Emdad Rahman: Maruf Deen of Upton Park travelled to Bosnia to take part in a 110km trek in memory of the innocent people killed in the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide.
During his trip, he worked on a farm and also with the charity MADE in Europe to help set up a fruit farm project, raising £2,600.
Maruf said the experience was physically challenging and taxing, but overall it was a unique learning experience. ”I have learnt many things and met many wonderful people and found that in particular patience, tolerance, respect, unity and team work need to be continually worked on and they are paramount in achieving your goals,” he said. Maruf recommends young people to get out of their comfort zone and to go out and explore, as that enables us bothto appreciate how fortunate we are and to make a difference. He also strongly believes in helping others and giving them the tools to become resilient and subsequently gives back to our own communities.