By Rumki Chowdhury
At just 7 years of age, Bangladeshi-New Yorker, Faatiha Aayat, decided she needed to contribute in changing the world for the better so that future generations such as her own, could thrive rather than degress in a diminishing world. Now, this beautiful and brilliant 11-year-old Muslim hijabi has conquered the stage and microphone, raising awareness and raising her voice about children’s rights, and environmental, and climate issues. Through her words, she is trying to motivate us to take action. Here is our interview with Faatiha:
Rumki-CHIL&D is a non-profit organization that you felt the need to start. I will ask you here, if I understand it correctly: CHIL&D focuses on health, information, learning and development?
Faatiha-Yes, CHIL&D is a non-profit organization that works for Climate, Health, Information, Learning, and Development. Every first letter of these five words make CHIL&D.
Rumki-At what age did you begin this organization and what inspired it? You explain in your recent TEDx speech that you were impacted to create a change in the world at age seven when you saw, first-hand, a melting glacier, and that it doesn’t matter how old a child is, such an experience means a drastic change in the environment that needs to be addressed. You decided, then and there, at age seven, that you would become an active advocate instead of a passive observer?
Faatiha-Right, when I went to Alaska in 2019, I witnessed first-hand how icebergs were falling from glaciers. I am from Bangladesh. And I knew that being a low-level land, Bangladesh would eventually submerge due to this kind of sea-level rise caused by glacier melting. So, I decided to work against climate change and global warming so that I could work towards a better world where climate change wouldn’t be such a drastic issue anymore. We are experiencing how climate change is affecting millions of people in a negative way. Children are being more affected by this. I don’t want to see anyone suffering, especially children. So, a few months later, when I was seven, I decided to develop CHIL&D.
A couple months later, I also started working for human rights and child rights. This was because I noticed how climate change, child rights, human rights, and issues of this sort were all interconnected, associated and related.
Rumki-As a motivational speaker in addition to being a published author, a student and one of the youngest child rights’ activists and climate campaigners in the world, you encourage people to change and exchange. What do you mean by this?
Faatiha-As a motivational speaker and activist, I believe in the power of change and exchange to create a better world. When I talk about changing, I mean that we should constantly strive to improve ourselves and the world around us. We should embrace personal growth, seek new knowledge, and challenge ourselves to be better versions of who we were yesterday.
Change also refers to making positive changes in society. As a child rights’ activist and climate campaigner, I encourage people to take action and advocate for the rights of children, who are often the most vulnerable members of our communities. Additionally, I inspire people to take steps towards mitigating climate change and protecting our planet for future generations.
On the other hand, exchange means that we should share our knowledge, experiences, and resources with others. Through collaboration and open communication, we can learn from one another and create a collective impact that surpasses individual efforts. By exchanging ideas and working together, we can find innovative solutions to global challenges.
In essence, change and exchange go hand in hand. Embracing positive change within ourselves and our society, while also fostering a culture of exchange and collaboration, can lead to profound transformations that benefit us all. Together, we can build a brighter and more compassionate world for everyone.
During my TEDx speech, the main theme of my remark was change and exchange. I talked about my own experience in changing myself from a passive observer into an active advocate while exchanging a lot of my old habits with new ones. I encouraged others to embark on their journey of change while exchanging bad habits with good ones. After all, change is a very powerful coach, and change comes with the exchange.
Rumki-CHIL&D has made many feats including one million trees planted in Bangladesh in the past year and saving many endangered tree climbing lions in East Africa. What other accomplishments should we be aware of and how can we help?
Faatiha-CHIL&D has many partner organizations, such as UNDP, Let’s Do It World, Safe Women of Bangladesh, Tree Uganda Academy, Pure Earth, Umbrella Youth Foundation, and Water Youth Network.
With UNDP, we are organizing several campaigns, such as Waste In My Bag, Flip The Script, and SDG Socialization. These campaigns encourage people to work in their communities and create change.
With Let’s Do It World, we helped to organize World Cleanup Day, when people from all around the world create a massive cleanup movement and clean their communities and even beyond.
With Safe Women of Bangladesh, we run a campaign to educate people on Cyber-Awareness and Digital Security.
With Tree Uganda Academy, we are trying to save the endangered tree climbing lion in Uganda in the Queen Elizabeth Park. We are also trying to educate children and the youth about this.
With Pure Earth, we are extensively working to build awareness on Lead Pollution and Mercury Contamination.
With Umbrella Youth Foundation, we have awarded people who have planted 1 million trees in Bangladesh.
With Water Youth Network, we are currently working with the Equal Aqua Campaign. More info to come.
Rumki-In your free time, you spend your time with like minded individuals who demand change so that future generations as your own, can thrive rather than regress. What other things do you like to do in your free time?
Faatiha-I love to read books of any sort. Reading takes me into a whole new world. I also love to paint and draw. I received the Amazing Artist Award in the Ocean Under Threat category at the Advena World Art Competition. My paintings are on display at the Colors of Human Art Gallery.
Rumki-When did you start wearing hijab? Will you please share your hijab story with us?
Faatiha-Being a hijabi girl who introduces herself as a Child Rights Activist and Climate Campaigner, brought me many delightful experiences. I would like to share a story here. Last September, I spoke at Concordia Annual Summit 2022. After my speech, when I was getting off the stage, I witnessed a middle-aged gentleman approach me from the front row of the audience with a smile on his face. Taking me to the peak of surprise, he greeted me with “Assalamu Alaikum” with a clear pronunciation. I realized that I saw him speaking at the conference right before me and he was Mr. Luis Lacalle Pou, former president of Uruguay. My heart was filled with joy at this respect as a hijabi girl from a non-Muslim state leader. It seemed as if he had not just honored me, but also, the Muslim Ummah.
I started wearing hijab when I was very young, around three years old. My mom and my grandma always used to wear hijab, so I wanted to wear it, too. Yes, I know this is also a part of my iman (faith) and amal (expectation), but I do not wear hijab only because I feel it will bring me closer to Allah. Rather, this hijab is my identity. This is who I am.
Rumki-How do you balance your schedule in all of the different activities you are involved in, in addition to your studies?
Faatiha-Balancing my schedule with all the different activities I’m involved in, along with my studies, can be quite challenging, but it’s essential to make the most of my time and stay organized.
First and foremost, I prioritize my commitments based on their importance and deadlines. I set clear goals for each activity and create a schedule that allows me to allocate sufficient time to all of them. To do this effectively, I use various tools like calendars, planners, or task management apps to keep track of my activities and assignments.
Time management is crucial, so I try to be disciplined and avoid procrastination. I break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, which makes them less overwhelming and allows me to make steady progress. By setting realistic timeframes for each task, I ensure I don’t overcommit myself and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Another essential aspect is knowing when to say, “no.” As much as I’m passionate about my endeavors, it’s crucial to recognize my limits and not take on too much. I assess new opportunities carefully and make sure they align with my priorities and values before accepting them.
Moreover, I make a conscious effort to find moments for relaxation and self-care. Taking breaks, engaging in hobbies, or spending time with loved ones, recharges my energy and helps me stay focused and motivated in all my activities.
Lastly, I embrace flexibility. Life can be unpredictable, and unexpected events may arise. Being adaptable allows me to handle changes and adjust my schedule as needed without getting too stressed.
Overall, finding balance in my life requires continuous effort and self-awareness. By staying organized, managing my time effectively, setting priorities, and taking care of myself, I can navigate through my various activities, studies, and commitments while still finding joy and fulfillment in everything I do.
About the Author:
Rumki Chowdhury is Editor of World Hijab Day Organization. Moreover, she is a professional edito and an award-winning published author and poet. She has an MA in English Literature from Queen Mary University of London, a BA in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey and an English Subject Teaching Degree from Gävle Högskolan in Stockholm, Sweden. She speaks Bengali and Swedish fluently! She has years of experience in the media and publishing worlds. Rumki lives with her husband and their three daughters.
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