Nearly all students have smartphones and are using at least one Messenger App, like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or other.

Utilizing these Apps to create a direct communication channel offers great advantages:

• Create a new field for communication, so the group will stay connected between the teachings
• Easily find inquiry partners
• Exchange valuable information the Work

Ridhwan does not directly offer these kind of groups, but it supports student initiatives which creates such groups.

So, how about you? Do you want to create your on messenger channel for your home group, for the DIVe program or other courses?

How to Create and Maintain your Signal Messenger group

I choose Signal, since I believe that most students use this channel. Of course, you could use WhatsApp (which is less secure than Signal).

Go to Signal and create a new group.

Go to the “Group Settings”:

• Make sure that members can send messenges, only. They should not be allowed to change group settings nor add new members. It might be a good idea to add at least one other student as group admin.
• Have messages be automatically deleted after e.g. 7 days

Invite fellow students to the group: send an invitation link via email, or have them send you their phone number (plus country code).

Make sure that the guys you add/approve to the group are registered Ridhwan students: go to the Ridhwan website and check with the directory.

If you see that there are too many messages, you might re-post the group rules.

I created such a DHO1 Signal Messenger Group group for DHO1 – and: it works fine and fulfills its purpose!

Please let me know if you created such a group, so I can promote on this site!

Promote your Group

Now you need your group to grow… Here are some ideas:

1. Ask your teacher about it, if she/he could promote your group before the next teaching begins.
2. Ask your group admin, if she can send an email to all members
3. Ask early members, if they can promote it via their Small Groups
4. Click through the Ridhwan Directory and send invitation emails to fellow students
5. Promote it in the “Ridhwan “Student Commons” Facebook group

Post the group rules

From time to time, it might be a good idea to post the rules for the group, like this:

This group helps to find inquiry or Pearl Pod partners for DHO1 members.

Request: Send a message like these:
"Is there anyone who would like to do last weeks exercise with me?“
„January Teaching weekend exercise partner needed. Tue/Wed. between 7-10 pm GMT.“

Please respond with direct messages, as to keep the number of messages low.

If your request is completed, please delete your original post.