Voices Shaping the
Aspiration and inspiration
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Aspiration and inspirationSocial ecology requires that we identify that diverse range of values and experiences encompassed by their cultural appropriateness, and how culturally compelling they are – with what outcomes? We need to be aware of young people’s sense of their personal worth and efficacy, and how confident they feel about their capacity to act to change their futures. One approach is to explore their aspirations – those goals that they identify and pursue – and the people and ideas that inspire them to identify and persist with their chosen pathways. The converse set of influences – those factors that undermine aspirations and fail to inspire – should also be addressed, as they serve to constrain integration and contribute to marginalization. In some of the consultations with young people and key stakeholders across the three fieldwork regions, mentoring and tutoring projects were mentioned as important ways to support youth. These projects would provide positive role models who could encourage and assist young people achieve their aspirations. In one focus group with young people, such projects were seen as imparting a greater sense of hope in poorer disadvantaged communities, with the bonus effect of helping young people feel confident in the face of any difficulties they encounter. Teachers were also regarded as having a very important role in encouraging young people to achieve their goals. Overall recent arrivals from refugee backgrounds held high and hopeful aspirations. Refugee youth reflect the reality of their traumatic pasts, seeing education as the pathway to opportunity: Education is one of the best. We’ve got an awesome economy at the moment. And just things like that. And the opportunity’s there for everyone to reach their potential. And that’s why they say, have a fair go, have a crack, because you don’t have much to lose. The only thing you can do is excel in Australia. That’s the best thing about it and that’s why so many people want to come to Australia. In Darwin stakeholders mentioned experiences in the school system as sometimes unsettling for refugees, who may be unfamiliar with the education system. They mentioned the need to encourage school services to work with service providers in the development of ongoing programs. Currently, it was felt that services were under‐resourced, and understaffed, with overworked and stressed staff. Some of the parents of young Muslims consulted were concerned about the general level of violence in Darwin, voicing a preference for a Muslim school, even though they felt the mainstream community would oppose this. The proportion of young female Muslim Australians completing tertiary education is generally higher than for men, yet there is evidence that the career expectations of a few may be constrained by parental fears about dangers in the wider society, and in a small number of cases, pressure for early marriage. In the main young women reported strong encouragement from their families towards completing tertiary education and securing a career, which may be pursued both before and, if desired, after marriage. Young people found inspirations among family, friends and most often Muslim leaders and human rights figures. There was a widely‐shared sense that Islam as a civilization and culture was badly misrepresented in Australia, and thus young people found it very challenging to be regarded as ‘good’ Muslim Australians. Wider Australian society had very little knowledge outside stereotypes about Islamic beliefs and social practices, and there was also very little positive reinforcement available in the wider culture that would validate Muslim values and aspirations as such. Inspirational figures fall into four broad groups – familial, religious, cultural and sport. For many young people, their parents ‐ especially for boys ‐ their fathers were inspirational figures. Definitely my father because there’s no one in this world that cares for you or loves you more than your father does, or your mother. With your parents in particular, there’s no one that wants better for you. So I would like to think that whatever they say it’s in their best interest for me. So whenever I have something to say I always go to them. I seek my parents’ advice. I always come to them first. The Prophet Mohammed is a recurrent figure as an inspiration. Apart from his spiritual qualities, he is described as wise, caring and possessing great insight and offering leadership. The positive self esteem and good relations between contemporary Islamic cleric Sheikh Dr Mansour Leghaei, and many of the young Muslims in one focus group, led to a deep disappointment when he was deported from Australia in June 2010 on grounds that were never made public due to national security interests. Many had written letters and or approached local members of parliament, in the hope of reversing his deportation. As a source of positive inspiration and moderation, this was felt as a loss of a significant and much loved role model. Both Sheikh Dr Leghaei and Sheikh Jihad Ismael are very much admired because they are seen to offer clear and morally uplifting narratives about how to engage as a Muslim within Australian society. … Sometimes it can be hard to follow my religion especially in a western society so I need some guidance. What I really like about these men is that they talk about things that are important to me and on my level – it is really inspirational. They don’t talk down to me or impose anything and just say this is what we have to do because they are the ‘Sheikh’ and so we have to do it. They say how you can improve yourself. They talk a lot about equality, treating others properly and I really like that it makes me contemplate about what I’m doing. Young people should not have anything forced upon them. Other inspirations are drawn from peer groups, especially youth groups where young people can explore the issues in a non‐judgmental environment and test out strategies for negotiating their identities as young Muslims in Australia. I just feel like I’ve built such a strong connection because everyone’s so open and accepting and friendly. So I know I can come to anyone here. Girls and guys… We’re very much a family here. So I have more recently brought a lot of my questions and I guess any advice I need to this youth group. Cultural and sporting figures are also very important, especially those who are part of the wider society. Across the range participants have mentioned Professor Muhammad Yunus and Dr. Shirin Ebadi as Nobel laureates, Omar Khayyam as a poet, Salahuddin as a historic political figure, Ahmad Fahour (previous boss of NAB), author Randa Abdelfattah, the French footballer Zideh Ziddane, the NSW Bulldogs NRL footballer Hazem El Masri, AFL footballer Basha Houli, boxer Anthony Mundine, musicians such as Mos Def and Lupe Fiasco, Kayne West, Loon, Brothahood and comedians of Muslim background ‐ the Salam Café team and others, Dalia Mugahid and Malcolm X. Young male and female Muslim Australians spoke of being inspired by people who do things ‘from the heart’, and who display wisdom and good manners. It was clear from the consultations Muslims in Australia are actively trying to fill this pool of positive role models. Members of the Melbourne Muslim community developed the Aspire to Inspire (A2I) project and conferences. Underwritten by an awareness of the psychology of adolescent development, the A2I looks for role models and success stories, to provide a basis for wider emulation. In another initiative Fatima Dennaoui has written profiles of four ‘young role models’ for her internship project on Cultural Diversity News, stressing their modernity, social engagement, moral integrity and commitment to the political advancement of Muslims in Australia. And thirdly, in Darwin, longer established younger settlers (e.g. in the Somali refugee community) have taken on the role of modelling integrative leadership for the more newly arrived refugee youth. One community worker reflected on the possible dangers for those who may have no positive role models. Within the transient and developmental nature of adolescence, negative role models may be regarded as ‘tough’ or ‘cool’. Having said that, there was recognition in consultations that things were improving within the Muslim community in relation to role models: It still is the case that a lot of young Muslims lack significant role models. I think that’s something that the community has been working on a lot and it has improved. Directory: sites -> default -> files -> documents -> 01 2014 documents -> Ace abi catair customs and Trade Automated Interface Requirements documents -> Mobile audio/video recording systems documents -> The south australian government gazette documents -> All public acts appearing in this gazette are to be considered official, and obeyed as such documents -> Union interparlementaire inter-parliamentary union 01 2014 -> Muslim Voices – Hopes and aspirations of Muslim Australians Centre for Muslim Minorities & Islam Policy Studies 01 2014 -> Prepared by: Kais Al‐Momani Nour Dados Marion Maddox Amanda Wise C 01 2014 -> Editors: Kerry Download 1.05 Mb. Share with your friends:
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