In this age of ‘wedge politics’ some politicians are working hard to pit Australians against each other. It’s the ‘we can’t buy a house because of them’ mentality, which is not only false, it’s dangerous.
So it warms my heart when I see many in the community working even harder to foster social cohesion. Like one of our writers, Khalida Darwan.
Khalida is a defence lawyer and women’s rights activist who came to Australia after the fall of the Afghan government to the Taliban in 2021. In Afghanistan she volunteered with organisations like Network for Reform and Change, and the Afghan Youth Parliament, a virtual parliament that worked to empower young people and promote positive social change.
Khalida had the opportunity to relocate to the United States but her husband was working and studying for his PhD at a university in Melbourne, so they chose Australia to reunite as a family. Lucky us!
Upon arriving Khalida saw opportunities and needs within newly arrived communities and so she established Afghans Hope Hut Victoria Inc, to support new arrivals and provide a bridge between local councils, services, and our communities.
Khalida recently invited me to join her community for Iftar, an evening meal to break fast during Ramadan. The gathering included Afghan families (Tajiks, Hazaras, Pashtuns, and Uzbeks) as well as people from many other backgrounds; Indian, Pakistani, Iranian, Arab, African, Australian, and European communities.
It was a beautiful gathering full of beaming faces, laughter, love, and great food. I’m so grateful to have been invited.
For Khalida, these inclusive community gatherings are crucial for creating a sense of belonging for those observing Ramadan, but also for cultural exchange, for people to learn about each other’s culture and traditions.
I couldn’t agree more. In decades past, the main opportunity Australians had for cultural exchange came about via travel; journeys to foreign countries for months on end, or sometimes years, armed only with a stuffed backpack and a copy of Lonely Planet.
But these days, there’s no need to travel far if you don’t want to. Just explore your neighbourhood and surrounds, and seek out diverse community groups.
As Khalida says,” I truly believe that when we create spaces where people can meet, share food, celebrate culture, and have open conversations, we build stronger and more united communities.”
