Every day, Muslim students across California face challenges that most people never see. Behind the smiles and backpacks, many of them walk into classrooms where they do not feel fully accepted. According to CAIR’s 2025 Bullying Report, 1 in 2 Muslim students have been bullied at school because of their faith. That means half of our children are facing hostility in a place that should be safe and welcoming.

Even more troubling, 67 percent of these students never report what happened. Many stay silent because they fear being blamed, do not believe anyone will take them seriously, or simply do not feel safe speaking up. 

This reality is not far away or hidden. It is happening here in San Diego, in our own classrooms, to children in our neighborhoods. Muslim students are being made to feel like outsiders in spaces that should nurture their growth and confidence. Some are teased for wearing hijab, others are mocked for praying, and many learn to stay quiet just to get through the day.

These are not just statistics. These are our kids, our neighbors, and our community’s future. Islamophobia changes how they see themselves, how they show up at school, and what they believe they can achieve and weighs heavily on families trying to raise their children with confidence and faith. The result is a constant tension between wanting to belong and needing to defend who you are.  When half of them are bullied for their faith, it affects all of us. 

That is why CAIR-SD invests deeply in youth programs that do more than respond to harm, they build leadership. Through initiatives like the Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP), the Muslim Gamechangers Network (MGN), and this year’s first-ever Muslim Youth Day at the Capitol, young Muslims are being equipped with the skills, confidence, and community they need to create change.

Each summer, students from across California gather in Sacramento for the Muslim Youth Leadership Program, a four-day civic leadership retreat where they learn how government, law, and media shape public life. They meet legislators, debate real issues in mock assemblies, and gain practical tools for advocacy. Many return home ready to start initiatives at their schools, lead youth groups, and organize for justice in their communities.

The Muslim Gamechangers Network (MGN) takes this work a step further by helping high school students explore identity, history, and social justice through an Islamic lens. Through engaging discussions and interactive workshops, students learn how to connect their faith with action, recognizing injustice and responding to it with confidence, compassion, and courage. The impact is lasting. Many graduates return to their schools inspired to start Muslim Student Associations (MSAs), lead cultural awareness events, or launch their own initiatives to support Muslim peers and promote understanding. 

And for the first time this year, Muslim Youth Day at the Capitol brought together students from across the state to meet lawmakers, tour the Capitol, and advocate directly on issues that impact their generation. It gave our youth the chance to see themselves not just as future leaders, but as current leaders, with their voices heard in the very halls where policies are made.

Together, these programs are flipping the script on islamophobia, by showing Muslim students that their faith is a source of strength, not something to hide. By showing our youth that their voices matter, and their leadership can shape the future of our state.

Islamophobia is not something that happens far away. It is happening right here in our own San Diego community. One of our high school students recently faced unjust discrimination, but she chose to speak truth in the face of hate, and CAIR-SD stood with her every step of the way. Join us on October 26 at our 18th Annual Gala to hear her empowering story and stand with us as we continue building a community rooted in justice, courage, and compassion.