Zainab’s Journey of Faith
"I did find many friends, it's true," said Zainab, "but it wasn't easy for me to overcome the cultural boundaries of our Muslim community and to mingle in the larger society as a girl who was brought up as the only girl in the family. In our culture, girls are expected to confine themselves into homes and manage day-to-day housework. Going beyond, sometimes causes conflict within the community. So, my first dialogue was within my family. "
Zainab, a twenty-one-year-old preschool teacher in the Muslim community of Pudukkudirppu, actively engages as a dialogue facilitator in the Grassroots Conflict Prevention in Sri Lanka (GRACE) project. The project, funded by the European Union and implemented by World Vision, aims to promote social cohesion and harmony through transformed relationships between communities and socio-economic support in North-Western and Western provinces, Sri Lanka.
"As I participated in the two residential Dialogue training programs, I got to know the differences between our cultures and the beliefs of others. It broadened my perspective and helped me engage with society beyond my closed community. During the training we were equipped with communication skills, problem solving and listening skills. Then, we began to work in the field as facilitators in communities diverse in culture, religion and language. Issues are diverse which became obvious to me when I held dialogues in Palasola. We had to intervene in the long-existed division between landowners and the community before starting the Palasola canal cleaning project done by the Grace Project. We were able to find a common ground to work together. Landowners agreed to clean the canal that runs across their lands with their labor and machinery. Landowners and community were together at the inaugural event of the project. Now, the canal cleaning project is at completion." shared Zainab.
She explains how she is also able to apply her new skills in her profession as a preschool teacher. "I work with kids who have no idea of the differences and divisions that we experience today in society. I am afraid the influence of society may destroy their human innocence, which is why I started a dialogue with the parents about this. I feel they trust me, and I am recognized in the community; it's my achievement," says Zainab with a smile.
She continues, "Parents are happy because they have someone they can rely on. There are many issues regarding children underneath the surface level due to economic and political instability in Sri Lanka. Parents do not have regular income to provide basics to the family. Many times, children come to school with an empty stomach. They just collapse in the playgrounds. It provokes conflicts which leads to violence within families and society. Children are the direct victims of them.
As I understand, mutual dialogue is one of the solutions that can address those issues. I had a dialogue on this matter with the parents. It's just raising awareness on the matter and making them feel how children become a victim of this situation. Now, parents encourage their children to share their meal with others who don't have something to eat. I have tried it and seen the results."
"It doesn't matter where we are. We all can try to change the world for the better. I learned it. Now, I need to teach it," says Zainab with pride and hopefulness.