ABOUT US
In a world where Muslim
values are not the cultural norm, Arkanum is an accessible resource
that can help our Muslim youth grow into grounded and firm believers
of Allah (SWT).
OUR MISSION AND STORY
Arkanum started back in 2015 as a
small, passionate group of individuals who saw the
need for change in their community. Led by the
founder, AbuBakr Fakhry, the goal was to revitalize
the community with a program of excitement,
character-development and Islamic enrichment.
“Our group was formed as an answer
to the problems within the Muslim community in
Boston” AbuBakr Fakhry
Our program was tailored to
develop our youth into young adults who promote
peace and who proudly display their Islamic
heritage. Through various retreats into the forests
of Maine where kids give up their electronics and
dive into Islamic history or our weekly sessions
that include our long greetings and even longer
goodbye’s, the mentees develop a sense of
responsibility towards their community that stays
with them for a lifetime.
Arkanum is nothing more than a
passionate team of volunteers but through this team,
we have been able to serve over 400 kids in the
surrounding Boston area and we are still growing.
Through our program, under the guidance of
established, young Muslim adults, we hope to
encourage our youth to seek the path of tolerance,
kindness, success and love.
In 2023, Arkanum has evolved into a dynamic platform that stands at the forefront of youth empowerment within the Muslim-American community. Through its holistic mentorship approach, the organization seamlessly merges foundational Islamic teachings with practical community projects, all under the guidance of dedicated mentors who lead by example. With an expanded reach and a commitment to nurturing character, Arkanum continues to inspire a generation of youth, equipping them with essential life skills and spiritual knowledge, and fostering deep connections rooted in faith and camaraderie.
OUR TEAM
Arkanum functions through a mentor, mentee relationship. Our mentors
are hand selected individuals who are Islamically oriented, kind and
civically active. They are also Muslims who have grown up in America
and have experienced the trials and tribulations of being Muslim
while also being American. We believe our mentorship structure
allows the kids to form closer bonds with one another and receive
real life advice from their mentor who is close in age and can
relate to them. Mentors establish a friendship with their mentee and
guide them towards achievable goals. This relationship is one of the
most unique attributes of Arkanum as the mentors become a lifelong
friend and contact for the mentees.
Our Leaders Inspire Us
A key attribute of Arkanum is
leadership. Leadership is taking responsibility when needed and growing from
those moments. Leaders are compassionate and And most importantly, being a leader
means being a role model.
We have an incredible board of directors that are all leaders with years of experience in various fields. They serve as role models for the rest of Arkanum and remind us that being Muslim, compassionate and a leader is not only possible but worthwhile. Each and every one of our leaders holds a special place in our hearts and from their example, the youth can grow into the next generation of leaders.
Abubakr Fakhry
Founder & Director
Abubakr Fakhry is the founder of ARKanum youth program that began in June 2015. Abubakr is a Canadian citizen who grew up in Egypt. For years, Abubakr made his living as an electrical engineer until he allowed his real passion, youth development, to totally redirect his energy!
Mervat Zaghloul
Assistant Director
Mervat Zaghloul (also known as mama, khalo, tunt Mervat) joined ARKanum in their first year. Mervat has a Master's in Early Childhood Education and is the Al-Bustan preschool director. Mervat loves kids and enjoys working with them. Mervat is also part of ARK juniors and she is the director assistant in both ARKanum and ARK juniors. Her new hobby since she joined ARKanum is traveling.
Mahmoud El-Rifai
Cohort Lead/Lectures Developer
High School Boys
Mahmoud has a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering and is currently working on his master's in psychology. He is a research assistant at Harvard Medical School, and is currently working on neuroscience research. Mahmoud joined ARKanum about 4 years ago and since joining ARKanum he feels like he's gained a second family. Mahmoud's goal is to work with kids on building a strong personality and wishes to create a safe environment for them to grow and learn.
Sara Ramram
Cohort Lead
Juniors
Sara Ramram, a UMass Boston graduate, is an advocate for youth empowerment. She excelled as an ARKanum Peer Mentor and Program Manager, creating a nurturing environment for mentees. Sara actively contributed to Shriners Children’s Hospital and Charity Week. Graduating with a degree in Political Science and a minor in English, her academic achievements reflect her commitment to community and education.
Bahiya Nasuuna
Cohort Lead
High School Girls
Bahiya Nasuuna is a Public Health Sciences graduate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a minor in Psychology. She received her master's degree in Public Health from Tufts University and now works as a full-time Curriculum Manager at Tufts University's School of Medicine Office of Educational Affairs. Bahiya is a mentor at Arkanum and has participated in two international trips. She is now a cohort leader in the program and enjoys working with the rest of the team.
Ruqayah Al-Ashabi
Cohort Lead/Retreat Manager
Middle School Girls
Ruqayah Al-Ashabi is a driven and energetic ARKanum Peer mentor. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts from Clark University, and her academic achievements reflect her hardwork and dedication to building a safe and welcoming environment. Ruqayah started her ARKanum journey in 2021, and has been a strong part of our team. While being a mentor, Ruqayah also took the lead in planning our past retreats, and has this year’s role of Retreat Coordinator, where her skills of leadership and creativity work together and shine through.
Malik Sadeddin
Cohort Lead/Social Media
High School Boys
Malik Sadeddin is an IT and program management professional with experience in leadership, communication, and data center management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and Business Management from the Wentworth Institute of Technology. As a Mentor and Social Media Lead at ARKanum, Malik assists young Muslims in navigating challenges related to their faith and cultural identity.
Imane Samari
Cohort Assistant/Projects Developer
Imane Samari is a dedicated and enthusiastic mentor at ARKanum with a demonstrated track record of growth in her leadership skills. With previous experience in other leadership programs, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as both a mentor and member of the leadership team. Her Bachelor's degree in Biology and minor in Psychology showcase her ambition and enthusiasm, which are evident in her exceptional performance in planning semester projects and serving as a mentor.
