YCCI’S STORY

Up until June 6th, 2021, my biggest challenge in life was navigating highschool while living in a pandemic. As a 14 year old, I thought it couldn’t get much worse than that, until that night. My dear friend and classmate of 8 years was run down in the streets as she walked home with her family. She was killed because she was a Muslim. Can you imagine how difficult it was to process this horrific event? Can you imagine the fear, shock and despair that engulfed me, my friends and my community? This fear just kept on growing. Many of us stopped going on walks, feeling safe in our community or even feeling like we belonged. There came a point where I had to make a decision. Do I continue to wallow in my pain or do I find a way forward? I was tired of feeling helpless. I was tired of worrying about who was next. I was tired of believing that there was nothing I could do. 

I started YCCI (Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia) for all those who felt like me. The truth is there is something we can do. There is something everyone can do. It is my hope that if we work together, we can bring about positive change. It is my hope that we can dismantle islamophobia and end all forms of hate. It is my hope that every educator will guide students to challenge their biases and understand that lesser forms of Islamophobia are connected to more extreme forms: they originate from the same ignorance, intolerance and systems of disenfranchisement. 

I quickly realized that I was not alone in my feelings of helplessness following the June 6th attacks. Everyone I spoke to felt the need to do something. YCCI was created with the purpose of engaging and centering young people in the fight against Islamophobia. It has grown beyond the initial stages of infancy to a group of young dedicated individuals who are passionate about making the world a better, safer place for everyone. 

- Maryam Al-Sabawi