I've known Rabia Din for a few years now since 2012, I think. I met her at a South Asian women's event and I instantly liked her. She was fierce, strong, smart and beautiful inside and out. She was also a very committed Muslim. I didn't have many Muslim friends since I grew up in the sheltered small community of Terrace, BC where most of the South Asians were Sikh like my family. Rabia's family are originally from the Punjab and she knows a lot about the culture since at one time Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus lived in harmony in the state of Punjab.
Rabia and I instantly connected and it's no wonder. We are both passionate about women's issues and community involvement. And we're both very proud of our South Asian communities full of love, respect and understanding. I shared with Rabia the work I was involved in at Punjabi Community Health Services and introduced her to the COO of the organization Amandeep Kaur. She in turn told me about all the fantastic work she was doing at North York Community House and in particular the Digital Stories. I could sit for hours and listen to Rabia talk about the stories that touched and educated her. It was very moving.
I formed a "dinner club" of a few socially conscious South Asian women and we met once a month for a few months. It was a precursor for REALLIFEwomen.ca. We shared our stories, supported one another and encouraged each other to be the best we can be. Sadly, life got in the way but Rabia and I kept in touch on Twitter and Facebook. During Ramadan, her family led by her passion and commitment always did the ‘30 Days of Ramadan GOODness’ and of course everyone, regardless of cultural background, was inspired and we all wanted to be in on the action. What were they going to do today? Buy someone a coffee? Give out umbrellas on a rainy day? Volunteer at a food bank?
When Rabia and her family started The Goodness Movement so they could spread GOOD all year long, I knew we had to work together again. Especially with their tag line: The GOODness Movement - Families inspiring, one deed at a time. We decided to join them in cleaning up our local parks during March Break. Since Rabia lives in Mississauga and I'm in Toronto, we did the clean up separately to spread as much GOOD as we could. Here are some of the pictures:
Rabia and I instantly connected and it's no wonder. We are both passionate about women's issues and community involvement. And we're both very proud of our South Asian communities full of love, respect and understanding. I shared with Rabia the work I was involved in at Punjabi Community Health Services and introduced her to the COO of the organization Amandeep Kaur. She in turn told me about all the fantastic work she was doing at North York Community House and in particular the Digital Stories. I could sit for hours and listen to Rabia talk about the stories that touched and educated her. It was very moving.
I formed a "dinner club" of a few socially conscious South Asian women and we met once a month for a few months. It was a precursor for REALLIFEwomen.ca. We shared our stories, supported one another and encouraged each other to be the best we can be. Sadly, life got in the way but Rabia and I kept in touch on Twitter and Facebook. During Ramadan, her family led by her passion and commitment always did the ‘30 Days of Ramadan GOODness’ and of course everyone, regardless of cultural background, was inspired and we all wanted to be in on the action. What were they going to do today? Buy someone a coffee? Give out umbrellas on a rainy day? Volunteer at a food bank?
When Rabia and her family started The Goodness Movement so they could spread GOOD all year long, I knew we had to work together again. Especially with their tag line: The GOODness Movement - Families inspiring, one deed at a time. We decided to join them in cleaning up our local parks during March Break. Since Rabia lives in Mississauga and I'm in Toronto, we did the clean up separately to spread as much GOOD as we could. Here are some of the pictures:
My 5-year son Tej and I at Frankel Lambert park by the railroad tracks off Christie Street. Tej always waves at the trains as they go by and there's a painting of Rupinder in the background who I worked with at PCHS. | Rabia's clan looking particularly stylish in their The Goodness Movement t-shirts as they get ready to start the clean up. I wonder where I can score some t-shirts for my family? |
It's wonderful that Rabia has all her family and friends involved. They love to give back and be part of the movement! It's a beautiful lesson to be shared and a wonderful legacy to create. But it doesn't stop with this one event... tune in each week as The Goodness Movement sets out to change the world in their own little way, through good deeds! We will be collaborating again during Autism Awareness week and again and again... We want you to join us and share your ideas of what kind of GOODness you want us to spread. Share in the comments section or on Facebook: Dear DIDI or subscribe to the REALLIFEblog. |