My name is Sara Saigol. I am a GP and I am the lead youth mentor of the Campus wing of a Muslim family organisation called The Islamic Society of Britain. I also lead The ISB School Project which trains communities and masajid on delivering interactive and immersive workshops for schools.
For want of a better descriptor, I have been an ‘activist’ for more than half of my life! My introduction to what Islam really means was a spark that was disruptive, game changing and life altering. That pivotal moment was a 1990s residential in Worcestershire where hundreds of young Muslims gathered for lectures, communal prayers, activities, discussions and cultural performances. For me, this was my first experience of celebrating what Muslim life, Muslim values and Muslim culture really ‘felt’ like.
I realise that this baptism of fire lit a spark that remains strong within me. If I can be inspired by such a project, is it not a duty for me to create such sacred spaces for others?
I threw myself into the deep end; in the university Islamic society and at my mosque, taking on new challenges and developing new skills along the way. Yes, I made mistakes along the way, there is no doubt about that. I also learnt that mistakes are the routes by which we beg our Creator for forgiveness and are opportunities to weaken the ego.
I now work with hundreds of young Muslims from across the UK whereby we organise residentials, activities, career mentoring and seminars that increase Islamic learning, develop skills, increase political literacy and critical thinking and encourage efforts to make real positive social change. We are in the middle of planning a Palestine advocacy seminar, a week of events for Remembering Srebrenica, a large eco-friendly camping festival for Muslim families, a career mentoring seminar on leadership and humanitarian work as well as delivering school visits to mosques.
I feel there are not enough spaces where Muslims can discuss contemporary, tricky issues in welcoming and non-judgemental environments. Sometimes Muslim spaces can feel cold, harsh and judgmental; attendees can feel ‘looked down on’ when they do not adhere to the strictest opinions whereas the objective should be to attract people through merciful interactions. It is for this reason that we have organised discussions on dating, marriage, LGBTQ, addictions, trauma and many other such subjects.
There are many challenges for the Islamic activist scene. I wonder if you also recognise any of these?
Firstly, the risk of burnout. I describe Islamic organisational work as a gas that expands to fill the space! We constantly try to scale up and maximise impact. Yet voluntary work is often in the evenings and weekends, so can easily creep into family and personal time in ways that risk exhaustion. The risk of burnout is even higher in our current crisis response mode when witnessing world events and war crimes that our minds can barely process.
Second, is sustainability. Projects should be impactful beyond a temporary spark and have generational impact. This requires strategic planning and investment.
Third is creating ‘value driven’ spaces; spaces that uphold what is important to us as Muslims e.g being friendly, welcoming places of curiosity and creativity, spaces where people can take on new projects whilst feeling supported, able to ask for help and unafraid of taking well thought through risks. As a female, I have found it can be tricky to navigate Muslim spaces in a way that my experience, voice and contributions are welcomed and valued. For this reason, youth work has a natural pull for me; one that harnesses my maternal side and where I am respected by youngsters.
Having witnessed the impact of stress, burnout, conflict and oppressive hierarchies, I believe in the importance of trauma informed activist spaces, where we manage stress, embody our Islamic values of compassion etc.. and encourage caring practices. This involves having robust policies on mentoring, safeguarding, conflict management, team culture and treating each individual as a dignified part of God’s creation.
My mantra is:
To plant seeds of light wherever we can. This is particularly important during dark brutal times when we can so easily give up.
To enable and uplift others, particularly the youth; both male and female, whenever we can. This work is not about us and the accumulation of accolades but about our impact on others.
When the road gets tough, we roll up our sleeves and prepare for the climb. Sometimes the change we wish to see feels too great but if we all make impact at the many levels in which we exist and interact, that is change in itself. It is our effort and intention that count and I am immensely grateful for the many opportunities I have had to try to serve my community.
