Abdul Azim :
Protecting children begins long before a crisis occurs, and that message guided a community workshop at Masjid Al Abidin in South Richmond Hill, where families, educators, imams, and school staff gathered for a focused session on awareness, prevention, and empowerment.
The workshop, titled “Protecting our Children and Teachers: Awareness, Prevention & Empowerment,” was held on Saturday, June 20, at 11:30 a.m. at Masjid Al Abidin, located at 104-14 127th St, South Richmond Hill, NY 11419. The event was organized by Masjid Al Abidin in partnership with Ummah NY (ummahny.org), bringing together families, educators, faith leaders, and community members for an important conversation on child safety and well-being.
The session was designed to support a broad audience, including children, imams, teachers, parents, and staff of schools and learning centers. Organizers emphasized that protecting young people requires cooperation among families, faith leaders, educators, and trained professionals who regularly interact with children.
The program was led by Alaa M. Shareef, LMHC, MA, EdM, and Omar Shareef, MD, MBA, who brought professional expertise to discussions on emotional well-being, prevention, and communication. According to event materials, licensed psychiatrists, therapists, and trained professionals guided participants through recognizing warning signs and strengthening support systems for children.
A central theme of the workshop was that prevention begins with awareness. Participants were encouraged to pay closer attention to changes in behavior, emotional distress, communication patterns, and environmental factors that may affect a child’s safety or mental well-being. The session also highlighted the importance of speaking with children in ways that build trust, openness, and confidence.
For teachers and school staff, the workshop offered tools for creating safer learning environments where children feel heard and protected. For parents and imams, it reinforced the importance of community support and early intervention when concerns arise.
By bringing together faith, family, and professional guidance, the workshop served as a meaningful step toward strengthening child protection efforts within the community. The event underscored a clear message: safeguarding children is a shared responsibility, and education remains one of the most powerful tools for prevention.
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