A week of reflection - Eid Mubarak

Eid Mubarak to those celebrating and especially our new friends Gazi Ergisi , Gul, Nurefsan and Alperen

On Wednesday night we hiked out to Craigieburn to participate in an Iftar dinner with a family we never met. We underestimated the traffic, missed turn offs and arrived 30mins late. My pet hate is turning up late.

My children were apprehensive yet excited to meet a new family for the first time. Ahmet Keskin from the Australian Intercultural Society (AIS) masterfully facilitated the discussion and Gul and Gazi the hosts put on a feast only for those that once had the privilege of walking through the corridors of the Topkapi Palace. As we made our way around the table sharing stories and a few words about ourselves, I quickly noticed that the little trepidation my family may have felt disappeared as we realised how much we had in common. It’s not easy growing up teenagers. Funnily, the trials and tribulations we spoke about were strikingly similar. We heard of Gazi’s situation and in 2016 Australia became a haven for his family. Surprisingly, seeing my children in a different context, I learnt new things about them.

We ended the night sharing songs common to both our cultures. Greek and Turkish people peacefully co-existed for more than 400 years. Then romanticism which fuelled nationalism brought it all to an abrupt end. Greeks and Turks share so much in common including many melodies. Here my partner Aphrodite and our host Gazi who has a PhD in music are singing Aman Doctor and Apo Kseno Topo (From a Foreign Land). Demetrius is playing tzoura, Nurefsan qanun and Alp playing guitar. My favorite part of the night was when Gazi sang one of my favorite songs Istanbul Istanbul Olali. I always shed a tear when I listen to that song. Unfortunately, I didn’t record it.

I also wanted to take a moment to recognize and celebrate Eid, the festival of breaking the fast that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting and spiritual reflection for Muslims around the world. As this joyous occasion is celebrated, I wanted to emphasize the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and intercultural dialogue in our communities and workplaces.

By embracing and celebrating our differences, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Intercultural dialogue helps us understand and appreciate different cultures and perspectives, leading to more meaningful relationships and collaborations. The AIS has been fostering hundreds of bridges and long-lasting friendships for more than a decade, and their work is highly commendable.

Making the world a better place starts by stepping out of your comfort zone and discovering those who are different from you. You'll quickly realize that you have more in common than differences. Let's continue to work towards building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society where everyone feels valued and respected. However, we must also recognize the importance of religion as a vitally important attribute to one's identity. Religion gives expression and meaning to one's identity and is often more important than gender for many people. Workplaces that build cultural safety in their DEI strategies and embrace religious expression perform better than those that don't and have higher retention rates.

Incorporating religious diversity into DEI strategies is crucial in creating an creating an environment where individuals feel safe and comfortable expressing their beliefs and values. It fosters greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures and beliefs, leading to a more inclusive and welcoming workplace. Consequently, it can improve employee engagement and productivity, leading to better business outcomes.

Let's prioritize DEI initiatives that acknowledge and respect the importance of religion as a fundamental aspect of one's identity and work towards building an inclusive society where individuals are valued and respected for who they are.

Once again, Eid Mubarak to all my friends across the globe who are coming of Ramadam and a special thanks to Gazi Ergisi , Gul and their children for hosting us.