Ten years after the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) received his first revelation, he made a miraculous night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and to the Seven Heavens on a white flying horse called Al-Buraq El-Sharif. During his interval in Jerusalem, the Prophet stopped to pray at the rock (now covered by the golden Dome), and was given the commandment to pray five times a day.

Today, Muslims throughout the World use Mecca as the direction of prayers (Qibla). However, for 16½ months following the Prophet Mohammad’s miraculous journey, Jerusalem was the Qibla.

During Prophet Mohammad’s life (pbuh), he instructed Muslims to visit not only the mosque where they lived in Mecca, but also the ‘Farthest mosque’ from them which lay 2000 kilometers north, in Jerusalem. Hence the name Al-Masjid El-Aqsa, or Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the second oldest mosque in Islam after the Ka’ba in Mecca, and is third in holiness and importance after the mosques in Mecca and Medina.

The rectangular Al-Aqsa Mosque is 144,000 square meters, 35 acres, or 1/6 of the entire area within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem as it stands today. It is also called Al-Haram El-Sharif (the Nobel Sanctuary). The Dome of the Chain marks the exact central point of this Mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque holds up to 400,000 worshippers at one time, bearing in mind that the space required for each person is roughly 0.8m x 0.5m to enable the submissive kneeling in prayer. On Fridays at noon, during the fasting month of Ramadan, and particularly the 27th of Ramadan (Lailat El-Qadr), the area is filled to virtual capacity.

There are 11 gates to Al-Aqsa Mosque: 7 of which are open. Of the 4 closed gates, one is the Golden Gate.

Indications of any Muslim mosque the World over is the thin spiral minaret which always immediately adjoins the Mosque wall. Minarets are used to call Muslims to prayer five times a day, seven days a week throughout the year. At Al-Aqsa Mosque, there are four minarets: 3 square and 1 cylindrical from the Mamluk period.

There are no minarets on the Eastern side of Al-Aqsa Mosque because there were no inhabitants and thus no-one to call to prayer. After all, it was not till the late nineteenth century that Jerusalem began to expand outside the city walls.

Al-Aqsa is made up of 3 parts, narrow arcades run along one end, a huge atrium and a covered area at the south.

Running alongside the arcades are several family burial sites (maqamat). These persons contributed to the schools and charities in the vicinity of the Mosque run by the Supreme Muslim Council.

The atrium of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an oasis of peace and tranquillity inside a walled city of hustle and bustle. It has trees, lawns, fountains, the beautiful Shrine of the Dome of the Rock, small domed rooms and structures which are rooms for scholars, sheikhs and religious court offices, and a museum.

Before Muslims pray, they are required to go through a ritual ablution. There are manuablution areas, but the Cup is one of the oldest and most photographed fountains on the Mosque grounds.

In the center of the southern end of the atrium is the covered area of Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Mihrab (niche showing direction of prayer) of the Mosque is located here. Al-Aqsa building (recognizable by its lead dome), was originally built nearly 1300 years ago by Muslim Caliph Al-Walid the son of AbdulMalek bin Marwan in 709 AD.

Throughout its history, Al-Aqsa was subject to successive restoration work due to damages caused by earthquakes, etc. The building now has the central nave and 6 aisles (the original covered area had 14 aisles).

The covered area of Al-Aqsa Mosque is a very simple, but large and imposing, rectangular structure. It has an area of 3500 square meters, and holds up to 5000 Muslims at prayer at one time. The Qibla facing south towards Mecca and the Rock within the Dome of the Rock are on the same central line.

There are 7 large gates to enter the Mosque’s covered area, as well as 1 single door on both the eastern and western sides. There are over 100 clear and colored glass windows, 14 Arches, 27 Italian Marble columns on the eastern side, and the equivalent number of stone piers on the western side.

The outer dome was covered with Lead in 1985 replacing the Aluminum dome of 1964 in order to restore it to its original cover. The inner dome, decorated with stucco work, dates back to the 13th century.

In accordance with Muslim tradition, men and women are permitted to pray within the covered area but in different sections, 3 times a day. The remaining two daily prayers as well as Friday noon prayers, Al-Aqsa is for men only. The covered part of Al-Aqsa Mosque was converted to a Knight’s Hostel in part, and Chapel in part during the Crusader period. Restoration of Islamic atmosphere was done by Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi.

In 1969, after 2 years of Israeli occupation, a fanatic Jew set fire to the covered area for the first time in its history. Repairing the damage from the fire still continues. Among the numerous sad losses was the beautiful handmade pulpit from Aleppo. It was a gift from Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi and stood near the Mihrab (niche) in Al-Aqsa Mosque. This Pulpit, considered one of the most beautiful in the World, was made of over 10,000 interlocking pieces of Cedar and other wood, Ivory and mother of pearl affixed without a drop of glue or a single nail. A remaining section of this Pulpit is among the various artifacts on display at the Islamic Museum, in the southern corner of the Noble Sanctuary.

The restoration of the subterranean Marwani Musallah (praying place) was completed in 1996. It is 4000 square meters, and was tiled in a brief 2 months entirely by volunteers. The Marwani Musallah is mistakenly believed by some to be the site of King Solomon’s stables, however its construction is actually entirely 8th century Umayyad.

In the middle of the 19th century Al-Aqsa Mosque was opened for Non-Muslim visitors. For Non-Muslims, the Mosque is open during fixed times on weekday mornings and afternoons on payment of an entrance fees. The Mosque is closed to Non-Muslims on Fridays throughout the year and all Muslim holidays.

Although in the past, everyone entered Al-Aqsa Mosque without shoes, now Muslims and tourists alike are permitted to enter Al-Aqsa with shoes. Shoes however, have to be removed to enter the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa’s enclosed area as a sign of cleanliness and respect. Cameras likewise, are permitted in Al-Aqsa Mosque, but not inside any building. Visitors should ensure they are modestly dressed with arms and legs covered. Ladies should have a scarf to cover their hair. While on holy ground, intimate or personal contact must be avoided.

Considering Spain was ruled for – in some parts – up to 800 years by Muslims, it’s no surprise that lasting remnants of Spain’s Islamic past are present in everything from gastronomy to music, language and architecture. Even when the Islamic empire finally succumbed to the Reconquest, the dazzling architectural forms and styles lived on for centuries.

Islamic architecture is considered to be Spain’s most captivating architectural trend and certainly gives the country an exotic edge- especially considering the fact that Islamic architecture is the only style that Spain doesn’t share with the rest of Europe!

Islamic Architecture: Characteristics

Along with the closely linked Mudéjar style, Islamic architecture is one of refined sophistication, sumptuous decoration and peaceful harmony.

Another signature element of Islamic architecture is the integration of nature. Light, water and vegetation are masterfully incorporated into palaces, homes and mosques and serve both practical and aesthetic purposes. Especially given that Islamic architecture traditionally hails from a culture based in arid desert lands, you are bound to see lush gardens gracing courtyards, filtered light creating geometric patterns across the floor and tranquil fountains and reflecting pools both indoors and outdoors.

In the realm of urban planning, white-washed buildings were constructed practically right on top of each other on narrow streets. Along with the incorporation of shady courtyards these structures avoided direct sunshine and kept these quarters comfortable and cool.

Islamic Architecture: Legacy

Construction of the Great Mosque at Cordoba (now a cathedral known as the Mezquita) beginning in 785 CE marks the beginning of Islamic architecture in the Iberian peninsula and North Africa (see Moors). The mosque is noted for its striking interior arches. Moorish architecture reached its peak with the construction of the Alhambra, the magnificent palace/fortress of Granada, with its open and breezy interior spaces adorned in red, blue, and gold. The walls are decorated with stylized foliage motifs, Arabic inscriptions, and arabesque design work, with walls covered in glazed tile. There other, smaller, survivals such as the Bab Mardum in Toledo, or the caliphal city of Medina Azahara. Moorish architecture has its roots deeply established in the Arab tradition of architecture and design established during the era of the first Caliphate of the Umayyads in the Levant circa 660AD with its capital Damascus having very well preserved examples of fine Arab Islamic design and geometrics, including the carmen, which is the typical Damascene house, opening on the inside with a fountain as the house’s centre piece.

Even after the completion of the Reconquista, Islamic influence had a lasting impact on the architecture of Spain. In particular, medieval Spaniards used the Mudéjar style, highly influence Islamic design. One of the best examples of the architectures’ lasting impact on Spanish architecture is the Alcázar of Seville

Here are some of the benefits of Cinnamon:

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower your bad cholesterol (or LDL).

Cinnamon may help treat Type 2 Diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels and increasing the amount of insulin production in the body.

Cinnamon has antifungal properties, and it’s been said that candida cannot live in a cinnamon environment.

Cinnamon can reduce the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

Cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.

Honey and Cinnamon combined has been found to relieve arthritis pain.

When added to food, cinnamon inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

Just smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.

Cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.

Cinnamon has been found to be an effective natural remedy for eliminating headaches and migraine relief.

Cinnamon can also help stablize blood sugar (which is great for weight loss). A couple of dashes in your morning tea or cereal is all it takes!

Nadoona is a new health and fitness organization, aimed at changing the world, one calorie at a time. Nadoona means “Call on Us” in colloquial Arabic and pronounced backwards is ‘A New Dawn.’ Nadoona isn’t just about losing weight. It’s a health revolution and losing the ridiculous attitude of feeling like one is a slave to food. We weren’t put on this earth to be slaves to food; we were put on this earth to be slaves to God. Let’s get that power back! We need to stop being scared of eating fruits and veggies! Okay fine, Adam and Eve did land on earth because they ate fruit from a tree, but luckily for us, all the fruits on this earth have been made lawful for us to enjoy!

All of this came about several years ago when, one day, it finally dawned onto the founder of the organization, Nadine Abu-Jubara, that she was overweight. That day, she weighed 65 pounds more than she does today, that day was the beginning of a brand-new Nadine. So she began the process of fiddling with different diets, she even paid the arm and leg fees of mainstream weight loss programs (could only afford it for about 2 weeks then quit!). After unsuccessful experimentation, it finally clicked that she could do something all on her own for a fraction of the price and stay motivated. And, she did!  She lost those 65 pounds, and still continues to eat healthy and exercise because she didn’t just create a fad diet; she created a new lifestyle for herself.

Of course people realized the transformation, and Nadine couldn’t go to any social gatherings without people asking, “What is your secret?” After her 100th conversation about what she did, how she did it, and how they could do it too, she realized a need for a system to help out this entire ummah. So, Nadoona was born.

The Nadoona system currently branches out into 4 sections; weight loss, Nadoona chapters, extravaganza events, and fashion/gear.

Having helped dozens of women lose weight, been featured in the world’s best running magazine, Runner’s World, held energetic events coast to coast and noted as ISNA 2011 Annual Convention’s top 10 most memorable moments, and offering modest, affordable, and cute workout gear, Nadoona is here to whip you into shape! Check out www.Nadoona.com and add Nadoona on Facebook to get started on a healthier path in life. Let’s make the world strong, Nadoona strong, because a healthy community is a strong community!

As I walk through the narrow alleyways and enchanting shops of the Old City, the violence of the rest of the country seems very far away.  The streets of the Old City and downtown Damascus are, at first glance, much the same as I remember from my previous visits.  There is certainly no general sense of heightened security. The streets are crowded throughout the city and here in Bab Touma square, the Christian quarter, I hear an Arabic language version of “Silent Night” on public loudspeakers.

But the troubles in the rest of Syria have nevertheless had their effect on Damascus.  The tourist industry has almost completely disappeared, taking with them an important part of Syria’s economy.   And, along with the tourists, much of the international community has left as well, some of them for diplomatic symbolism, others out of concern for their safety.

But even though the tourists have almost all gone, the streets of Old and downtown Damascus are far from empty.  The locals seem to have taken advantage of the tourists’ absence to reclaim their ancient hometown.  The streets are thronged with the Old City’s notoriously nerve-wracking intermingling of pedestrians and cars.  People here seem to be enjoying life.  Or is it perhaps some forced merriment?  I can’t tell.

*                   *                       *

I’m staying in what is surely by far the most beautiful hotel room I’ve ever been in.  The ceiling of my room is entirely painted with charming rural scenes; every piece of furniture, from the tiles of the shower to the soap dish– everything is a work of art.  I feel like I’m staying overnight in a museum.  If Caravaggio had created hotel rooms for extra income, this is undoubtedly what he would have done.

My room had been, many years ago, an archbishop’s residence and used to rent for $300 Euros a night which in the Syrian economy has a purchasing power of perhaps three or times what it that would be in New York. But because of the almost total absence of tourists, it’s been offered to me for a miniscule $60 a night, the same rate I’m used to paying for the modest hotel where I usually stay.  I feel a twinge of guilt for getting the room and the services of the staff and delicious breakfast buffet so cheaply, but if I weren’t here, the hotel would be empty.

Later, sitting in my room alone with my TV and the flickering images of the BBC and Al Jazeera, the TV and the lights suddenly go dark.  In a heartbeat, the entire hotel is dark except for a few pale rays of light filtering through the windows from the full moon above.

My heart skips a beat.  Could the troubles of the rest of Syria have reached Damascus at last?  A dark corner of my imagination immediately springs into action:  could insurgents have bombed a power station outside the city?  Or here in Damascus?  Or what?

For several minutes I sit in complete darkness. I had heard that blackouts had occasionally been happening in Damascus but having heard that fact hadn’t prepared me for the unnerving effect a blackout has.  It is eerily reminiscent of blackouts I experienced in pre-war Baghdad a decade ago during the sanctions.

Then, just as suddenly, the lights come back on and the television resumes its solemn narration of the world’s woes.  I breathe a sigh of relief.  So, I tell myself, I have nothing to worry about after all.  Besides, I am due to catch a plane back to New York early the next morning.  I really need to catch a few hours of sleep.

Finally, after enough television news, I turn off the TV and the lights.  But even though I’m tired, I lay awake for a long while longer before finally drifting off into an uneasy sleep.  Just before I do I say a prayer for the people of Syria.  My guess is that for them, the troubles and blackouts are far from over.

Mel Lehman is the director of the non-profit organization Common Humanity which works to build understanding, respect and compassion with the Arab and Muslim world, through the power of art and beauty.

Lemon contains citric acid, which can be effective in treating acne. The vitamin C found in citrus fruits is vital for that healthy glowing skin while its alkaline nature kills some types of bacteria known to cause acne.

Lemon-juice is a powerful antibacterial. It has been proved by experiments that the bacteria of malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and other deadly diseases are destroyed in lemon-juice.

Lemon act as blood purifier and improves the body’s ability to get rid of toxins.

Lemon fruit is excellent in fighting disease that’s related to infection.

Lemon is nature’s version of insecticides and will help to repel certain insects including mosquitoes and flies. Pure lemon juice can also be used on wasp and bee stings to relieve pain

Combined with hot water and honey Lemon can help fight fever and chills which may be due to a variety of causes.

Lemons can act as antiseptics because of its styptics property.  lemon could also be applied on cuts to stop bleeding.

Drinking lemon juice is useful for people with heart problem – because of its high potassium content. Vitamin P in lemon strengthens the blood vessels and prevents internal hemorrhage. It is, therefore, extremely useful in high blood pressure, in which cerebro-vascular accidents commonly occur.

When treating a cold,  lemons works both internally, by supplying urgently required vitamin C to your defense cells, and externally, through the application of its antiviral properties to the virus on the mucous membranes in the nose and throat. It also checks the excessive flow of bile and cleanses the mouth. It dislodges phlegm and expels wind from the digestive tract. It helps in digestion and removes constipation, preventing vomiting, throat trouble, acidity and rheumatism. It destroys intestinal worms.

According to several studies, lemon balm when combined with certain herbs can help reduce anxiety and promote sleep.

The truth is, American Muslims are constantly condemning terrorism and religious extremism, unambiguously and in the strongest possible ways. But, many Muslims complain, their words and actions are not being heard. Here are some of the country’s most prominent Muslims, who battle these misconceptions everyday, to get their answers on this question:

Azhar Usman, Comedian

Usman is a stand-up comedian and member of the popular “Allah Made Me Funny” comedy troupe. The group travels the U.S. grabbing laughs about the situations in which Muslims find themselves in America today, like being subject to “random” airport searches and suspicious stares on airplanes. Usman believes humor is a universal way to break down religious and cultural barriers. He is also a lawyer, columnist, and an on-air personality on MTV Desi.

Shahed Amanullah, Journalist

Amanullah has harnessed the power of the Internet to spread a positive view of Islam. Amanullah is one of the country’s foremost Muslim journalists. He is the editor of altmuslim.com, a Muslim news website, and founder of Halalfire Media, a network of Muslim-themed websites with more than five million annual visitors. Through his work Amanullah has tapped into a strong force of online activism.

Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Civic and Social Leader

When Mattson was elected president of the Islamic Society of Northern America (ISNA) in 2006, she became the first woman to lead one of the most powerful Muslim social, civic, and political organizations in the country and America’s largest, most inclusive Islamic group. Mattson leads ISNA at a challenging time when American Muslims are struggling to promote their religion, encourage interfaith dialogue, and separate themselves from the views of extremists.

Imam Abdul Feisal Rauf, Religious Leader

One of the most sought-after American Muslims speakers, Rauf is an imam in New York City and the chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, a multi-faith organization that seeks to improve relations between the Islamic world and the West. As the author of several books, including “What’s Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West,” Rauf is on the frontlines of interfaith dialogue.

Asra Q. Nomani, Muslim Feminist

Nomani has been both hailed and denounced for her work as a feminist Muslim activist. In 2003, she challenged the leaders of her local mosque in Morgantown, W.V. to allow women to enter by the front door and pray alongside men. That protest led to her fight for women-led prayers and gender equality in mosques across the country. Though Nomani remains a controversial figure among American Muslims, her commitment to gender parity and support for a fair representation of Islam continues to attract attention.

Salam Al-Marayati, Political and Civic Leader

Al-Marayati is the man Muslims turn to for guidance in political and civic activism. As the executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, an organization dedicated to changing public opinion and policy, Al-Marayati has encouraged Muslims to get involved in anti-terrorism efforts like the National Grassroots Campaign to Fight Terrorism, which guides imams and mosque leaders to cooperate with law enforcement in exposing individuals with extremist ideas within the Muslim community.

Daisy Khan, Activist

Khan, the founder of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, is a driving force behind youth and women’s movements in American Islam. She organized the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow (which advises youth to reconcile varying ideologies within Islam) and the Women’s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equity (WISE), a 2006 project that gathered 100 of the world’s most influential Muslim women last year to develop a Shura (Muslim law) council to advance gender equality.

Courtesy of Beliefnet.com

Here are some of my favourite things to do during a freak snowstorm, or on a particularly chilly winter day, best enjoyed from your apartment window with a steaming mug of tea or coffee, watching the flakes drift down and gather at the pane, like little Kay in the The Snow Queen. What are some of yours?

• Knitting

My goal is to be at least half as good a knitter as Naani, my maternal grandmother was, from whom I learnt my first slip-knot at age 8, and my other grandma, Aunty Z, who re-introduced me to this meditative woolly pleasure at age 25. They were true maestras, these women, with every little sweater knitted for a grandchild a timeless work of art. I’m just a beginner, at the oh-no-I-dropped-a-stitch scarf-mode, but hopefully I’ll get  somewhere near them one day!

An in-progress reversible cabled scarf I’m knitting for my sister

Z, wearing the double-ribbed scarf I made for him last winter

• Baking / Desserts

I’ve always liked making desserts, and I like to eat them even more. Since coming to America, though, I’ve been spoiled by Keebler pie crusts and Pillsbury and Trader Joe’s baking mixes. But sometimes, you just need to sink your teeth into a crispy, flaky, butter-glazed, hand-kneaded pie crust.

Gooey, tart, crisp apple pie…taste-bud heaven / Source: Wikipedia

You can’t do the short-cut with halvas. The penultimate Pakistani dessert, rich, velvety, sinfully sweet, synonymous with winter in my hometown Lahore – I can just smell the ghee and milk, the brown sugar, the cardamoms, saffron, almonds, carrots, semolina or chickpeas, depending on what kind of halva my mum was making that day, simmering for hours on the stove…I’ve yet to muster the courage to cook one of these on my own!

Piping hot, silky sweet Sooji ka Halva…drool / Source: Mammus Kitchen

• Reading

This is, of course, one of the most enjoyable activities ever at any time of the day, any day of the year, but even more so on a day when you just want to wrap yourself up in a soft hand-me-down blanket  and not move. Not move, not think, just lose yourself in some fantastic world, centuries away, meandering and mysterious, rife with kings, queens, heroes, romance, magic…The Arabian Nights, The Lord of the Rings, The Alchemist, and fairytales of any kind rank high on my list. Current favourite is Samarkand by Amin Maalouf, a plum of cocoon-reading if there ever was one!

• Origami

I bought an Origami Suncatchers Kit from Barnes & Noble on an impulse, and spent the next one week bent over a coffee table strewn with colourful glazed paper, glue and fishing string. Z would find me in the exact same position every time he came home from work – the house fell into a state of neglect, dinner was reduced to pita and hummus, episodes of the Colbert Report backed up…and voila! The prettiest things to have come out of a thoroughly home-bound day 

• Board Games

Maybe my 25+ friends think I’m geeky for still obsessing about board games, but I don’t care! It’s my dream to have a whole store of them one day, and host extravagant board game bashes every weekend. Can there be a better way to pass time with people on a blustery winter day? The blizzard would long be over before someone declared victory in Monopoly or Catan, and you’d look out of the window and say, “Hey, when did it stop snowing?” Such is the beauty of board games.

Collection in process

That’s one thing I miss about living in a dorm – willing game players were never in short supply. And what I miss even more are those nippy evenings in Lahore, when the whole troop of cousins would gather in front of a gas heater at our grandparent’s or eldest aunt’s house every Sunday for a religious contest of Ludo, Carom, Cluedo, PayDay, and as we got older, Pictionary, Tabboo, Cranium…

An intense 5-hour game of Monopoly in Ithaca

Well, stay warm, and enjoy your winter, folks! 

What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha also known as “Festival of Sacrifice” or “Greater Eid” is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide annually on the 10th day of the 12th and the last Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah of the lunar Islamic calendar. Eid al-Adha celebration starts after those performing the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. Hajj in Saudi Arabia will start on November 4, 2011 performed by more than two million pilgrims from around the world. Eid Ul Adha will fall on November 6, 2011.

What does Eid al-Adha commemorate?

During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim-Peace Be Upon Him). This holiday commemorates the willingness of Abraham  to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Isma’il-Peace Be Upon Him) as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead.

Why do Muslims sacrifice an animal on this day?

During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham’s trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes willingness to give up things that are of benefit or close to hearts, in order to follow God’s commands. It also symbolizes willingness to give up some of own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. Muslims recognize that all blessings come from God, and they should open their hearts and share with others.

What else do Muslims do to celebrate the holiday?

On the first morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques. Prayers are followed by visits with family and friends, and the exchange of greetings and gifts. At some point, members of the family will visit a local farm or otherwise will make arrangements for the slaughter of an animal.

So if you know a Muslim, wish them “Eid Mubarak” (pronounced eeed moo baa ruck) this weekend!!!

Though surprisingly, an estimated 15.5 million youths, or 55 percent of youths ages 12-18, volunteer in some capacity, according to a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau. That is two times higher than the rate of adult volunteers.

The Prudential Community of Spirit Awards has honored and awarded the top youth volunteers in America over the past 16 years–and let’s just say, computer games are the last of these youngster’s concerns.

At a young age, these children have discovered that thinking beyond themselves, giving back to other communities and helping those less fortunate is meaningful, gratifying and as they might say, “pretty darn cool.”

For example, meet Jeff Hansen. At 17 years old, he is visually-impaired, yet is an artist that has raised over 325,000 for various charities by selling and donating his art. Whole Foods Market was so impressed with his work, that they are selling an eco-friendly grocery bag designed by Hansen. The share of the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Jeff is living example that you can turn any short-coming into an opportunity to help others at any age.

Then there is Cassandra Lin who at the age of 13 launched a program that collects more than 36,000 gallons of waste cooking oil a year from 95 restaurants and thousands of households in Rhode Island and Connecticut. She then converts the oil into heating fuel for needy families. Her program has enabled more than 65 families to keep warm during Rhode Island’s harsh winter!

A newspaper article about Rhode Island families that could not afford heat in the winter caught Cassandra’s attention. “I could not imagine how families could live without heat in the harsh New England winters,” she said.

Then, during a visit to an environmental expo at the University of Rhode Island, Cassandra learned that waste cooking oil could be refined into biodiesel, a cleaner-burning source of alternative energy. “An idea popped into my head – if we can generate this fuel from waste, we can help these financially stressed families heat their homes,” Cassandra said. “Volunteering has made me proud of myself,” said Cassandra and in turn everyone is proud of her, including her father, an immigrant from China.

Fourteen year old Glennita Williams is another young volunteer who knows how to be sweet. When Glennita learned that a friend’s father in Iraq had a craving for Twinkies, “I felt all the soldiers must be craving something sweet from home,” she said. She asked her principal and teacher if her class could help collect Twinkies for the troops, and just 10 days later 1,000 of the golden sponge cakes were shipped overseas.

These and other amazing teens like Cassandra, Jeff and Glennita are bridging the gap between communities of all classes and income levels
– and enjoying adolescence so much more because of it! The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards is also now accepting entries for this year’s program — and applications have to be in by November 1.

If you are an incredible young person doing incredible volunteer work, please submit an application to the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, which is online at www.prudential.com/community/spirit and is also available through middle and high schools, Girl Scout councils and county 4-H offices throughout the U.S. Interested students can also call 1-888-450-9961