.”
Final Thoughts
Her story is a reminder of the impact one initiative can have. ISRAA is more than a program—it’s a movement toward equity, connection, and empowerment for Muslim girls across the country. And for this advisor, being a part of that story—then and now—is a legacy worth continuing.
