YOUNG Muslims from the Farnham, Aldershot and Guildford area spent the first day of 2022 by helping to keep local streets clean after the new year festivities.

Youth from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) local chapter, based in Tilford, were up at the crack of dawn on New Year’s Day to pick litter in Farnham and Aldershot town centres.

The ’Big Street Clean’ is just one of many community initiatives these young men were able to take part in this winter.

The group has also organised tree planting and food bank donations, and in the past has also collected money for British charities, visited children’s hospitals and nursing homes, giving out chocolates and gifts, and donated food to the homeless and vulnerable on Christmas Day.

Sajid Zahid, youth leader for the local AMYA chapter, said: "Our members have enjoyed living in Aldershot, Farnham and Guildford for decades and so any opportunity to help our local community is a much welcomed one.

"Cleaning the streets of Aldershot and Farnham also presents us with an opportunity to become better Muslims as cleanliness is an integral part of our faith.

"Giving up a couple of hours can make a huge difference. We are a peace-loving and well-organised association which will continue to help make this great part of England an even better place to live in."

The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, added: "My desire, my wish and my objective is serving humanity. It is my job, my faith, my inspiration and my way."

AMYA is an auxiliary body of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community; a religious and charitable Muslim organisation. With more than 8,600 members spread across 124 chapters in the United Kingdom, AMYA frequently partakes in food drives for the homeless, foodbank donations and tree-planting sessions.

In 2017, it raised £1,000,000 for various British charities, planted 25000 trees, fed 14000 people living in poverty, and visited over 6,000 people in care homes and hospitals in an effort to help counter loneliness.

In addition, AMYA members donated 250 units of blood, donated over 5,200 kg of food to food banks as well as donating 4,500 kg of clothes to charities.

The organisation focuses on helping young Muslims to become better citizens and to fulfil their religious obligations of serving God and humanity.