On Sunday 2 December, 35 young women gathered at Bristol Student’s Union for Nisa-Nashim’s first ever student conference: Gender and Faith: Women Leading the Way. Muslim and Jewish women students from universities across the UK came together to share both their inspiration and their struggles. At a time when some elements of campus culture can polarise and divide, this event celebrated the power of coming together in unity to explore shared values and build connections.
There were speakers from Jewish Women’s Aid and Integrate UK with an inspiring keynote speech given by acclaimed journalist Remona Aly on her life as a Muslim woman. Students and speakers alike discussed how to tackle rising levels of hatred directed at both Jews and Muslims, and what it means to take on a visible role of leadership in this kind of climate. They explored how to build courage, resilience, and hope to support all of their leadership journeys.
It was a day of sisterhood and solidarity and will hopefully be the beginning of many Muslim and Jewish friendships networks being formed on campuses across the U.K, challenging stereotypes and hatred together. The conference was planned in partnership with Bristol Students’ Union.