Middle Eastern Conference Reflections

Ahhhh! What a day. Well the conference started the evening before where we had a talk at 7PM in Bradenstoke byZarghuna Kargar, she was so inspiring. I wish I had gotten into her workshop, but I was glad to hear her. At least a hundred of the students turned up to listen to her talk about her work travelling around Afghanistan, collecting stories from women for the BBC World Service programme Afghan Women's Hour, and then from these stories, she wanted to share them and created a book. Her bravery and determination to have these women’s voices heard was truly touching.

My first workshop of the day was by an ex-AC German student. He is one of those people who go to Oxford and then decide to do their Masters in Cambridge (or maybe the other way around). Anyways, the workshop was called the Right to Civil Disobedience in the Middle East. His workshop was more on moderating us talking to each other, adding in the legal terms or changing tactics if the issue got to heated. The most interesting topics the group of about 10 delved into were where to draw the line: break the law because you want change, but then accept the punishment which that same legal system enforces?  And how to measure the collateral impact of ones actions, if a consequential point of view and the proportionality of the crime should be taken into consideration.

My next Workshop was led by two close friends, Shana and David. It was titled ‘A Day in the Life of’. This one was again really well researched and prepared for. Shana, through a contact as AC, had managed to speak to about half a dozen teenagers our age in places like Libya, UAE and Israel. It asked them general questions like their favourite food, music and what they did on the weekend. Their goal in this respect was to prove how much in common we have with them (as AC does already). But then it asked what the Middle East meant to them. And their definitions of a place that they dream of peace, of freedom and safety- but also of how much they love their home, and how proud and patriotic they are of where they are from.  It had a few accounts of students that are at AC- one thing this conference has taught me is that I need to be more curious. I need to ask my peers what’s going on in their homes, and try to understand the conflicts from two points of view. The realisation of how little we truly know in Cayman saddens me. I may be naïve, but I don’t believe more than 2 of a dozen of my friends would be able to explain even briefly the conflict between Israel and Palestine. It’s something I really want to work towards when I’m back home in the future- having teenagers get more involved in global issues.

My third workshop was led by Anantya from India and Emily from the UAE (but Irish).It was entitled Modern Slavery and about the mentality which needs to be changed in the UAE countries towards bringing in migrant workers. I knew most of the information from reading an article over the summer when I was on work experience about Dubai, but to be amplified by statistics and personal recounts from both Anantya witnessing families leaving and Emily seeing workers living in pitiful conditions just next door to her was enthralling.

I’ve been asked as part of my reflection to answer a few questions, so here goes:

1.       Has your perception of the Middle East changed?

To be honest, if I was asked this question at the beginning of the conference I would have struggled to come up with a concrete, decent answer. I don’t want to be one of the cliché answers, saying there is great conflict and oppression in various degrees. But I knew very little. I now know more, still not enough but this conference has intrigued me to want to learn more. So yes, my perception is still changing. 

2.       If you could go to any country in the Middle East, which one would it be and why?

The way Zari spoke about Afghanistan, I would love to do volunteer work and learn what makes her eyes sparkle when she speaks about her home. Though I do not see the possibility of my father allowing me to do such a thing for years to come.

3.       What’s one thing you would want to change in the Middle East?

Being such a feminist, I hope all girls will have the right to an education to. I realise it is a long way off until there is such thing as Co-Ed schools…but I hope every girl/women is given the chance to have an education, choose to marry the man she loves and make her own decisions.

4.       How are you going to act differently after this conference?

As I stated earlier, I’m going to try and learn more from my peers. Inquire. Question. I don’t want to leave AC and not have a thorough understanding, it’s an opportunity so special and I must not get bogged down with other duties to appreciate it.