I would like to tell you a story about a group of changemakers who came together to co-create.
We issued a call for participants. Applicants were asked to consider and share their views on pluralism, peacebuilding, and politics. We valued curiosity, a desire to collaborate with others and a willingness to engage consistently.
We founded a Collectiva. A group of women and youths living in different Arab region countries, each dedicated to promoting peace and pluralism and exploring both through a feminist lens. They chose a name. Shamila. Inclusive. This was to be a grassroots collective. They were to set the agenda, the activities, the achievements they sought to strive for. They were interested in so many subjects, in addressing myriad injustices. Child marriage. Marital rape. Abortion. The unifying theme: social taboos that prevent social inclusion. Laws that promote discrimination. Inequalities that demand political activism.
We met once a week to brainstorm the ideas, the process, the purpose. We met once every two weeks to allow time for research, writing, review. We shared constructive criticism. We built a website. We created a campaign. We celebrated every achievement, every voice. We documented discussions. We launched Taboohat, a digital platform presenting articles and discussions about taboos and defiance, repression and revolution, pluralism and participation.
All individuals have a voice. They hear it within themselves, asking questions, expressing feelings and thoughts.
We present a microphone and invite people to release their voice from their minds and bodies, to share their stories with confidence and hear those of others with acceptance.
We’ve been doing this for over a decade. Sharq.Org has, together with so many fierce and fabulous pluralists, documented hundreds of stories, each told by someone who knows that their story deserves to be part of the public narrative, to share space with the stories of others, no matter the differences.
Yara Al Chehayed discussed the impact of taboos on society with various people. The discussions were held in Arabic and documented in an oral history collection entitled simply ‘Taboos & Society’. She shares her thoughts on the process in this article. Alexandra Sandels listened to the recordings and wrote and narrated three thematic episodes in English to help amplify the voices of those who shared beyond the confines of language.
To that same end, we translated all the articles written about taboos & society by Collectiva Shamila members and published them in five languages.
Shamila. Inclusive. Because we’re stronger together.
