A cocoon for women and children to thrive
Deadline is February 29, 2024. If you would like to publish your poem, essay, story, or art in our anthology in solidarity with Palestine, make sure to email solidarityanthology@gmail.com to get the details. Time is running out! Half of all proceeds go to charities supporting humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
Marvi and I never actually met in person. I was drawn to her paintings, which she posted on a community groupchat we share. Her unique style had stuck with me from previous years, I recognized it: I had seen pictures of her paintings on that same chat after a bazar, or something of the sort. As it had been after the fact, I assumed everything had been sold, so I didn’t bother to reach out to her. They had called me out, and pulled at my heart-strings, but I couldn’t put my finger on why they were having such an effect on me.
This time I didn’t want to risk loosing her contact, so I reached out to her as soon as I saw her pictures. From this first contact I discovered that she doesn’t just paint, she’s also an artistic card writer, and runs a children’s YouTube channel with her kids. I requested to see more of her paintings, and I perused her two YouTube channels. The more I saw of her work, the more intrigued I got. So I asked her if she’d agree to be interviewed for my blog. She graciously agreed, and the following is our exchange on the subject of her creativity.
I come from Pakistan, from the province of Sindh to be precise; hence my name: Marvi is a folk-legend. I am a chartered accountant by profession, When I was younger, I really wanted to pursue interior design but fate had planned differently for me, so I studied accounting and kept following my interests in arts and designing on the side, as a passion. I am a mother of two beautiful kids, masha-Allah, my son is four and my daughter is two years old.
2. Masha Allah. Interesting! You are not the first who tells me that they pursued a more practical academic route, despite knowing early on that you liked the arts. It’s a smart move, as you always have something to fall back on if the art route doesn’t pan out, as it often doesn’t. And although I’d like to say that following your passions would be ideal, I have had friends who were very glad that they did have a plan B, as it allowed them to be able to pay the bills. But I’m curious about your name now! I never heard of the Marvi legend, could you share it?
So, Marvi in the story is depicted as a very beautiful girl with whom the King, Omar, falls in love. Since Marvi was interested in neither kingdom nor king, she refused to marry him. The king abducts her, but Marvi keeps on refusing, longing for her home and homeland. This part is common, but the next part I am not sure about, since people to omit it one way or the other. In the end, king Omar comes to learn that he can’t marry her because they were wet-nursed by the same lady, and so technically, they are like siblings, (lol). In short, Marvi is a symbol of love for homeland.
3. What attracts you to art?
My love for art started as young as I could remember, I don’t think I had ever missed an opportunity to make a birthday, get well soon, love you, or miss you card, (lol). There was this one time when I made a card for my friend’s birthday and my other friend came close to me and mentioned, hers was coming soon and she wanted exactly the same card (lol). I think it was a compliment. What attracts me to art is the joy it brings to my and other people’s lives. I remember being more excited about the reaction of the other person when I was making something for them, be it a card or some art project. Personalizing a particular piece of art shows that the other person matters to you and that’s all that there is to this life, don’t you agree? One way or the other, this life is all about expressing love, for God, for people around you, and even for the animals, through words AND actions.
For me, art is very therapeutic. After a long week/month especially after I had kids, there’s nothing that winds me down better than a nice art project.
4. I can relate to that, for sure. Compliments you get for things you’ve put effort into really stick. I think I’m starting to understand what draws me into your art: it’s the feeling and care you express through it. It really shines through! Masha Allah!
Thank you so much, these words mean a lot to me. It lets me know that I have been successful in pouring at least some of my heart onto the canvas, if not all.
3. You are very artistic, and express yourself in many different ways, between your calligraphy YouTube channel, your kids’ YouTube channel, your paintings, it’s clear to me at least, that you have a lot to say, and that you have a very particular way of saying it, what are you trying to say with your art? What is important to you?
I DO have a lot to say (lol), I deeply analyze life experiences, mine and others’. I observe and read a lot, combining these two, you have a pool of deductions and reductions. I think about what’s the best way of expressing that one particular point that I have in my mind, what medium would be best suitable, and who’s the recipient of my message. Before, I started my YouTube kids’ channel, what I do on those videos is what I used to do 24/7 live with the audience that I gave birth to, (lol), I really did! I feel my kids would feel less of a threat to their power and independence if Skye from paw patrol would tell them to do something than their mommy, so I get to pick my battles. If it was something petty, Skye would make them do it without arguments, Skye could feed them, change their diapers without them running around, unless there was something serious and Mommy had to come out of me and draw the line.
I think at the end of the day, I am saying what I should say instead of what other people want to hear. We and our kids have never been lonelier despite the world around us, and that’s the theme you would notice in most of my paintings. I feel like there’s a dire need for people to reconnect to reality and each other, as people are slowly drifting away into this delusionary and virtual world, based on self-centeredness.
I think personal interaction and learning selflessness is something really important to me, and therefore, I chose to use this double edged-sword, which is social media, to my advantage. The very medium that’s taking us apart from each other and our values, can be used to remind us about what’s actually important, especially for the kids, as they are our future. I strongly believe that shaping our kids’ future starts early on: if we teach them the value of truth, honesty, kindness and respect today, then, tomorrow we have one less counter-productive adult to deal with,, be it on a personal level or societal.
5. Ah yes, there are many studies showing exactly what you are talking about: our increasing disconnectedness in spite of our frequent and obsessive virtual interactions. So how do you make content that goes beyond the virtual? What impetus do you wish to inspire in your viewers?
So, the virtual platform is just a start, it’s a means to an end, basically. Recent studies do tell us both things: that this is what’s driving us apart and that it is also the most effective way of communicating to the masses. Eventually, my goal is to inspire people to circle back around, where ‘Face’ is the ‘Book’ , and ‘Friends’ are not just a number. In fact, I have written a whole poem about that! Stay tuned to marnimadsal for that..
6. Your paintings are very peaceful, almost meditative, is your painting activity a form of meditation?
The main goal of meditation is to acquire peace, that’s what I am trying to achieve through my paintings, or any other art project. I want to clear my mind, let go of any negative energy that’s been draining me out. If everything goes well during the process, I do feel very rejuvenated after my project.
7. What happens to the paintings that draw out your negativity? Are you hiding them? Or do you keep working on them until they turn into something peaceful, or until you rediscover peace within yourself?
The positive energy that comes through the mere process simply transcends the negative energy. Negativity doesn’t come pouring out of me in my paintings. I basically acquire zen by looking at the paint, brushes, a blank slate, and having a moment to myself. It’s a feeling similar to that of starting over, with a clear heart and mind, giving everything another chance, with sincerity.
8. Your videos, both on the calligraphy channel, and on the kids’ channel, are also soothing to watch and to listen to, is this simply an expression of your personality, or are you intentionally keeping very soft lighting, pen-strokes, and voicing?
I think generally I am the kind of person who keeps calm. I don’t really enjoy over-stimulating things; I feel like we tend to lose focus from the main point if there’s too much going around. As for the kids’ channel, I do add some parts that would make them happy or excite them so that they at least want to watch the video. I really want the parents to be able to find something balanced and not overly-stimulating for the kids, because I feel as a parent, I should put in front of my kids what they should be watching, not what they want to watch, at least not all the time.
https://www.youtube.com/@marnimadsal
9. How do you know you hit the balance between something they like and would want to watch, and something that simply attracts them because of the energy or stimulation they derive from it?
I have two volunteers for testing at home, (lol)! See, I believe that even if you give your kid some screentime, which is almost inevitable at some point, you can still spend time with them. If I want to sit down or get a chore done, I have never left my kids alone in a room with a screen: either they take part in the chore, or I watch alongside them as I do my chores. In my 4 years of mommy-life, I put on what they like, and I’m close enough to know all the names of the episodes and shows and know their favorites. That way, there’s obviously a database in my head as to which channels think about their content of how it would affect a kid’s thinking and what channels just mindlessly upload videos without thinking about the consequences. That way, I can ROUGHLY evaluate, though obviously every kid is different, if it has achieved a balance or not. I also run videos by my son first. Most of the time the very idea for each new video actually comes out of our play-time together. It’s either something that I made up for them and they enjoyed it, or something I’ve been doing with them that they like. For example, the dino song, I made for my son, and he loves it. Whereas the song that I sang in Sofia’s bedtime episode, I didn’t write, but it’s something that I have always sung to my kids.
6. Where do you see your channels and your painting going in five years? Is it a smooth and clear trajectory, or are you just enjoying the journey?
For the channels, even though I love what I am doing, I want to monetize them as well, I do see potential in both of those areas (the writing and the kids’ one), and I do see gaps as well, as I mentioned. I want to see people taking out time for other people to express their feelings, I want to express what I have to say through calligraphy. As for the kids’ channel, I want to be able to contribute by bringing children closer to the values which we should aspire to adhered to.
The painting journey, however, is something that I am enjoying in and of itself. I actually started painting just a year ago, when my mom bought me a set of acrylic paints as a present. Before that, I’d do small scale projects with the make-up sets I was given: nail-colors and lip-glosses… really! I don’t wear make-up so I’d use those for painting and making cards. So, 5 years from now, I just see myself improving my painting skills.
https://www.youtube.com/@incywincyadv
7. Now, I couldn’t finish this without asking about your kids. How do they interact with your artistry? Do they also paint? Is this something you purposefully include in their day to day lives?
Well, I paint when they are asleep at night, or are out with their father. My husband supports me by providing this opportunity so that I can get a break and get back to my sanity (lol). I ask my son what he thinks about it after I am done, sometimes he’ll tell me if he likes it or not, but most of the time the answer is, ‘I want to paint too!’. However, I do bring out paint every once in a while, for them either in the garage, or in the backyard in the summer, because I don’t want to give them paint and then constantly be stressing them out about using it carefully around the walls: because where’s the fun in that?! So, when I do, they don’t want to come back to the house, that’s how much they enjoy it! My daughter, when she was 18 months old, once pointed towards the paint brushes and then took me where the paints were in the garage trying to tell me she wanted to paint. I purposefully give them pencil-colors and crayons and let them be, to express their creativity, it’s very important for them, since they have so much to say, and so many stories to tell. They and I absolutely love it!
8. Do you have any advice for moms who would like to include more artistic expression in their kids’ lives?
My advice for those moms would be to take out some one-on-one time without the screen presence (tabs or phones) in the room, with a kids-friendly environment and products, and then just let them be. If you lend an ear when the kids are done as to what they were trying to show, you will be surprised what stories, emotions and expressions surface with those pictures. You know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words! I mean, if it wasn’t for my mom and dad taking out time to listen to me, my ideas and stories, despite how silly they may have sounded, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
9. Is there anything else you feel you’d like to discuss, mention, or bring to our readers’ attention?
Connect to nature, wise ones (which are our elders), and your loved ones. There’s so much that we are losing in this fast-paced world already, let not the relations be among those things. Take out time for the things that actually matter.
This has been really lovely, thank you very much for your time. Where can people find you for customizable cards, or to purchase a painting?”
Thank YOU for giving me this wonderful opportunity to present my views, I feel really honored. I can write a message or design a personalized card, if the details are provided through email or DM, the whole process is usually mentioned in the description box of the video clip or also on my channel’s page on YouTube.
My paintings however, can be found either on Instagram or Facebook page. I do not ship as of right now, but they are available to be picked up locally anytime.
Here are the links to my pages on different platforms:
Kids YouTube channel: Incy Wincy Adventures
Facebook: Incy Wincy Adventures
Art, Creative writing and personalized messages YouTube channel: Marnimadsal
Instagram: @marnimadsal
Facebook: Marnimadsal
How We Met
It was about two years ago that I attended our first annual Multicultural Bazar at our Premier Fitness and Recreation Center, which fell around Ramadan. This meant that Muslims from the region would surely be there to sell and purchase Ramadan and Eid decorations, gifts, and to support local craftspeople and vendors. I love attending such events because I’m always eager to see what local talents we have, what goods and services are available in my vicinity, and who I might be able to support. I attend local craft shows, regular markets, and mosque-held bazars as much as I can, but this was the first one specifically emphasizing multicultural talents and businesses. Being around Ramadan, I was sure to find a high concentration of Muslim owned goods and services for sale, and it would surely be a focal meeting spot for many Muslim friends and neighbors to see each other and wish each other well. So attendance was a no brainer. This particular year I found the usual clothing and hijab sellers, a few paint and graphic artists, a few seamstresses specializing in different types of garments (women or kids), and some home crafters making everything from soap, to knit and crocheted items, to keychains and charms. There’s usually one vendor that captures my attention out of the dozens of tables, sometimes it’s a soap maker (like the one I featured years ago, and has now moved on to making crochet dolls), another time it might be a baker, and so on. But sometimes I leave not having found anything that really inspires me. This particular year, I thought, might be one of those years when I don’t find anything inspiring. But, alas, as I was on my way out, I came across ARJewelry!
As I was heading out of the bazar, having almost completed my rounds, and purchased the token items to stuff my kids’ Eid bags with, I had almost resigned myself. I had not found anything that truly captured my imagination, but I was determined to finish my tour of the tables. I turned the corner and was forcing myself to complete my round diligently, as the true treasure seeker that I am. Just as I was about to leave the venue… there it was: Amal Ragab’s table, shimmering in pure silver and brass magnificence! I cautiously approached, expecting exorbitant prices, and as I scanned the various original pieces, the friendly face at the other end of the table started telling me about the maker (her mom: Amal Ragab), and how she sourced all her materials locally as much as possible, how she made everything herself, and how she was more concerned with making beautiful things accessible to the average consumer, than making huge profits. I was listening, and scanning, becoming more and more intrigued.
I picked up a pair of earrings, a necklace, a few rings, and finally decided I’d start asking for prices. These were really nice! They reminded me of the jewelry I used to admire in my hometown of gorgeous Locarno (in southern Switzerland) in the windows of Good’s Jewelers (the craft now passed down to the youngest son Beni). It has that rustic feeling of massive Giacometti sculptures, but in more delicate, bite-sized, wearable patterns. It had the same vibe, but Amal’s pieces are not as chunky, they’re a lot more delicate, and have a definite feminine touch that both Good’s jewelry and Giacometti lack. I had already spent most of my cash on little gifts for my kids, as this was my last table before exiting the bazar, and so I had to choose only one item, but I left feeling like I had just discovered the most delightful hidden treasure! I picked up a business card, and went on my way.
I’ve gone back to ARjewler’s over and over, and I’ve now purchased complete sets for myself and others as gifts. Her work is beautiful, well made, her service is impeccable, and her prices extraordinary. If you are thinking of buying something original, beautiful, inspiring, well made, ethically sourced, and that will last you for years to come, but you don’t want to break the bank doing so, then take a look at ARjewelry’s gorgeous pieces. She is now also casting pieces out of gold, on top of her silver, brass, and gold-plated brass pieces. She can customize your piece with the semi-precious stones of your choice as well. I tend to go for pearls, which she caters to, but she also has a wide array of other stunning stones that you might enjoy.
I asked Amal if she’d agree to answer a few questions for this piece, and she graciously agreed. Below you’ll find out more about Amal, what inspires her work, and what her business is about. I hope you enjoy it, and that you’ll take a few minutes to browse her Instagram , or her Facebook accounts, as you think about what to buy for yourself or a loved one this Eid!
Who is behind ARJewelry ?
ARJewelry is an avant-garde jewelry designer named Amal Ragab, who makes silver, brass, gold, and gold-plated hammered jewelry with semi-precious stones and pearls, mixing a variety of methods and styles. Amal Ragab is the owner, and craftsperson behind ARJewelry, and she crafts each piece individually. She draws inspiration from ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures and artifacts, and aims at catering to women who appreciate beautiful jewelry, without having to pay exorbitant prices for it.
Salam Amal. Can you tell me what’s the story behind ARJewelry?
I always had a passion for unique shapes of jewelry and accessories. I rarely found what I could picture in my mind, except perhaps in Italy, so I would ask jewellers to custom make my designs for me for my personal use. I got motivated to learn jewelry making while my daughter was studying at Art College. I started off by making the jewelry for her fashion show, during her fashion design studies. She really encouraged me to continue making jewelry after the success of her runway show, and it took off from there. I felt that the market here in North America was ripe for different jewelry designs. I think there still is much room for more designers to provide unique designs at relatively affordable prices.
Your jewelry has a very particular style at the intersection of ultra modern and ancient tradition. It avails itself of elegance and nature, while simultaneously exuding an air of daring sophistication. What is your inspiration?
I get inspired by organic and irregular shapes, along with jewelry from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
What do you think Muslim women look for in a piece of jewelry?
I think they are mostly attracted to semi precious stones as they believe in their energy. Organic shapes that look like flowers are also popular among Muslim women.
How do you decide what you’ll make next?
I work by piece and I start my next piece when I get inspired by something.
I know you also do custom orders, as I’ve commissioned a few pieces from you myself. Is there a limit to what you’ll take on?
I think that the jewelry that I make is limited to hammered, folded, and beading jewelry. That’s what I stick to.
How would you describe your technique?
First I design the concept that I have in mind, then I choose the metal that I want to work with, then I cut it and file it, and use the technique I require to get the effect I’m looking for. Sometimes it’s fire, sometimes I hammer, or fold, and any combination of these. There are many different ways to handle the metal to get a variety of textures. At this point I also choose the kind of stone that I will be using. I always use stones that have some significance, such as agate, amazonite, or pearls. This year I’m starting a new technique of metalsmithing that allows me to texturize metal with fire.
Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I hope to build a unique brand that caters to customers who absolutely love unique designs! I hope that this originality will gain me reknown in North America and internationally.
I think that’s a real possibility! What’s your favorite aspect of your business? How do you balance between what customers want and what you’re inspired to create?
I love that I’m doing what I love. So I’d say my favorite aspect would really be the creative side of the business. As for the balance between my own creativity and my customers’ needs, I always try to meet my customers’ wishes. I try to accomodate the metals they prefer, say if they want gold-plated, gold, or silver, or if they want a particular shape. I’ll change the stones to they type they prefer. I am always accommodating to these types of request. But I try to stick to hammered and folded geometric shapes. I’ve had people ask me if I’d do calligraphy, for example, because it’s trendy, but I always say no, because that’s not my style, it’s not my specialty. I prefer to stick to the esthetic that I have developed.
Thank you very much for taking the time for this interview. I really love your designs, and I wish you all the best.
Thank you!
1) If I were to meet you now for the first time, what would you like me to know about you?
If you were to meet me for the first time, I would hope that you would find me open, honest, hard-working and interested in what you had to say. And I love a good sense of humor!
2) You were awarded “The Best Principal in Canada Award” for Nova Scotia, what does this mean to you?
In 2016 I was honored to receive an award as one of Canada’s top 40 Principals by the Learning Partnership of Canada. I got to go to Toronto, meet wonderful administrators and educators from across the country, and experience some top-notch professional development. But more than this, I was nominated by the staff, students and caregivers from my school. Their faith in me and the work it took to acknowledge me (lots of paperwork in the application!) meant more to me than anything else. It’s also quite humbling. You spend so much time being around extraordinary educators every day, you feel guilty that you are being recognized and they are not. I am someone who likes to give credit where credit is due, so believe it or not, I found it somewhat difficult to take the accolades knowing I could not be successful in what I do without the work and support of my staff and school community every day.
3) What motivated you to switch from teaching to becoming a Principal, and what got you moving into a more administrative role at the school board?
I originally had no intention of going into administration, although as a circuit music teacher who travelled from school to school I could easily see the massive impact the Principal had on a school’s climate and culture. I enjoyed my contact time with students every day too much to give that up. I had several Principals and teachers over the years ask me if I had ever considered becoming an administrator. Eventually, I decided to ‘give it a go’. That was 18 years ago, and I truly enjoy what I do!
4) What are the most important elements for being an effective Principal?
-I believe that a Principal first and foremost needs to be able to build positive, trusting relationships. If a person at any age does not get the ABC’s (Accepted, Belong, Connected) no learning or moving forward can ever take place.
-I think that a Principal needs to have a clear vision moving forward. With this comes a growth mind set and high expectations, and the belief that everyone can achieve.
-A Principal has to be fair. Some people misinterpret “fair” with “equal”. They are not the same thing. And consistency goes along with being fair.
-Being open-minded is key. Otherwise, we become too judgmental.
-I also believe having a strong sense of social justice helps with the ABC’s, and everyone being included.
-Being a problem-solver and being a team player can get you through a lot!
There is so much to say on this topic: being knowledgeable, current, an excellent listener, reflective, hard-working, passionate, the list goes on. But if all else fails, you better have a good sense of humor…or at least be able to laugh at yourself!
5) What do you think is the most important contribution you can give to our school system/what does it need that you are able to provide?
Something that I have that many of my administrative colleagues do not is a passion for the Fine Arts. Often times, children become disengaged in learning, particularly in Literacy, Math and Science. Infusing the Arts into these subjects helps students enjoy them more. Also, Fine Arts trigger different areas of the brain. This is important, as children need to learn in different ways. And creativity is key no matter what you do. Not to mention building what are called ‘soft skills’. Those are the personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and positively with other people.
6) My kids and I have been to many schools, but we never felt as attached and secure as we did at your school. We credit it to your staff and school community, but in large part to you, because you made the environment very welcoming and open for all of us from the very start. This is a remarkable achievement. How are you able to make people feel so comfortable?
I think it is all about perspective and attitude. If someone believes that they hold the ‘truth’, it’s easy to see others as wrong, and differing thoughts or beliefs may not be valued. This egocentric way of looking at things is one of the reasons why there is so much hatred in the world. I try (not always successfully!) to be open to new ideas and ways of thinking. I try to remember that I don’t know everything or have all the answers. I also try to remember that other people have lived experiences that I do not. We all have a lot to learn from each other. And I keep the ABC’s close at all times, because that’s what I want when people get to know me.
7) You once told me that you strongly believe in the ABCs of life, can you please explain what they are and why you think they are so important?
The ABC’s (Accepted, Belong, & Connected) are important for any human being no matter your age. Humans are constantly trying to figure out where they belong in the world, and being accepted and having value within the larger group is hugely important. I think about children trying to fit in with their classmates, their families, their social friend groups and communities. The same with staff or community members. Nothing feels more isolating than knowing you are not wanted or you are not respected. Everyone needs to feel valued.
8) What important aspects of your career surprised you most?
As a teacher, I was surprised to see how political education can be. Decisions are not always made for what is in the best interest of students, but rather for specific groups or agendas. This became even more evident when I became an administrator.
I was also surprised to find out everyone expects you to be an expert-at all times and in all things! When I entered my very first classroom, I was supposed to have all the answers. I am sure that other professionals probably feel the same way.
And unless you actually do the job, you don’t fully understand how many hats you actually wear: caregivers, psychologists, behavior specialists, data analysts, public relations officers, diplomats, cheerleaders, nutrition monitors, health care professionals, colleagues, mentors, learners, managers, conflict resolution specialists, actors, entertainers, committee members, responders to a deluge of emails, and communication specialist. And somewhere in there you teach!
9) Is there something you tell yourself or do regularly to keep motivated?
There’s an old story about a person watching an old man on the beach every morning. The old man walks along the shoreline, picks up star fish that wash up on shore, and throws them back on the water. A person asks the old man why he bothers doing this knowing that star fish wash up on the beach every day. Did he really believe it made a difference? The old man smiles and replies, “It made a difference to this one.”
It may sound corny, but if I can make a difference to one person, even in the smallest way today, it was a good day. And sometimes we don’t even realize that a very small action can have an extraordinary impact on others without realizing it.
The famous astrophysicist, Neil Degrasse Tyson, has a quote that I love, “…I am driven by two main philosophies: Know more about the world today than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You’d be surprised how far that gets you.” That says a lot!
10) What does leadership mean to you?
There are different definitions of leadership, but the one that rings truest to me in my role is being a servant leader. Servant leaders focus on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. This does not mean that you don’t make hard decisions or that you don’t have a vision as to the path an organization should take, but it takes into account what is in the best interest of the greater good. That means a servant leader should be an active listener, be empathetic and empathic, have self-awareness, be persuasive, be a problem-solver, be able to conceptualize, and have commitment to growth and emancipation, and community building.
11) What was the best advice you were ever given?
My parents gave me three pieces of advice that have always rung true for me from an early age:
-No one owes you anything, so learn to be self-sufficient and self-reliant, and when someone does something for you, appreciate it and be grateful.
-You don’t need to know everything; you need to know how to get the information when you need it.
-Whatever you decide to do in life, be the best at it you can be and enjoy it!
12) Could you share the most defining moments of your career, and why you think they were crucial?
That’s a tough one to answer, as there are so many little moments that make up the big picture. There are so many experiences and people who have come in and out of my life that I have learned from, both positively and negatively. There have been things that validate what and why I do what I do, and times I have said to myself, “Don’t ever do that again!” But I think the biggest moment of my life would be the birth of my daughter. Before she was born, I was very career driven, to the point of it being unhealthy. She helped ground me, give me perspective, and bring balance in my life. Both my husband and I believe she is our greatest accomplishment. I truly believe you cannot have an effective career and be of use to anyone unless you have a balance in your own life. My daughter and husband help teach me this every day.
13) What’s your spice for life?
My spice? Creativity, humor, laughter, connecting with others, humor, music (singing, playing instruments and dancing!), acting, honesty, humor, learning new things, humor, respect and dignity, humor, finding joy in the little things…did I mention humor?
14) What would you like to be most remembered for?
I hope that I am remembered for bringing joy to others, whatever form that took!
15) What motivated you to get into the field of education?
All through my years as a student, I was always put in situations where I was either helping or teaching my peers. I thought this might be something I could continue doing into adulthood.
b) What are your greatest challenges?
I am constantly trying to find the win-win in any problem-solving situation. This is not always possible. Trying to resign myself to the reality that not every situation is going to work out positively for everyone is very difficult for me.
Keeping my opinions to myself is very difficult. Everyone does not need to know everything that’s in my head!
And I still work hard to keep a balance between my personal and professional life!
16) You are a successful representative of your community, working with various parties within the School District, the various communities under the HRSB umbrella, what do you think brings about the best results, in your experience?
Being able to listen and be open to (valuing) other perspectives, in my opinion, are the only ways to navigate working within multiple environments. Again, if I think I know all the answers and I have the only ‘truth’, nothing can authentically get accomplished.
And thank you for saying I am successful. I think I have my moments, but I am constantly reflecting on what I can do better. I am far from perfect!
17) If you could combine the best aspects of all the various groups you work with, what would it look like?
It’s all about the variety and diversity! Everyone has their unique perspectives, knowledge and experience. Everyone having an equal seat at the table is what is key. But in the end, the most important thing that should be driving everyone is what is in the best interest of students, not what is in the best interest of ourselves or our individual groups. If we are all combining our knowledge, skills and perspectives towards everyone growing and learning, we all win.
18) What do you see as the most valuable contribution that could be made today in the Education System?
We need to teach students how to problem-solve, be open-minded, and teach them resilience. I think we have become very good at teaching children ‘stuff’, but more emphasis need to be placed on ‘how to be’.
19) What would the perfect school look like, in your mind?
Humans are not perfect, so schools are not perfect (schools are little microcosms of society). And it’s amazing how philosophy of education is affected by politics, money and litigation.
However, I would love to see a school where everyone – children and adults:
-could feel valued, belonging, and accepted
-would be challenged but still feel successful
-learned at their own pace but were constantly moving forward
-had all the supports/tools they needed academically, socially, and emotionally
-learned in beautiful surroundings!
These are very broad strokes. It would take forever to logistically lay all this out!
This year we made another Eid wreath, just because I’ve been thinking of making this for months, and was waiting for Ramadan to get going. The kids rolled up their sleeves and did their own version, which I think came out quite nice. So here you’ll find two different wreaths made simultaneously, with a slightly different emphasis.
What you’ll need:
a few empty egg cartons
a glue gun
a circle of some sort (I used a cardboard template I had lying around, with three nested circles, but you can use wood, or anything else that you have around the house)
paint (we used acrylic, because we have plenty of it at home and I wanted to avoid having the carton show through water colors)
Eid Mubarak paper cake toppers (I had a few extras, but you can write or cut out your own if you prefer)
ribbons (I used a wide (5-6 cm) sheer pearly-white and slightly shimmery crepe ribbon for mine, and a silk burgundy regular width ribbon for the kids’ wreath). Keep in mind that the narrower the ribbon’s width, the more you’ll need in length to cover the circumference of the circle.
paint brushes
Thick decorative stock paper for the background
Instructions:
You can either cut or tear the egg carton’s individual cups. I cut some, and tore others. The larger three dozen egg trays lend themselves better to tearing than the regular dozen egg cartons, but I do like the serrated edge effect that you get from tearing.
Once you have at least three dozen cups ready, paint them in whatever colors you like, and let them dry. Also tear or cut out some flaps, divide them in two, and paint them, these will be rolled up for the inner portion of your roses.
While they dry, wrap your circle with the ribbon, and secure with glue. This part can be very messy, but more glue is better than not enough, because you don’t want it unravelling after you’ve secured the flowers to it.
Once dry, nest them with corners intercalated, so they look like petals. Secure with your hot glue. Roll up the flaps and insert them in the middle of the two nested cups.
You should have about a dozen roses now. Arrange them as you like onto the wrapped circle.
I added some silk leaves that I had left behind from last year’s Eid wreath project.
Let the glue set, and then cut a circle out of your stock paper to place at the back of the wreath to provide a clear background for your Eid wishes. Glue it to the back of the wreath, and then add your Eid wishes to the front, wherever you like.
You can either use some fishing string, or ribbons, or even twine to hang your wreath, just make sure it’s securely fastened to your wreath. I glued mine all along half of the wreath to maximize the surface area that the ribbon adheres to, so as to spread out the weight and make it less likely to fall under its own weight.
Hope you try to make this, and if you do, make sure to tag me on IG, or comment below!
Pain, pain go away
I know you’ll come another day
Pain, pain go away
I’m done chasing you far away
I tried burying you
I tried screaming at you
I tried hitting you
I tried crying you out
But you always come back
They try drinking you away
They try cutting you out
They try suffocating you
They try popping you out
They even tried hating you
But you always return
As gleeful and eager as ever
Won’t you please go?
Please just go and never come back
I tried asking nicely
I begged you
Just go
You’re not wanted
I hid you
I hide you
Under layers of piousness
And layers of luxury
Under careful, neat wraps of duty
And layers of insecurity
And still, here you are
I muffled you
Under shouts of frustration
And anguished silence
You are the most resilient of foes
Just go
Nobody wants you here
So just leave
Go away
I think
Maybe
I got you all wrong
Perhaps
You don’t want to stay
Maybe you’ll willingly leave
Once I give you the time of day
So have a seat
Make yourself comfortable
Linger a while
And tell me
I want to hear this
What is it you want from me?
What lesson are you trying to teach me?
Let me learn it,
and be on your merry way
Let me see
What kind of partnership you envision
So I can be done with you
Help me understand
What I need to do
To be rid of you
Once and for all.
English
False consciousness is a natural occurrence of the simple fact of being human: every day we have to make decisions of varying importance based on little or even no prior knowledge.
There are other decisions that we take, though not necessary for survival. These often times imply a certain judgement which we should theoretically not be in a position to make based on facts, but we nevertheless make based on the predominant social beliefs and attitudes.
There are actions of a practical nature, and actions of a more ideological character. The difference can be found in the underlying ideas which motivate said actions. For an act to be ideological, it must incorporate some type of betterment for those who undertake the action, and sometimes also for the recipients of said belief/action. It must make sense to the group concerned (agent and/or recipient), it must be true at some level of its enunciation, it must unfold in everyday life in practical ways, it cannot be individualizing in and of itself, it must be accompanied by a desire for the acting group’s general wellbeing, and sometimes even beyond it, and it sometimes uses a certain level of deception, illusion, or lying.
All these criteria can themselves be based on false or erroneous preconceptions or ideas. If it is in any way based upon false or erroneous concepts, then it’s called false consciousness.
When I mentioned that there are various levels of preconception, it wasn’t a mistake. There are many definitions of falsehood, and various levels of interpretation that come into play when assessing anything, as well as variations in the objects themselves.
Eagleton divides these levels in three: epistemological falsehood, functional falsehood, and genetic falsehood.
Epistemological falsehood is everything that encompasses our Weltanschauung and our personal distortions in viewing it. This is a unilateral, in/sub-conscious misunderstanding, or misinterpretation of the object concerned.
Functional falsehood is more conscious and serves the agents in their ability to manipulate others and maintain them under an oppressive control or power, which the oppressed are unaware of. It is false because it maintains false premises with truth/fact.
Genetic falsehood is false in its most basic premise, and those who hold these beliefs and act accordingly are normally considered to be fanatics.
But not everything that is false is irrational or illogical, and it need not be completely false either. The manner in which one is able to manipulate one’s discourse as a function of the desires and aspirations of its recipients determines the extent to which one will be successful in convincing the recipient that they will ultimately benefit from going along (although in reality only the agents benefit in the end), and directly correlates to its truth and/or falsehood.
The signs and messages that can be used to these ends are innumerable, and reach far beyond oral discourse, including semiotics and a complex history of signs and preconceptions.
EspaNol
La falsa conciencia ocurre a causa de nuestra naturaleza humana: todos los dias temenos que tomar decisions mas o menos grandes basadas en poco previo conocimiento.
Hay otras decisions que tomamos aun no sea necesario, estas muchas veces implican un juicio que no Podemos hacer, basandonos en creeencias predominantes en nuestro context social.
Hay acciones de character practico y otras de character ideologico. La diferencia se puede encontrar en las ideas que motivan tales acciones. Para que una accion se ideologica, tiene que incorporar algun tipo de amejoramiento para los que la tienen y a veces Tambien el grupo a quienes se dirije la idea. Tiene que tener sentido para este grupo (el emisor y / o receptor), tiene que ser verdadero a cierto nivel de su enunciacion, necesita desarrollarse en la vida practica, no puede ser individualizador en si, incluye el deseo para el bienestar general del grupo que la practica y tal vez mas alla del mismo, y a veces encorpora cierto nivel de decepcion, illusion y/o mentira.
Todas estas premisas pueden a su vez basarse en preconcepciones erroneas o verdaderas. Si se basa en concepciones falsas a cualquier nivel, se trata de falsa conciencia.
Cuando mencione niveles de pre-concepcion no fue un error; hay varias definiciones de falsedad y varias maneras de ver un mismo objeto y variaciones en el objeto de pre-concepcion en si.
Eagleton divide estos niveles en tres: la falsedad epistemologica, la functional y la genetica. La falsedad epistemologica es todo lo que incluye la manera en que vemos el mundo y la distorcion de nuestra percepcion hacia el. Es una misconcepcion o una misinterpretacion unilateral e inconciente. La falsedad functional es mas conciente y sirve para manipular otros para mantenerlos bajo un poder opresivo del cual los oprimiidos estan inconcientes; es falsa porque tiene premisas falsas con la verdad. La falsedad genetica es falsa en sus mas basicas premisas y los que tienen estas preconcepciones son generalmente fanaticos.
Pero no todo lo que es falso es irracional o ilogico y no todo es completamente falso. La manera en que uno sabe manipular el discurso en function de los deseos de su public para convencerlo de que van a aprovechar de ciertos beneficios (aunque en realidad los que mas aprovecharan son los emisores, no los recipientes) determina el nivel de verdad y/o falsedad.
Los signos y mensajes que se pueden utilizer son innumerables y van mas alla del discurso oral, incluyendo la semiotica y una historia compleja de signos y de pre-conceptos.
Italiano
La falsa coscienza occorre come funzione della nostra umanita: ogni giorno dobbiamo fare decisioni di varia importanza basandoci su conoscimenti limitati. Ci sono altre decisioni che facciamo, nonostante non siano necessarie per la nostra sopravvivenza, in base al credo predominante nel nostro contesto sociale.
Ci sono azioni di carattere pratico, e ce ne sono di carattere ideologico. La differenza si trova nelle idee che motivano tali azioni. Perche un’azione sia considerata ideologica deve incorporare qualche tipo di miglioramento per il mittente e a volte persino per il destinatario. Deve fare senso al gruppo (l’agente e/o il recipiente). Deve essere vero ad un certo livello della sua enunciazione. Deve svolgersi nella vita pratica, no puo essere individualizzante di per se. Include il desiderio per il benessere generale del gruppo che pratica quest’azione e a volte anche al di la d’esso, e a volte incorpora un certo livello d’inganno, illusione o bugia.
Tutti questi presupposti devono di per se basarsi in preconcezioni erronee o veridiche. Se si basa in concetti falsi, a qualsiasi livello del discorso, si tratta di falsa coscienza.
Quando ho menzionato che ci sono livelli di preconcezione non fu un errore; vi sono vari definizioni di falsita e vari modi di vedere uno stesso oggetto, oltre alla varieta possibili nell’oggetto in se.
Eagleton divide questi livelli in tre: la falsita epistemologica, la falsita funzionale, e la falsita genetica. La falsita epistemologica e tutto quel che include il modo in cui vediamo il mondo e la distorsione della nostra propria percezione. Si tratta di una misinterpretazione o una misconcezione unilaterale e incosciente. La falsita funzionale e molto piu cosciente e serve per manipolare agli altri per poterli mantenere sotto un potere oppressivo del quale essi stessi sono incoscienti. Questo tipo di discorso e falso per via della falsa relazione che ha con la verita. La falsita genetica e falsa nei suoi presupposti piu basici, e coloro che mantengono questo tipo di falsita sono generalmente considerati fanatici.
Ma non tutto cio che e falso e irrazionale o illogico, e non tutto e sempre completamente falso, anche quando lo appare. Il modo in cui uno manipola il proprio discorso in funzione dei desideri del proprio pubblico per convincerlo dei benefici di accettare I termini proposti (nonostante in realta gli unici beneficienti siano gli emissori), determina il livello di falsita e/o verita del discorso.
I segni ed i messaggi che si possono utilizzare sono innumerabili e vanno al di la del discorso orale, includendo la semiotica e una storia complessa di segni e preconcetti.
As I mentioned here, I’ve come up with the idea to run short and sweet little craft camps at our local mosque to get the kids together doing something fun, with a hint of spiritual growth to it. We were able to get approval for the camp at three mosques, but we are only doing it at two, because we’re already in August, and we have a lot of other things we need to do before school starts again. Thankfully we managed to get three camps done (two craft ones and a hajj one, in collaboration with the amazing sister Sameera), pictures of which appear on the Caterpillar Café FB page. Since some of the kids (including my own of course) had already done the first craft camp, I decided to change books and do different crafts. I also opted to try and fit more activities into the time, so as to keep the older, quicker kids something to do while the younger ones completed their artwork.
Because the kids who were attending this second installment of the craft camp had been quite busy with religious education throughout the month of July, I opted for a less structured approach, and chose stories of more general interest, that deal with everyday issues that Muslim kids growing up as a minority face. For this I chose Rukhsana Khan’s apt collection of short stories Muslim Child, published in 1999. It is a very nice collection, which although it could use some updating (which I hope she will attend to, as she did with other successful works of hers), comes in very handy for this specific purpose in mind. I chose three stories from the book, as this camp was only three days long, instead of four, due to other ongoing programs that had been previously scheduled at the same venue. The three stories were “Fajr,” “The Black Ghost,” and “I Love Eid.”
The first I found to be very funny, and since most kids were at the age where they could still laugh and learn from such stories, I thought it would be appropriate, despite some language (which I changed as I read it out loud). As a story-related activity I gave the kids two options, which they could choose between, or complete both. One was coloring or decorating a pre-printed prayer mat, which I photocopied from the book, and the other was making a woven mat out of paper and ribbons. For the craft I chose to make a sibha (or what is often known as worry beads, many Muslims use these to keep track of their supplications, using 33 beads to count, and one long one to signal a new round). As an extra activity, just in case everyone finished their crafts quickly, I thought I’d teach the kids how to make paper fortune tellers, but we ended up not having time for this after all. The quickest boys opted to go to the adjacent room to play soccer instead, and after two hours of crafting, who could blame them?
On the second day we read “The Black Ghost,” which tells about a boy whose mom wears the niqab, and chooses black as her preferred color throughout. Although he initially struggles with reconciling his love and admiration for his mom and his desire to fit in to mainstream society and befriend a non-Muslim classmate, he realizes that kids appreciate kindness no matter what it looks like on the outside, and that different doesn’t always necessarily mean bad. In response to this story I asked to older kids to write a letter of appreciation to their moms, while the younger ones could either draw something they thought their moms would like, or write a simple message and decorate the sheet with glitter glue, stamps and stickers (they loved these options!). There was a little something for every taste! We then learned how to make an envelope, in which we slipped the letter and a mandala with one of the 99 names of Allah for the moms to color, as a thank you gift for their hard work and patience. These gorgeous mandalas were printed out from a fabulous book available on Amazon by renowned Pakistani-Canadian Islamic calligraphy artist Omar Uddin.
As Eid is approaching, and I wanted to give them lots of ideas on how to share the good cheer for this and future Eids, I suggested we learn how to make a simple bookmark, which they could replicate numerous times, making a quick, useful, and easy gift to distribute after salat-ul-Eid. Having done a pop-up card for Eid-ul-Adha at the last camp, I thought I would do a simpler version, which we’d be able to complete with ease within the time allotted. Finally, as an extra activity, I suggested a paper helicopter, which I got from one of my favorite publications for year-round kids crafts and activities: Usborne (365 Science Activities).
On the third and last day we dove right into Eid celebration mode, and built a little giftbox, which we filled with gems, origami stars, and Swiss chocolate. We also made another, more complex and hearty Eid card with a quilled sheep theme, which I find to be simply irresistible. As an extra activity I planned to make paper airplanes. I hope I’ll be able to do more Muslim-inspired crafts with the community!
Amira started off as an illustrator of Muslim holiday and special occasion cards, which is what grabbed my attention at first. She and I met in Tripoli, Libya, first on FB (of course), and then in person, when I invited her to be the featured artist at my Caterpillar Café, which she happily did, by hosting a monthly kids’ craft session. You can view some of her work on the Caterpillar Cafe’s FB page. She gradually began shifting towards photography, a path that she pursued for the next few years. After the café closed, we parted ways, as we each left Libya for some time. She’s now enjoying life in Tripoli again, with her newly expanded family. I reached her via email, and she graciously agreed to this interview, in-between baby feedings and amidst all the busyness of new motherhood.
If we were to meet for the first time, what would you want me to know about you?
That if you tell me your problems, I’ll usually be thinking about a solution for them. Coming up with idealistic solutions that perhaps may annoy people. This is not intentional, it’s just that I enjoy problem solving.
You have your own blog, where you discuss your businesses, your lifestyle, your impressions on a variety of places, especially on your life in Libya, and on your minimalistic lifestyle and subsequent style choices. Yet you are a very private person, how do you balance these two sides of yourself?
I struggle with this a lot. What to share, and how to find a balance. As a passionate person, I tend to go to an extreme when pursuing something and neglect other aspects of my life. As for being private and wanting to share my experiences, I just ask myself whether what I’m sharing is beneficial. Asking constantly ‘why am I sharing this?’, if it serves a greater purpose, then I post it.
What were your goals when you set out to repatriate to Libya, after having spent most of your life in England? Did they work up to the image you had imagined, or have your goals shifted since then?
First what most people don’t know is I’ve actually lived in Libya before. From ages to 3-7 years old. It impacted my life quite dramatically even at a young age. I also lived for 6 years in Saudi Arabia which again cultivated who I am today. As for my goals shifting, I would say yes and no. My overall goals are always the same: do what I love, and contribute to society in my own way, however small. As for short term goals, they are constantly changing, and developing. Right now I’m focusing on being a mother, and promoting a zerowaste lifestyle here in Libya.
Is there something you tell yourself or do regularly to keep motivated?
Yes most definitely! I often struggle to find what makes my work different, or how to contribute. I also easily get burnt out, and want to give up. I usually remind myself that God made us all unique. Our talents, and our experiences are like no other. This helps me moving towards finding my own creative style, and message. That method of thinking means that I’m not just wasting my time.
What does minimalism mean to you?
For me minimalism came in a time in my life where I couldn’t keep up. I felt trapped in the rat race. I was spending all my time working, and editing on the computer. The times where I wanted to relax, I found I had heaps of chores to do. So much stuff getting in the way of living my life. Minimalism to me is removing the unnecessary. Keeping only what you value, so you can live a more meaningful life. Minimalism has started to become more of a style, than a method of living. I really wish people wouldn’t mistake the two, as they’re extremely different.
What’s your spice for life?
Gram masala haha! That is the literal spice of my life!
What would you like to be most remembered for?
That’s a really great question. I actually think about this a lot. Now that I have a child, this is more important. I’d like to be remembered for trying. Yes for TRYING. It’s ok if I never accomplish anything substantial. I just would hope my family will know that I was always willing to give it my best shot. Fear really just paralyzes our whole lives, and I wish to be able to say that I’ve overcome them.
What do you think we could all be doing to make the world a better place?
Find our unique talent, or what we’re passionate about, and do everything in our power to see that dream through! No matter how extreme, or simple it might be. Let that passion guide you to do your part in the world. I believe we have too many people that truly hate their jobs, because they’re not fulfilled. It’s not their true passion in life.
Amira can be found on her website, where you can also link up to her FB, Pintrest, Instagram, and Google accounts.
Caterpillar Cafe 