The first ever Voices of Muslim Women Film Festival at KPU Surrey

The first ever Voices of Muslim Women Film Festival was a huge success. It was night of inspiration, where Muslim Women in BC created a platform for other Muslim Women aged 15-72 shared their digital stories. Digital Stories, are short 2-5 minute films that tell a personal story often about a social justice or community issue. These women and girls: Mina Haidaoui, Kamilia Haidaoui, Amal Javed, Asma Javed, Jaeda Malawiya, Awan Malawiya, Nidha Yaqub, Sharina Mohammed, Yusraa Tadj, Naveen Zafar, Ramsha Sheikh, Sairah Mohammed, Seemi Ghazi, Aeysha Mohammed, Azeeza Jehan, Hosna Shendandi and Fadheelah Hussain courageously shared their stories. The topics ranged from body image to Islamophobia. Aisha Amijee, the program instructor and coordinator opened up the event, introducing Seemi Ghazi, a VMW participant and professor at UBC. She sang O Canada in Arabic and set the tone for a night of celebrating our unapologetic Canadian Muslim Identity. Between the film screenings, there were performances by SumiSpeaks and Jaeda Malawiya. The night concluded in presenting the first ever Voices of Muslim Women Awards; which went to Yasmine Youssef, Champion of Women Award, Naveen Zafar, Young Woman of Distinction Award, Qamrul Mohammed, Life Long Achievement Award, Itrath Syed, Social Justice and Community Activism Award and Nassim Elbardouh, Eduacation and Leadership Award. The event was hosted by the Muslim Food Bank in partnership with Freed Education Co., Visual Media Workshop at KPU, Kwantlen Students’ Association, Bombay Collection, Bombay Couture and Astra Dental.