About 16 Flying Fruit Fly Circus School students learnt about the religion and how it was not associated with Islamic State.

Charles Sturt University lecturer and member of the Islamic Society of Albury-Wodonga, Rafiqul Islam, spoke to the youngsters to break down barriers.

“We need to give them the truth about Islam and the message that it doesn’t support harmful things,” he said.

“We are Australians and we all need to live together.”

Mr Islam said the media had created misconceptions in young minds.

“We just want to send them the message that they should have some goals in their lives and be good human beings.”

Flying Fruit Fly Circus School student Maisie Walker-Stelling, 15, said it was important to see the faces behind the religion.

“It’s important to meet them because a lot of people believe what they hear,” she said.

“They’re people and they should be treated as equals.”

Student Mitch Craighead, 15, agreed and said the Border community needed to look past the skin and deeper into the person.

Their classmate Fiona Harding, 15, said she was surprised to learn Muslims were charitable.

“They are always thinking of others before themselves,” she said.

“The religion has also grown in the local area and we don’t see much of it.”

Mr Islam said if a neighbour did not have food, Muslims were obligated to feed them.

“Even if they are of a different religion,” he said.

Mr Islam also wanted the students to be aware Muslim women had choices.

“They can do anything,” he said.

“They have the right to have a job, go to school and can go everywhere.

“Islam never said they couldn’t go outside but it says when they do they should protect themselves.”

The Flying Fruit Fly Circus School students visited the mosque in Wagga Road after learning about Islam in their religious studies.