Members of a British Muslim youth group started the new year by presenting gifts and giving company to elderly residents in two care homes in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes reported.

“Our desire to visit care homes is derived from our faith, which teaches us to respect and care for the elderly,” said Saeed Nazir, a local youth leader in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA).

“Islam emphasizes kindness towards those in need and we wish to instill this within our youth through practicing our teachings.

“To serve mankind is part of our faith and we always try our very hardest to undertake community projects, particularly in our local areas.”

The visit formed part of the AMYA’s wider community and humanitarian activities which it carries out all year round and across the country.

“It is a matter of great pride that young British Muslims, under the banner of AMYA, have been serving the good people of Milton Keynes, as well as other areas across the country, for decades,” Nazir added.

Though Muslims don’t usually participate in new year celebrations, they usually lend a helping hand to the needy during the festive season.

In a similar effort, young Muslim youth across the UK woke up early Wednesday, January 1, to clean streets after New Year’s celebrations.

After early prayers on Wednesday morning, about 1500 young Muslims put on jackets and collected hundreds of bin bags of rubbish.

Their initiative was led in different cities across the UK from London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, to Walsall, Manchester, and Cardiff.