Blog written by Samia Islam, Youth Community Animator – TERT, BCS.
As discrimination is occurring in our community, it is important to educate ourselves in order to share the stories of victims to the wider public, resulting in the advocacy for positive change and the empowerment of marginalized communities.
I recall the time when I was researching the impacts of hijabophobia on the Canadian community for a school assignment. I realized that educating myself on the topic of hijabophobia and discrimination did not only benefit me academically, but more importantly, being able to retain this knowledge provided me opportunities for advocacy and empowerment. Soon, I started telling the stories of young women who were victims of discrimination that I read online to my family, friends, and community.
This experience enabled me to view the action of doing research through a lens for creating positive change. I encourage my audience to seek this story of self-learning as a tool in which we can use our voices to speak out on the injustices that our community experiences.
In conclusion, self-learning is key to raising awareness of discrimination and inspiring action in the community. By immersing ourselves in deep research on discrimination, we can create an enriched environment that is educated, resilient, and empowered.
Photo Credits: Boulanger, Etienne.
If you have any feedback about this blog or would like to contact the TERT campaign, please email us at YouthResilient@bangladeshi.ca. Thank you!
Together End Racism in Toronto 