Dina Mu’taz Fathi Al Taher
Age 28 – Jordan
I was born and raised in Amman, the capital of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan. I graduated from university with a degree in Business Administration during the summer of 2011. I have been a volunteer throughout my school years and became a regular volunteer with Caritas Jordan since the year 2010.
Later on I shifted my career from a banker to a humanitarian worker in Caritas Jordan – a move which proved to be rewarding and enriching in so many ways. I received my Training of Leader and the advanced Training of Trainers certificates during the years (2013-2015) respectively after undergoing a three-year summer regional program for the youth of six countries in the Middle East. Ever since I started my training programs I provided a deeper focus to the subject of Peace building and peaceful dialogue due to its importance and my drive which is directed towards addressing it through my work and hoping for its realization in our world one day.
The training sessions have been implemented within many of our local Jordanian high schools in addition to the local Training of leaders program, both of which target audiences have been provided by a theoretical training for this subject in addition to motivating the youth in offering ideas / initiatives, which can be implemented on the ground as well. I believe that it is crucial and essential to instill the roots of peace within our youth as they will be the driving engine to avoid extremism and encouraging solidarity, unity and togetherness in our world today.
In addition to the Peace Building Through Art program which was put into action through our center, which included the introduction of the importance of peace building and its elaboration through art, music, drama and team building activity, this project has proven to be of high importance to me and my colleagues, since the primary beneficiaries were Syrian refugee kids and Jordanians as well.
Furthermore, volunteering in the Sacred Heart of Jesus church during the year 2015 offered me the chance of meeting refugees from the Al Mowsel Area in Al, Iraq, all of whom where caused to flee their homeland due to the persecution of ISIS. My volunteering service included many activities including providing assistance in running the daily activities of the refugees living in this hall in addition to chaperoning local field visits. Their tolerance and forgiveness to those who hurt them surprised me and gave me an insight to what we all need to live peacefully together.
I strongly believe that those small steps that we are all taking to promote the importance of peace, acceptance of others and solidarity, are just the first of many needed to change the world today – to make it a better place, but I also believe that our small acts of kindness can have a huge ripple effect; one that can echo throughout the world, stemming out of our undeniable commitment and dedication to spread this message – a message of love – which is the reason for our work in Caritas Jordan – the meaning which lies under our entire projects will ultimately lead us to peace.
To me, peace is not a destination – it is the process by which we create a better world, beginning from each and every one of us. If we all work for humanity with peace instilled in our hearts, if we learn to forgive those who have caused us pain, and if we commit ourselves to avoid extremism on all of its levels, only then peace will prevail.
