All together works better!
Reflections from Sheida Jahangard on the 2022 “Gender Justice Beyond Borders” Migrant Youth Leadership Program (MYLP)
The meaning of my full name is an indication of my strong feelings for humans and the world. In Persian terminology, I am a lover who goes around the world.
I was born and raised in a part of the world where love and respect is its culture. In Iran, I studied domestic law and international law and worked with various vulnerable humans. However, political instability and economic insecurity in the Middle East always infers with migration.
In 2019, I arrived in Spain. Relying on my background, I assumed many prospects in Europe as the cradle of human rights. But, the reality was not so appealing; I discovered that I did not have the right to work and no company was eager to support my employment permit. I have had all the reasons to get depressed and give up, but I could not convince myself of such an end-up as I left everything behind to follow my dreams.
Therefore, I tried to finish my university courses and find volunteer opportunities that could help me take care of my basic expenses and broaden my network. I traveled to Italy and Greece, and started to work with other migrants. I could not justify people's indifference and ignorance toward me, especially those who call themselves humanitarian activists. Nevertheless, my feeling and striving for aiding people, despite my own need for support, surprised me. I still remember those days when I was working on weekends to translate for school children while being in a desperate situation in my own migration pathway.
In looking for different programs, I came to know CMGJ where there was less expectation from me, but more care for me. My traumas, because of Iran's constant unrest, had not come to an end. But this team, instead of pushing me, stood by my side and helped me finish the program. Therefore, I have the feeling of ownership of the program individually and collectively.
This praiseworthy program has three different stages:
Firstly, the education section lets you apply your existing knowledge to a common vision. You have the opportunity to analyze international conventions and identify its drawbacks and benefits, based on your proficiency.
Secondly, in the research phase, you can develop and practice whatever method you like and draw the most reliable conclusions based on your findings. Noteworthy that you have, always, senior fellows to guide you.
Lastly in the advocacy part, participants, collectively, are responsible for thriving on effectively communicating the knowledge that each person has produced. Although it is teamwork, you are individually responsible for the material you produced. As a team, you set objectives for advocacy purposes and develop a strategy for professional activism as an advocate. This final part gives a sense of power, a feeling of practically contributing to improving the lives of many people, as you convey the key points extracted from your research to stakeholders, including European Parliament members.
More importantly, working together with like-minded people from diverse backgrounds allows you to learn great values such as respect, tolerance, patience, resistance, and solidarity. In this program, I got the chance to interact with individuals that supported me emotionally where needed, taught me resistance and flexibility by generously sharing their life stories, and made me decisive to fight for human values.