“Respect and appreciation are the quiet yet powerful bridges to trust, empowerment, and inclusion” became my biggest takeaway from my time with Unity in Diversity. It is always one thing to read inclusion between the lines, but quite another to sit with the Ethnic Minority (EM) ladies and Non-Chinese Speaking (NCS) children as they struggled with Cantonese pronunciation and grammar, or to feel the quiet trust in the room as a lady drew henna on my hand.
What struck me the most from the encounters I had with the ladies and their children was how warmly and respectfully they welcomed me. Although I arrived as a newcomer who hoped to serve them, I was actually the one who ended up feeling included and embraced. The very first phrase that they taught me was “Assalamu alaikum (Peace be upon you)” This simple but warm greeting melted the distance between us and opened a space where they generously shared with me their cultures, foods, and fashions in a way that transcended any of the language barriers.
The time I spent with the ladies and their children from struggling over Cantonese tones to sitting quietly as henna dried on my hand reminded me how powerful it is when every person is seen, heard and welcomed as they are. Their kindness, especially the way they greeted me with “Assalamu alaikum” before I could even say “hello”, inspires my dedication to creating spaces where every voice matters in our community. I will leave this amazing and uplifting experience with a full heart of thankfulness.
