In the Minority

I have the privilege of being in the majority where I live. Enough time, respect and support must be given to those who cannot take this for granted.

I recently travelled with two friends to The Netherlands to have a series of meetings with people involved in police, community and local government there. It was a busy time, forty-eight hours of back-to-back meetings.

However, for me, it was an eyeopening visit. I experienced so many things and became aware of the kind of challenges that people are facing on a day-to-day basis. I stayed with a Moroccan lady. At 27, she is the youngest female Police Inspector from a minority ethnic community in Holland.

During our first meeting we heard from Rashid, a man dedicated both to his work and to his Muslim faith. He is part of a team running a groundbreaking project working with young offenders who have completed prison sentences and are likely to re-offend. These young people are empowered to make choices in their lives by being given authority in their communities and becoming a positive example for other youth. They come on to the scheme because “they have the will to change and because they have guts”. Rashid and his team have explored, as Police and youth workers, how they should show authority to these kids; the answer, they believe, is not to be authoritarian but to show authority with love, giving positive feedback and encouraging development and the growth of self esteem. 68% do not re-offend after being on the scheme.

Rashid then took us on to visit his mosque and to meet his Imam. As we talked, I realised some of the anguish and pain that has been caused to Rashid and his people since September 11 2001 and how difficult life has become. I felt the need to consider my personal responsibility in all this. As we talked the Imam told us there was about to be a Call to Prayer and we sat transfixed as the sound of the Call thundered through us, shaking the very core of our souls. It was one of those spiritual experiences that will stay with me for ever. Then he led us into the back of the Mosque where we sat while the prayers took place. I was the only female in the place, the only white person. For once I was in the minority.

This led me to think about being in the minority – I have the privilege of being in the majority where I live. I know I have a support network, at work and at home, I know people will listen to me when I speak. I know, even if I have to shout a bit to start off with because of my gender, I can make myself heard. I have done nothing to get myself into this position – it is part of the privilege of being who I am. Enough time, respect and support must be given to those who cannot take this for granted.

Our time in the Netherlands was challenging and raised more questions than it answered. However, I feel it was a step on the long journey of building understanding and trust which enables us to talk together at a deeper level.

NOTE: Individuals of many cultures, nationalities, religions, and beliefs are actively involved with Initiatives of Change. These commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily those of Initiatives of Change as a whole.