Change is Difficult But Not Impossible
By yardena gerwin, 2015–2016 Girl Up Teen Advisor
At the Social Good Summit, I had the opportunity to listen to and converse with Zaynab Abdi and Muzoon Almellhan, both refugee girls who act as Malala Fund campaigners. Both girls powerfully shared their stories of survival and underscored that the refugee problem is not just a news item, but rather a global crisis that must be tackled within local communities and not just by global leaders. For these refugees, the worst thing that people could do is push the problem away and pretend it does not affect them, or as Zaynab said “we need to remember that we all share the same sun, the same sky.”
I was struck by how Muzoon viewed the word “refugee” as an oversimplification as she felt first and foremost refugees were human beings. Zaynab and Muzoon displayed bravery and a will to live despite the terror and fears. They shared the view that their education is critical for personal healing and a sense of power. Muzoon emotionally shared her memories of being forced to leave her school without the certainty that she would ever be able to continue her studies “It was the hardest day of my life and I feared that if I lost my education I would lose my future.” Zaynab in turn described what it was like to re-enter school this time in a very warm and welcoming American public international school. In our follow-up conversation, Zaynab stressed how important it was not to typecast refugees, but rather stressed the importance of empathy. She emphasized the need to move away from pity and instead focus on giving refugees the tools to succeed.
I am sure many girls can relate to the challenge of facing your fears, be it by entering a new school or moving to a new community or dealing with past trauma. It takes the strength and optimism that Zaynab and Muzoon embody and the will to embrace your future. I think often of Muzoon’s powerful and haunting words. “I am not a victim. It is not my fault that I had to lose the most essential part of my life.” Standing on the stage in front of hundreds of people, Muzoon inspired us all to understand that children are the foundation of communities and that we must see ourselves as fighters. This truth particularly applies to all girls who have long been devalued by their communities and have consistently risen above great challenges. As girls we must call on ourselves, our friends, families, communities and global leaders to help solve the global refugee crisis. It will not be easy but, as Muzoon herself powerfully said “change is difficult but not impossible.”
