Built from scratch.
Built to last.
Bilal Youth Affairs is the youth program of Bilal Masjid in Beaverton, Oregon, built by volunteers for the community.
A teacher, a few volunteers, and a lot of showing up.
Bilal Youth Affairs was born in 2025 from a simple belief: that the youth of Bilal Masjid deserve a real, consistent place to belong. It started with a Sunday school teacher named Hina Zeshan, a few service projects, and a group of people willing to show up every single month and make something happen.
In January 2025, a guest speaker led a program for teen boys at Bilal that drew a packed room. Afterward, a small group sat down and decided it was time to build something permanent. Bilal Youth Affairs was officially underway.
"That the youth of Bilal Masjid deserve a real, consistent place to belong."
The belief that started it all.
Part of something bigger.
BYA is the youth department of Bilal Masjid, one of the largest and most established Muslim communities in Oregon, serving the west side of the Portland metro area. Bilal is known for its vibrant daily prayers: the masjid fills up not just during Ramadan, but for Fajr. It distributes zakat and feeds hundreds of families every Ramadan. It is a place that has meant a great deal to this community for a long time. BYA exists to make sure the next generation feels that same sense of home.
One year. Fifty events. Hundreds of youth.
The first year was about figuring things out: service projects, test events, seeing what resonated. Then in September 2025, we took it to the masjid board with a full year plan, a formal team, and a budget. They approved it, and regular programming launched.
What followed exceeded every expectation. Ramadan 2026 alone brought 15 events: I'tikaaf camps, overnight programs, a Ramadan Bazaar, a Quran and Adhaan Competition, a Youth Eid Festival, volunteering drives, and more. We're on track to host 50+ events this year, and we're just getting started.
Something for every age.
We run at least three dedicated programs per month, with separate programming for boys and girls where appropriate. Every program has a mentor or volunteer lead: a consistent and familiar face.
Monthly family story nights and age-appropriate activities in a safe, supervised environment. A gentle first step into the BYA community.
Hangouts, skill-building classes, and Ramadan camps for the preteen years. Programming designed for where they actually are.
Youth nights, guest speakers, service projects, and social events. Separate programming for boys and girls, run by people who actually show up.
Service opportunities and community events for college-aged students navigating the same season of life, right here in Beaverton.
Events and gatherings for young Muslim professionals in the Beaverton area. Connect, serve, and stay grounded alongside your community.
Eid festivals, community iftaars, and volunteering drives that bring the whole family together.
Real roles. Real accountability.
BYA isn't held together by one person's motivation. We have a formal structure, a board-approved budget, and clearly defined roles, built so that programming stays consistent no matter what.
Youth start as volunteers. Over time, those who commit can grow into representatives, mentors, and eventually coordinators, leading programming for the next generation.
Lead overall planning, direction, and decision-making. One male coordinator, one female coordinator.
Support planning, logistics, and event supervision. Hands-on at every program.
High school and college students who assist with communications and coordination.
Students who help run events and gain hands-on leadership experience.
We're always looking for people who want to show up.
BYA is built by people who showed up and decided to stay. If that sounds like you, whether you're a parent, a teen, or someone who wants to volunteer or mentor, we'd love to hear from you.