Choose Nearest City

  • Calgary
  • Ottawa
  • Edmonton
  • Regina
  • Halifax
  • Saskatoon
  • Hamilton
  • Toronto GTA
  • Kingston
  • Vancouver
  • Kitchener
  • Waterloo
  • London
  • Windsor
  • Montreal
  • Winnipeg
  • Outside of Canada

Choose your city (or nearest city)

  • Calgary
  • Montreal
  • Edmonton
  • Ottawa
  • Regina
  • Saskatoon
  • Halifax
  • Toronto GTA
  • Hamilton
  • Vancouver
  • Kingston
  • Waterloo
  • Kitchener
  • Windsor
  • London
  • Winnipeg
  • Outside of Canada
  • Events
  • Directory
  • AdvertiseAdvertise
  • PatronsPatrons

Enter your login credentials

Forgot username?

Forgot password?

Remember Me
Register
Facebook Login Google Login
loading
Please wait, logging in...

Register Details

Have an account? Login

Forgot Username

[Form forgot_username not found!]

Forgot Password

[Form forgot_password not found!]

How would you like to proceed?

LOG IN / SIGN UP allows you to:
  • Have a record of all events you've been to.
  • Request cancellation if you cannot make it to an event.
  • Post an event of your own.
  • Add your business/organization listing to the online directory.
  • Add an opportunity (job, volunteer, petition, survey, etc.).

Please login to continue

LOG IN / SIGN UP allows you to:
  • Have a record of all events you've been to.
  • Request cancellation if you cannot make it to an event.
  • Post an event of your own.
  • Add your business/organization listing to the online directory.
  • Add an opportunity (job, volunteer, petition, survey, etc.).
Muslim Link is Ottawa Muslims' Online Community Newspaper. The site includes an up-to-date Events Listing and Business and Community Directory for Ottawa Muslims.
x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

  • Home
  • Events
    • Ottawa
    • Montreal
    • Toronto GTA
    • Edmonton
    • Calgary
    • Vancouver
    • London
    • Windsor
    • Hamilton
    • Halifax
    • Winnipeg
    • Kingston
    • Kitchener/Waterloo
    • Regina/Saskatoon
    • Event Table
  • Directory
    • Ottawa
    • Montreal
    • Toronto GTA
    • Edmonton
    • Calgary
    • Vancouver
    • London
    • Windsor
    • Hamilton
    • Halifax
    • Winnipeg
    • Kingston
    • Kitchener/Waterloo
    • Regina/Saskatoon
  • News
  • Stories
  • Islamic Finance
  • Classifieds
    • Opportunities
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Job Opportunities
      • Crowdfunding
      • Bazaar Vendors Wanted
      • Call for Donations
      • ​​Scholarships / Bursaries
      • ​​Petitions
      • Nominations
      • ​​Call for Participants
      • ​​Call for Submissions
      • Call for Abstracts
      • Grants
      • ​​Surveys
      • ​​Invitation to Dialogue
      • Sponsorships
      • Contests
    • Locations
      • Jumaa Locations
      • Full-Time Islamic Schools
      • Part-Time Islamic Schools
      • Hifz Programs
      • Iftar Locations
      • Taraweeh Prayers
      • I'tikaf Locations
      • Eid Prayers
      • Eid Festival Locations
      • Camp Locations
  • Opportunities
  • Locations
  • Home
  • News
  • Using Art to Address the Impact of Islamophobia on Children
Healing, Hope and Art is a two part project that provides art therapy for Muslim students and an anti-Islamophobia awareness campaign aimed at engaging the general public. Healing, Hope and Art is a two part project that provides art therapy for Muslim students and an anti-Islamophobia awareness campaign aimed at engaging the general public.
06
Mar
2016

Using Art to Address the Impact of Islamophobia on Children

Written by  Muslim Link
Published in News
  • Add to Facebook
  • Like this? Tweet it to your followers!

Healing, Hope and Art is a two part project that provides art therapy for Muslim students and an anti-Islamophobia awareness campaign aimed at engaging the general public. The campaign uses artwork created by students at the therapy sessions. Muslim Link spoke to Farrah Marfatia, Principal of Maingate Islamic Academy in Mississauga, about the project.

How did the idea of having an art therapy session for Muslim students come about?

A major inspiration behind this initiative was a pilot anti-Islamophobia workshop conducted at Maingate Islamic Academy last year. Led by a group of visionaries who are educators and counsellors in the GTA, [they] also do a lot of hands-on work with young Muslims. That workshop wasn’t able to continue due to lack of resources, but we could see that there was a void that needed to be filled. We wanted to fill that void.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

Our communities have been dealing with racism on various levels lately and there is research that shows racism has a significant impact on one’s mental state. Youth, who are just starting to form their identities and sense of self, are especially vulnerable, and yet this isn’t something that is often explored in our community. To our knowledge, this is the first event of its kind in the Muslim community in Ontario and definitely in the Islamic School System in Ontario.

We wanted to use art, which is something very positive and inspirational, as a tool to help Muslim young people as they explored experiences and challenges. We also feel that art can actively engage Muslim youth voices, and, through this particular workshop, can help them rewrite the narrative that is being constructed about them.

We hope that students will develop a love of art and discover that they can continue to use it to release emotions outside this workshop. So when the Laidlaw Foundation micro-grant opportunity around promoting mental health came up, Anatolia Islamic Centre thought that it was a great opportunity to engage Maingate Islamic Academy as its major educational partner and bring this idea to life. 

How were you able to identify and bring together all of the partners for this event?
As an organisation, we needed partners who could provide expertise and support around the different pieces involved in this project, including the arts, Muslim youth issues, as well as counselling and mental health. And it was really great, because the organisations we did identify as experts on these issues—MuslimFest, Naseeha Muslim Youth Helpline, and Concentric Care Counselling—were so enthusiastic when we reached out to them and they brought such amazing ideas to the table about how we could refine the project’s structure and implementation.

How are you seeing issues like Islamophobia, racism, and bullying affecting the mental health of Muslim students?

One of the things that we’ve actually found is that there is no publicly available statistical data on these issues as they affect Muslim youth in Canada, and yet, on the ground, we see that there is a huge problem with Muslim students being bullied. So there’s a clear gap there that needs to be addressed.  

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

As an educator, I have seen several instances where Islamophobic bullying has occurred. Students have been told by their peers that they aren’t allowed to associate with them because Islam is a violent religion. In another instance, a group of young sisters were repeatedly called ISIS in school by other students because they wore the hijab.

Most recently, a highly motivated and high achieving public school student was so upset about being bullied because of his faith that he dropped out of all afterschool activities and refuses to continue with extra-curriculars altogether, leaving him socially isolated and further marginalised in the education system. He will be attending our event, and it is our hope that he heals and is able to achieve both inside and outside of school.  

How will you be trying to create a safe space for students to express themselves about their experiences with these issues?

I’ve recently started studying the theory and praxis of equity and anti-oppression in education, with guidance from a number of people I have a great deal of respect for, and creating a safe space for students is definitely integral to the project.

It is for this reason that we engaged project partners and facilitators that have expertise in mental health. Furthermore, one of the reasons we chose art as the medium for youth to express themselves is that youth aren’t always comfortable directly speaking to those in positions of power about issues that are as highly personal as their identities and experiences.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

At our event, we hope that our diverse artists, who come from variety of backgrounds, and the different mediums they work with, whether spoken word, creative writing, music, paint, or filmmaking, will allow youth to express themselves using an art form of their choice, openly and without feeling judged or disrespected.  

What are the expected outcomes of this session?

Through this session, we’d really like to make talking about these topics less taboo, and better understand the student experience. We’d also like to raise awareness about the fact that Islamophobia is a very real and pressing problem that requires study and innovative solutions in educational settings. I’m additionally looking forward to students’ voices having an impact on broader society.

In order to make this happen, we will be taking samples of student pieces and turning them into postcards, with messages about who our students really are and how racism and Islamophobia affect them. These post cards will be mailed out to members of society in the GTA. We hope that this gives students a sense of control and agency, and thereby promotes their wellbeing.

Do you feel that this session could become a model for similar sessions within private and public schools?

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

Yes, definitely. There are a number of forms of racism prevalent in the world today. Myself and all our project partners very much hope that this workshop becomes something that might be replicated in various contexts, perhaps even to address different forms of racism and engage communities outside our own.

Will this workshop be held again?

We would love to hear from parents or schools who would be interested in participating in an initiative like this in the future. They can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This article was produced exclusively for Muslim Link and should not be copied without prior permission from the site. For permission, please write to info@muslimlink.ca.

Read 7608 times Last modified on Thu, 10 Mar 2016 00:58
Rate this item
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
(2 votes)
Tagged under
  • Art
  • Maingate Islamic Academy
  • Farrah Marfatia
  • Islamophobia
  • Mental Health

Muslim Link

Latest from Muslim Link

  • Dhilal Alhaboob: Meet One of Canada's One Young World Ambassadors Dhilal Alhaboob: Meet One of Canada's One Young World Ambassadors
  • October Is Now Islamic History Month in Ontario October Is Now Islamic History Month in Ontario
  • A Hackathon for Muslim Canadians: Interview with the Team Behind ILM Weekend A Hackathon for Muslim Canadians: Interview with the Team Behind ILM Weekend

Related items

  • Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) Draws Attention to Gendered Islamophobia at the National Action Summit Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) Draws Attention to Gendered Islamophobia at the National Action Summit
  • National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council (AMPAC) Unite to Further Combat Islamophobia in Western Canada National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council (AMPAC) Unite to Further Combat Islamophobia in Western Canada
  • Canadian Mental Health Association Study on Muslim Women's Mental Health in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Canadian Mental Health Association Study on Muslim Women's Mental Health in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
back to top
x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

x

We have detected that you are using an ad blocker. Muslim Link relies on revenue from these advertisements so please consider disabling the ad blocker for this domain.

Ottawa Events
View More Events
Online Event
Institute for Religious and Socio-Political Studies Muslim Organizations in Canada Report & Policy Discussion
Wed, May 18, 2022 05:30pm MST/MDT
Educational
Special Screening of the Film "Free Trip to Egypt"
Sat, May 21, 2022 02:30pm EST/EDT
Film Screenings
Online Event
South Asian Heritage Month 2022: Mental Health and Supports in South Asian Communities
Wed, May 25, 2022 04:00pm EST/EDT
Educational
Online Event
Syrian Canadian Tareq Hadhad Peace by Chocolate Resiliency Through Adversity
Wed, May 25, 2022 07:00pm AST/ADT
Educational
Online Event
Mississauga Library Author Talks: Zarqa Nawaz
Wed, May 25, 2022 07:00pm EST/EDT
Educational

Featured Articles

  • Why Visit Halal Expo Canada? Meet The Speakers Why Visit Halal Expo Canada? Meet The Speakers
  • The Canadian-Muslim Vote Launches Campaign to Mobilize Estimated  Half Million Muslim Voters in Ontario Election The Canadian-Muslim Vote Launches Campaign to Mobilize Estimated Half Million Muslim Voters in Ontario Election
  • Check Out Upcoming Eid Celebrations Across Canada Check Out Upcoming Eid Celebrations Across Canada

Twitter Posts

Check Out Muslim Link's Latest Snapshot!nhttps://t.co/LUWQls2zmdnhttps://t.co/QZpb8uQRmH https://t.co/XScGhAabBU...
4 weeks ago
Ottawa Muslim Women's Shelter That Opened During the Pandemic Fundraising This #Ramadannhttps://t.co/NuHD1ebKOD https://t.co/AQFhvJ2ZmM...
1 month ago
Gendered Islamophobia: Personal Reflections of Three Alberta Women ONLINE April 1nhttps://t.co/qGDS8IkN8zu2026 https://t.co/2BlMzImHL2...
2 months ago
Muslim Link

About us

  • About Muslim Link
    Our Team
    About Eye Media
    Contact Us
    Diversity & Inclusion Policy
  • Events & Directory Disclaimer
  • Project: A Muslim History of Ottawa

How To

  • Claim a directory listing
    Create a directory listing
    Post an event
    Sell Tickets
    Report a mistake

Event Listings

  •  - Ottawa
  •  - Toronto GTA
  •  - Montreal
  •  - Edmonton
  •  - Calgary
  •  - Vancouver
  •  - London
  •  - Windsor
  •  - Hamilton
  •  - Kitchener/Waterloo
  •  - Halifax
  •  - Winnipeg
  •  - Kingston
  •  - Regina/Saskatoon

Business & Community Directory

  •  - Ottawa
  •  - Toronto GTA
  •  - Montreal
  •  - Edmonton
  •  - Calgary
  •  - Vancouver
  •  - London
  •  - Windsor
  •  - Hamilton
  •  - Kitchener/Waterloo
  •  - Halifax
  •  - Winnipeg
  •  - Kingston
  •  - Regina/Saskatoon

Advertisers

  • Advertise Online
  • Become a Patron
  • Sponsorships
  • Join Snapshot e-Newsletter
  • Snapshot Publishing Dates

ML Team

  • Writers Workshops
  • Content Policy
  • Staff Payment System
  • Join the team

Social Media

Follow us on our pages!

Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn Pinterest

Copyright © 2022 Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved. All articles, photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Muslim Link, unless otherwise noted, and should not be copied without prior permission. Designed by Eye Media Solutions
Top
Copyright © Muslim Link. All articles, photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Muslim Link, unless otherwise noted, and should not be copied without prior permission. 2022 All rights reserved. Custom Design by Youjoomla.com