Sajeeda Panjwani

Our journey to Stockholm consisted of a walk, bus and train. It was refreshing to see all the girls in their red hijabs united as a one. Everyone around us were curious with all us ‘red heads’, so were questioning us and taking pictures. We all felt like celebrities.

All the way to the shopping centre the only thing that could be heard were the girls chanting ‘H&M, H&M, H&M!’ The funny thing was that the girls had come all the way to Sweden to go to a shop that was already in the UK!

Reaching the shopping centre and seeing all the shops Nishat and I found ourselves running in and out of shops like the excited campers. It was a great feeling to break free out of routine, even if it was only for half an hour.  
The day seemed to have gone past too quickly, most of it travelling. Despite that, the girls were content just having visited a few shops.

As the camp is slowly coming to an end it has hit me how much I’m going to miss it.  Having had the privilege to mentor for second time, I felt that perhaps departing this time around may be easier, I was wrong. The attachment I have formed with these campers has become so close to my heart. The thought of departing from my sisters saddens me and I pray for each and every one of them that they carry on developing in the way I have observed over the past week.

I will be taking away an experience with me that I will cherish for the rest of my life and I pray that I get more opportunities to carry on developing in this way InshaAllah.

Sajeeda Panjwani (Mercury Mentor)