Cultural Exchange: A model of peace & empathy

Have you ever embraced the stereotypes about a certain group of people from watching the news or just what you deduce in your mind? Stereotypes build stigma around our minds and behaviours and can be commonly shared increasing hate and the 'isms in this world like racism,tribalism,colourism among many.

A simple Google into news about my nation,Zimbabwe bring you a sombre picture of people living in abject poverty and vulnerable without say. A suppressed population ,scattered around the globe without direction.

Trust me ,other findings are even worse. Given this background, I didn't blame one journalist who got in touch with me for a magazine feature. Once we finished our call,he confessed," This project has humbled me because I always thought Zimbabwean women didn't even dress nice like you do or run businesses like you do. I was made to believe the opposite."

I smiled and said,"Now,you go and demystify those stereotypes. Use your platform to enact mind transformations through knowledge and facts."

While,like every country under the world 🌎 we have our challenges, we are a great people with a beautiful country, great opportunities and a rich culture. And I wish the media could start with that before the challenges. Celebrate the wins and mention what needs improvement, that strategy works better.

My sentiments were echoed , by some ladies from Iran who visited my country on a cultural exchange program my organisation hosted in partnership with the Cultural Centre of Iran in Zimbabwe. It seems the majority of Zimbabweans who attended the event,(embarrassingly, me too) viewed women in a hijab as being vulnerable and second class citizens in a highly male dominated countries. The Iranian women told us of their pride in covering up their bodies and even schooled us on the high statistics of women's achievements in Iran. From medical fields, tourism, business, publishing the number of women's dominance is highly commended.

This cultural exchange program enlightened both parties on authentic stories visa vis some propaganda spewed in media. It increased empathy and showed us that while we dress differently ,while we have different languages,while we have different beliefs and religions WHAT binds us is stronger than those imaginary lines.

My organisation focuses on the social cohesion of women in any part of the world. We don't focus on th politics of the day because that changes and divides but knowing that a sister in one corner of the world is fighting against domestic violence just increases my empathy because I would have gone through the same . Sexual harassment has the same harrowing effects nomatter if it happens to a woman in the oval office ,a woman living on downing street or a woman whose accomodation is a cave.

My dream is to continually hold such cultural exchange programs between my country and many other nations. It can be virtually or physically and with the one we did with Iran,thank goodness it's all documented in a book titled, Sisters Across Borders .

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying women worldwide aren't fighting against effects of patriarchy,I'm just saying we also have more to celebrate. We have achievements in each country and journeys of generational strength.

And remeber ,the journalist who thought he was going to interview a vulnerable poor woman and met me. An empowered woman raising voices of other empowered women and empowering the downtrodden. He has since interviewed many other Zimbabwean women for a book project and might I add,he is literally a brand ambassador for us. Bridging Cultures through knowledge.

What binds us,is bigger than our flimsy differences. I'm glad I'm part of the World pulse where access is given to all of us and I hope to keep networking with every sister from all over the world. I'm open to the great networking that will ensue.