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March 2019 - Newsletter Video Blog Summary

March 2019

Apologies in advance for the poor audio quality.

This March my play was performed by actors at at

the Emirates Literature Foundation.

I was chosen as a finalist as Change maker of the Year at

Be the Change Awards 2019 and Ethical Hour.

Despite struggling with my shoulders I participated in the Six Items Challenge for the eighth consecutive year.

I enrolled on the Be The Change Future Learn MOOC with Oxfam and the Open University.

I welcomed environmental activist Isatou Ceesay and her son Madou to Dubai.

Play writing Course with Alex Broun and the Emirates Literature Foundation

Recitals 3/9/2019 at

The Emirates Festival of Literature 2019

This March my play was performed at the Emirates Literature Foundation.

Recitals of our plays were performed by actors Saturday 9th March 2019.

Many thanks to all the actors, audience and family members who performed and attended.

Videos

Sadly, due to technical difficulties I couldn't record all my scenes.

I'm grateful to Edwige for forwarding the following videos.

INTRODUCTION AND

SCENES ONE, THREE AND SEVEN

Introduction

Sabeena talks to the audience

Sabeena: My name is Sabeena and I’m trying to be a kinder and compassionate human being.

I'm a fair trade campaigner, educator and social entrepreneur.

Over the years I have encountered discrimination, criticism, total acceptance and love.

I’d like to share my experiences to promote a healthy dialogue, empathy and tolerance.

As a person of colour, I believe we shouldn't be labelled and stereotyped by our appearance, our beliefs, our command of the English language and the preservation of our beautiful cultures and traditions.

I’d like to be recognized for my passion, dedication and strength.

Scene 1

Scene One

The Careers Office

Characters

Careers Officer

Sabeena

Sabeena knocks on the career office door

Careers Officer: Come In! Take a seat, its Sabeena right?

Sabeena: Yes, Thank you!

Careers Officer: Shuffling of papers

Careers Officer: What do you want do when you leave school?

Sabeena: I want to be a forensic scientist.

Careers Officer: Big Sighs

Careers Officer: I’ve had a look at your predicted grades.

You don’t have the grades required to study sciences. Have you thought about BTEC courses?

Sabeena: No!

Careers Officer: Maybe you should think about applying for a BTEC in Childcare, Fashion or Business?

Sabeena: Disappointed

Sabeena: I want to be a forensic scientist.

Careers Officer: Why?

Sabeena: I’ve always been fascinated by the subject ever since the Police visited my old primary school and talked about criminology and forensics.

Careers Officer: Do you know the meaning of forensics?

Sabeena: Yes! It’s the study of crime scenes, dna and investigating the death of people from unusual circumstances.

Careers Officer: Ignores Sabeena and responds in cold uninspiring voice

Careers Officer: Your predicated grades for Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths, are B’s and C’s.You will struggle at A-level.

I seriously think you should re-consider your options.

Think about what I’ve said and let’s arrange another appointment to discuss your decision next month?

Sabeena: Bigger sighs

Sabeena: Okay!

Sabeena leaves the Careers Office heavy hearted and despondent

Sabeena: Talks to the audience

Sabeena: If I could travel back in time I would have said the following to the Careers Officer with a big smile on my face.

Thank you for your time and recommendations, however, I’m determined to qualify as a forensic scientist. I’ll take my chances and a take a leap of faith.

‘be an encourager the world has plenty of critics already.’

Goodbye! :)

Scene 3

Scene Three

Fairtrade Café

Characters

Bee

Sabeena

Bee and JJ are sitting at a table waiting for Sabeena. Sabeena Arrives and removes her niqaab.

Bee: Hello!

JJ: Hi!

Sabeena: Hello ladies! I’m Sabeena. Lovely to meet you. What would you like to drink?

Bee: A black coffee.

JJ: A café latte please?

Sabeena: Calls the waiter

Sabeena: Could we have a black coffee, a café latte and an English Breakfast tea with hot milk please?

The ladies sit down.

JJ: Thank you for meeting us at such notice.

Sabeena: No problem, it’s my pleasure.

I’m so pleased the American Women’s Association has taken an interest to support my fair-trade work.

Bee stares at Sabeena and talks angrily

Bee: You KILLED 3000 people on 9/11.

JJ: No response

Sabeena: Is taken aback but intrigued to learn more.

Bee: Raises her voice

YES! You people killed thousands on 9/11.

Angrily continues her voice rising

Bee: You MURDERED them!

Sabeena: What ME, Personally?

Sabeena: Is more intrigued

Bee: YES, YOU!

Sabeena: Talks to the audience

At this point I wanted to make a sharp exit. This isn’t the coffee morning I had in mind. Lord, give me strength!

Bee continues almost snarling

Bee: You people think you can get away with it! You destroyed thousands of lives.

You cause destruction and misery wherever you go.

JJ: Is listening intently but does not interrupt or stop her friend from speaking

Bee: Why are Muslim women always oppressed?

She stares at Sabeena’s hijab and abaya with disdain and disapproval.

You’re so oppressed and subjugated. You have to ask permission for WORK, RECREATION, TRAVEL AND WEAR CLOTHES.

It’s so depressing and a sorry state of affairs.

The atmosphere is heavy and toxic

Bee continues her monologue in an angry voice

Bee: Why do you always wear black? Why do you cover your faces? It’s so humiliating.

I could never do that. Why can’t you show your faces?

ISLAM IS SO RESTRICTIVE, MEN CONTROL WOMEN!!!

JJ: Makes no attempt to stop Bee from talking.

Sabeena: Talks to the audience

I wanted to run for the hills.

I was surprised and confused why JJ made no attempt to diffuse the situation.

Is Bee ever going to let me speak?

I didn’t sign up for this?

The conversation continues, Bee continues to vent her anger

Bee: We invited Muslim women to a coffee morning so that we could improve inter-faith dialogue and strengthen relationships.

The ladies just sat and ignored us. They made no attempt to speak or interact.

Bee: Rolls her eyes

IT WAS A DISASTER!

Sabeena: Talks to the audience

I thought I was being Punked?

I had to do something fast, I had to calm this lady down.

I took a deep breath and thought, You can do this Sabeena,

be brave, be strong, believe in yourself. You can turn this around.

Sabeena begins to talk clearly and calmly.

I was born and educated in Manchester.

I speak fluent English, Urdu and a little French.

I was an ESOL practitioner in London.

I taught Beginners English to asylum speakers and refugees.

I can introduce you to friends who are highly qualified professionals, articulate, and who observe the hijab and niqaab.

Would you be interested to meet them?

I’d be delighted to visit the American Women’s Association and talk about fair-trade.

Maybe, you’d like to become fair-trade suporter?

Bee: Listening intently, a little shocked by Sabeena’s statements and questions.

Bee: Okay!

JJ: You were a little a little harsh Bee.

Bee: Is silent but no makes no apology

Sabeena A waiter arrives with hot beverages and cakes.

Sabeena: Talks to the audience

I was relieved but emotionally drained. I needed a good fair-trade brew (cup of tea).

Sabeena: Here you are ladies.

The three eat/drink in eerie silence. JJ breaks the silence.

JJ: Well, it’s been lovely meeting you Sabeena.

Bee: We’d like to see your fair-trade products?

JJ: Would it be okay if we brought a few ladies over to your apartment next week to purchase some fair-trade products?

S: Yes, Absolutely! It would be my pleasure.

S: Talks to audience

Sabeena: I’ve never been so happy and relieved to go home.

The following week a group of 8 ladies visit Sabeena’s apartment and purchase fair-trade products.

Last Scene

Older Sabeena: Talks to the audience

Older Sabeena: I wanted to end on one of the happiest moments of my life.

There’s a beautiful magical innocence about children accepting of one another without fear or prejudice, sadly, these characteristics fade as we grow older.

This is the year of tolerance and I hope we can all learn to celebrate our differences, respect one another, choose kindness and compassion and eat more fair-trade chocolate.

As for me I hope to laugh more, spend quality time with my loved ones, fulfill long overdue ambitions and travel.

Thank you for listening.

Love, peace and blessings