B ackstory : Maryam Akram (@kashmirichaiandbooks) is a preschool teacher living in New York City with her husband and daughter. Before she got a job as a preschool teacher she would frequently go to the Masjid to pray. However, once she started work she couldn’t go to the masjid as frequently anymore. She then asked her boss, the school administrator who is a non-Muslim if she could pray in a quiet room during work hours. The boss was more than happy to help her find a private room for prayer purposes. What happened : The next day, when she was sitting in the staff room the director approached her with a small package. At first, she was confused as to what she was handed but was then told it was a prayer mat. At that moment Maryam wanted to cry tears of joy. In appreciation, Maryam hugged her boss. In an exclusive interview with ProperGaanda she said “I am so happy with the level of inclusion and acceptance in this school. Everyone has been so welcoming. It has now become my home away from home,”
What Else : After receiving the prayer mat, she felt so happy and wanted to make someone feel as well as welcomed as her staff made her feel. She has one Hindu girl in her class and before Diwali passed, she decided (after talking it out with her director) to have a whole art project surrounded around the importance of Diwali in the Hindu Community. Not only did this art project make the little girl feel accepted in her class but her parents were so happy and personally texted Maryam to say thank you.
W hy It Matters : In an exclusive interview with ProperGaanda Maryam said “With all the negative things you hear happening to Muslims around the world, especially after 9/11, it is important to highlight the good moments too. That is why I shared the incident of my boss giving me a prayer mat on my Instagram story @kashmirichaiandbook.”