Teaching Tolerance to Our Children
Remembering the International Day for Tolerance means spending a time to understand, respect and acknowledge the social, religious and cultural rights of other people. We take a moment to reflect and discuss the harmful effects of intolerance.
During this annual observance, school teachers use the theme to let the students tackle the issues concerning tolerance and non-violence. They use educational materials, flyers, broadsheets to spread awareness on the value of tolerance. Engaging activities such as storytelling and dialogues also fill the social gap.
It all Starts at Home
Many parents accept the fact that we have a very diverse community. While some who had not much exposure to different culture may seem to be more hesitant of other people. But today, children have more exposure due to a more diverse group of friends in school or other organizations compared to the time of their parents from years ago.
Keeping this in mind, parents today should teach their children as young as possible how to live and work in a more diverse community. To learn and let them play with other kids from other countries is a subtle way of teaching them tolerance. Discuss to them the importance of being a person who is open to differences opens more opportunities in life.
Instill in them the value of being open-minded and respect as the success of a person is also dependable in his childhood experiences. So be a good role model and start exposing them to other cultures while still young so they appreciate the differences this world has to offer. Travel with them when visiting other countries and let them interact with local kids.
Learn more about the spirit of tolerance in the upcoming second edition of the International Festival of Ibn Battuta happening on 9 to 12 of November 2017 at the city of Tangier in the Kingdom of Morocco. The event is organized by the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta with this year’s theme, “Travelers, the Ambassadors of Peace and Tolerance.” To know more about this travel and cultural festival, visit http://ibnbattuta.ma/.
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
Easy Ways to Celebrate the Observance of International Day for Tolerance
Declared by UNESCO as an annual observance to raise awareness about the hazards that come from intolerance, the world celebrates the International Day for Tolerance on every 16th of November.
Anyone can celebrate International Day for Tolerance whether in schools, offices, associations. Below are some simple ideas that may inspire you to reflect and give more meaning to the occasion.
- Celebrate together with your community. Getting together with your neighbors, co-workers and you might be surprised at how diverse the group is. Try to get to know more about them, through music, dances, and arts to showcase their cultural influences. If budget allows, organize a concert and cultural fest to bring together a range of diverse groups.
- Say No to Violence. Agree to disagree and learn to respect the person whose thoughts and ideas you don’t agree with. Fighting and causing vicious acts won’t solve any issues.
- Showcase Diversity. Just like animals and plants, we humans will not be able to survive if we are all the same. Our diversity is what makes life colorful and unique. Think of projects you can do in your school that can showcase the valuable benefits of adapting the spirit of tolerance in embracing world cultures.
- Get into Sports. Any sports activity develops camaraderie and sportsmanship. Invite some of your foreign friends over a game of basketball or volleyball and see unity happen.
- Art for a Cause. Use your talent to promote peace. A painting, a sketch, photo or sculpture can speak volumes. Communicate to the world through your masterpiece.
Building tolerance and achieving peace is no small task, it takes commitment and time. Intolerance happens due to fear and ignorance, thus access to education is a vital element to close cultural gaps and achieve a more peaceful world.
In line with celebrating tolerance, the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta is preparing for the second edition of the International Festival of Ibn Battuta to be held on 9 to 12 of November 2017 at the city of Tangier, Morocco. Participants, sponsors and guests are coming over to celebrate this year’s festival theme, “Travelers, the Ambassadors of Peace”. It will be an event featuring the legacy of Ibn Battuta and its world journey and in the promotion of peace and tolerance through traveling.
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
Lifestyle benefits of Travel Backpacking
In general, a backpacker can be defined as someone who has an active lifestyle and has the passion for traveling, going to places carrying a single backpack wherever he goes. This type of adventure offers a range of positive and healthy benefits that many of today’s generation opt to travel the world this way.
- The feeling of Freedom
Compared to scheduled and package trips, backpackers have the freedom to do what they want to do, where they want to go and when they want to leave. Simply put, they’re free to explore whichever way they want and it’s liberating.
- Great Exercise
Backpacking offers a really good fitness activity. It’s like getting a great exercise every time you do either a light trek or long mountain hikes.
- Making new friends
Traveling at a slower pace get you to spend more time with people and get to know them better. Some packaged tours may lack some form of camaraderie, while there is more interaction happening when backpacking. Backpackers tend to be more generous when sharing stories, tips and discoveries to fellow backpackers.
- Self Confidence Boost
Compared to the average tourist, backpackers experience more from traveling. You become more and more independent, can exhibit tolerance and can trust yourself fully.
- Life becomes more meaningful
As backpackers travel from one country to the next, every journey they make becomes more meaningful because they exerted a lot of effort to explore the destination. These travelers appreciate the small things and the grandness and diversity of life as they let world cultures sink into their character.
Hardcore backpackers see the world as their home. This type of traveling, though interesting, may also be difficult so you may opt to start out with a friend or someone who has backpacked before and then determine if you can handle a long and solo backpacking adventure.
Get to know some international backpackers and their stories on the upcoming Second edition of International Festival of Ibn Battuta organized by the Moroccan Association of IbnBattuta happening on November 9 to 12, 2017 at Tangier City, Morocco. It’s a travel and cultural festival celebrating the journey and legacy of world-renowned traveler, Ibn Battuta.
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
Simple Ways to Promote Peace and Tolerance in Our World
Taking into account some unfortunate threatening events happening on some parts of the globe, our minds wander on how we can protect the future of our children and how to have a safe and peaceful world.
Below is a list of 10 simple definite ideas that can heal our broken communities. These are accessible and applicable ways that can be started right at our homes.
- Commit yourself to nonviolence. If put in a challenging and confronting situation, try to avoid any fight or use physical force.
- Extend some help when you see someone upset, lost or puzzled.
- Teach a child how to be kind and calm. The best way to teach our children this is to be a good example. Kids learn and remember what they see we are doing, how we treat the elders, the homeless and people with disabilities, people who appear different from the child. This way, we teach them tolerance.
- When you see any form of injustices and discrimination, speak out. Don’t let fear hold you from voicing out what is right.
- When your anger is triggered, count to ten before you say anything. Words, when uttered, will never be taken back, so best to think for a better response.
- Try to be more compassionate and be more understanding of other people’s feeling.
- Being part of a religious community can provide you with an opportunity to be able to promote peace through ministries and social programs like charity, medical missions, and gift-giving activities.
- A tremendous social initiative that will help you build a stronger and more compassionate character is through community volunteering. You can try searching online for organizations looking for volunteers.
- Choose a vocation that only brings positive things for our family and community.
- A warm smile and “hello” on the street or wherever you are in the world can bring a lot of positive and peaceful vibes.
Why and how the project is innovative
There is nothing new under the sun for humanity, but there is always something new to discover for a newcomer. Young hearts that come to life in search of beauty, young minds that make their first clumsy steps in pursuit of the truth, their souls – fragile manifestations of virtue – need nothing but encouragement. They need silence that is overflowing with what they have to learn. They need nourishment other than just for their bodies.
Our project is based on the philosophy of life guided by the ideals of Beauty, Truth, and Virtue, the cornerstones of sensible happiness. We believe that every person can be the Artist of their life – just as they did in the Renaissance – this time, though, rather than harnessing marble, or taming colors, words, and notes, they need to learn how to make their life evolve into a real masterpiece.
This is an ambitious endeavor. It requires a constant presence of delicate guidance and a strong cultural field. But let’s not forget that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, so it should not be too complicated. Quite the contrary, it should breathe hope into the sails of each new explorer of the infinite diversity that is called life! My sister and I are ready to embark on this journey and serve as guides, lighthouses, traveling companions – equals who never stop learning, who never cease to strain for Beauty, Truth, and Virtue. We will be there for the young hearts and minds, nourish their souls, give them inspiration and encouragement all the way through and at the same time keep them in the cultural field full of the best examples of what the human genius has achieved.
The innovation of the project is inside us; we are its innovation and locomotive power. We carry the antidote! It may sound too immodest, but the fact of the matter is that, in effect, we are two particles of the large whole who were lucky enough to have learned to embrace the whole without getting lost in it. We haven’t climbed an ivory tower “to get a better view.” We are still particles, though, with a difference: we can throw light on the beauty, truth, and virtue without slipping into overbearing formalism typical of more massive authoritative formations. Our voices are still likely to be heard by other particles because there is a common ground between us, a common bond, a common origin.
Our approach is to use Art in its broadest sense as the organizing principle behind the central process of evolution of the pillars upon which a person stands – those of Beauty, Truth, and Virtue. Being the quintessence of the three, Art can serve as a fertile medium, and a means at the same time. We shall keep in mind that the concepts of peace and tolerance will necessarily suggest themselves provided that the idea of the whole has been communicated from the perspective of the three pillars without which it is no use taking any efforts at all. Laying this trilateral foundation is essential.
Can Beauty alone promote peace and tolerance? Is Truth equipped to do the job? Will Virtue have the power to do it? If we look closely enough, we will see that it is only with the democratic involvement of the three that the issue may be tackled. None of the three shall take full control; otherwise, the fruit will not ripen. Peace and tolerance can only be promoted by someone who embodies a balanced combination of Beauty, Truth, and Virtue that would be used as sense organs to find a way towards the hearts, minds, and souls of people. Every new person will require a new approach, for there is no one-size-fits-all method that would go down equally well with everyone. Therefore, innovation goes with the territory being just another way to call the interaction between the participants; it is what the workings of the projects are all about – particles innovating each other to be able to embrace the infinite diversity of the whole.
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
Students on Global Awareness and Cultural Understanding
In today’s generation, there is a growing importance of providing students international experiences.
It is astounding to think that sounds coming from our mouths can be interpreted by the person we are talking to despite the difference of mother tongue showing the complexity of language and communication to humans.
It’s amazing to think that about 4 billion people are bilingual to a certain degree. This is precise because when we are working with other people, we learn about their cultures while discovering new potentials and new ideas. Benefits that would not be realized had we not understand how other people outside our country lives. This is exactly the reason why it is vital for students today to obtain a more meaningful understanding of other countries culture and gain global awareness.
More often than not, students of this generation have possibly traveled outside their respective countries by 16 years old and now have, thanks to technology, easier access to a lot of information through the internet. Despite that, they should still be guided by discovering ideas and issues to acquire many meaningful realizations and world understanding.
This is the reason why cultivating global awareness and international cooperation in student classrooms are advantageous. Schools recognize this importance and are pushing the need to put learning into context. Contextualized learning, done either indoor and outdoor activity such as student exchange, cultural trips, writing a foreign friend, and asking support from foreign language assistants to bring into class something coming from abroad may be provided to students.
Traditional elements of education are now being supplemented by modern and stimulating ways to bring the world into a classroom. Think of social networking, video conference and other technological experience making our interaction with people abroad way easier.
These kinds of initiatives during formative years can lead a student to practice tolerance and become a more rounded individual having seen things from a different perspective thus making informed decisions and adapt useful communication skills. These are great ways to prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century.
Learn and discover more about travel on the upcoming International Festival of Ibn Battuta on November 9 to 12, 2017 at the city of Tangier. Interact with people from the international travel community while having fun and creating meaningful experiences. Know more about the event at the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta’s official website at http://ibnbattuta.ma/
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
7 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Tolerance When Traveling
When you experience something that annoys you so much during your travel and you learn to control yourself and view the situation in a much broader sense, looking at the different aspects of that person or situation to understand things, you practice tolerance.
When traveling, you are put into many environments that may be out of your comfort zone and with people that may make you feel uneasy. You may feel frustrated when your stillness is disturbed. These situations will give you a chance to apply the spirit of tolerance. Here are some simple ways you can practice while on travel?
- Try to look beyond the person that annoys you and go over the probable causes that make you upset.
- If you are bothered by others and lose focus, your tension builds. Recognize that it may just be your ego to limit the negative feelings you’re having.
- Relax and meditate. Sometimes you realize that some issues are not that important and do not necessarily define one person or experience. During stressful situations and when your spirit is calm, you learn to think first and react patiently with grace, becoming the best version of your self.
- Always remember that no matter how annoying a person or the situation can be, it’s only temporary. Things and situations change, it is imminent.
- A person has the power to control how these annoyances affect himself. You can try shifting your focus to more positive thoughts or persons. Learn to brush off and stay away from negative emotions.
- The truth of the matter is, no matter how likable you are, it would be impossible to be accepted by everyone. Most likely, someone has been upset with you. So remember how did that person react? Keep in mind that even at your worst, some people were still kind and patient with you. Pay that goodness forward.
- Practice being patient and you will become more tolerant. It will empower you.
Want to learn other ways to become more tolerant while traveling? Discover more about Travel and Tolerance at the upcoming International Festival of Ibn Battuta on November 9 til 12, 2017 in the beautiful city of Tangier in Morocco. The cultural and travel event is being organized by the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta and the international community of volunteers. To know more about the event, visit the official website at http://ibnbattuta.ma/
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
Travel to Build Tolerance in Your Life
Many individuals still have a hard time being tolerant of others. As a community that co-exists, all of us should continuously learn and adapt to each other. But more importantly, to harness the spirit of tolerance to create healing and meaning to our lives in more ways than we can ever imagine.
Tolerance is the capability to deal with things and situations you don’t usually agree with. Your ability to withstand the “unlikely and uncommon” of things in your life.
Practicing tolerance, though, speaks more about your connection with your self rather than with other people. Your mental and emotional resolve and self-control.
How long can you hold your temper when there are disturbances other people are causing you? Can you deal with the situation with grace and confidence? O would you rather be indifferent and just ignore the situation or person? If there is no chance the person annoying you would change, how do you interact?
These are some concerns that each of us should take a moment to ponder. There are ways to build peace and tolerance with others, such as taking time to travel. Traveling gives you a moment to know more of yourself and practice tolerance.
Along the journey, a traveler will encounter a lot of different people from so diverse backgrounds. Living in a diverse world, people live and look in so many different ways – different religions, races, nationalities, languages, and lifestyles.
We meet them during our travels – the receptionist, waiters, hotel staff, pilots, tour guides, fellow tourists etc. Sadly, there are still individuals who do not hold a favorable attitude to those who are different from them. Someone who is intolerant of others may find many difficulties during their travel.
It is the goal of the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta to address this concerns and travel with tolerance. On November 9 to 12, 2017, they will hold the second edition of the International Festival of Ibn Battuta to promote the legacy of world-renowned traveler Ibn Battuta, his journey and the ideals he believed in. To be held in the city of Tangier, this travel and cultural event will be a celebration of world culture, peace, and unity.
Visit http://ibnbattuta.ma/ to know how you can participate in the event.
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
When Travel teaches us Tolerance and Understanding
Traveling the world on long journeys will eventually open our eyes, change our perspective and will teach us tolerance. It is an effective tool to cultivate relationships from across many countries. World connections are realized when there’s flexibility. Enough patience and maturity that were adapted from the many experiences gathered along the road that teaches a traveler to appreciate and respect unique cultures, customs, and appearances. When a person who travels start to listen, share and work together, he becomes part of a community that grows, despite the difference but in point of fact due to diversity.
Sadly, the world is in dire need of tolerance and understanding. As many of us can observe from the news, there are many conflicts that are happening now in many countries. So the question is, “What can we do?” What actions should we take given the painful events that seem to be out of control? How can we be more compassionate?
Let’s start by connecting, reaching out to one another. We leave our comfort zones and open our hearts to the unfamiliar. We travel.
When we travel to a country with a culture that’s completely different from our own and decide to explore a certain place we tend to avoid, we uncover our preconceived beliefs to what is true and eventually develop an inquisitiveness to know more. We start building relationships with people and breaking down walls that have since separated us from one another. We set aside fear and choose tolerance instead.
It is through this that we acknowledge our differences and celebrate it. Throughout our travel journey, we realize that the more we know, the more we don’t know and it’s fine. Humanity is a gift. We need to treasure it to be part of a safe and progressive global community. We only have one home planet, so we might as well get along peacefully.
And therefore, we travel because the culture of traveling teaches us tolerance. All we need is an open our heart and a liberal mind.
Celebrating the culture of traveling in honor a renowned world traveler during pre-modern times, the Moroccan Association is inviting everyone to join on the Second Edition of International Festival of Ibn Battuta on November 9-12 2017 in Tangier, Morocco.
To know more about the event, visit their official website at https://ibnbattuta.ma/
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
Tangier, Meeting Point for Tolerance
Given the long tradition of religious freedom in the Kingdom of Morocco, the time honored presence of the Jewish community is very much evident in the country. At present, the community exists to confirm the importance of a multi-cultural society that King Mohammed VI encourages.
The Morocco king’s strategic resolve was to present democratic reforms and streamline the legal system so the country can progress to become an inclusive and inter-religious society.
Together with Morocco’s tradition of openness and tolerance, the country’s government sworn to protect the rights of religious minorities within the kingdom.
In particular, Tangier is a melting pot of cultures and global influences. It’s easy to access and scenic beauty – old medina, beaches, cafes have captivated foreign travelers and international artists. Its strategic location being a meeting point between Europe, Africa, and the Arab world makes up a great site of tolerance of varied multicultural communities.
Tangier is, in fact, the home of the first American diplomatic public property beyond the border of the U.S. since Morocco was the first country to acknowledge America’s independence in 1777. It is now a museum that showcases several art pieces, photos presenting the long relationship between Moroccans and Americans.
A city like no other. Tangier is African, European, Berber and Arab. It is an Islamic Kingdom where mosques, Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Anglican churches and synagogues coexist. It is in this very concept of unity and tolerance that inspired the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta to organize the 2nd Edition of the International Festival of Ibn Battuta under the theme “Travelers, the Ambassadors of Peace.”
Other than being a meeting point, Tangier is this year’s host city for the festivity. Moreover, it is also the homeland of the renowned world traveler Ibn Battuta whose ideals is to promote the culture of traveling to spread peace, tolerance, universal values and understanding between different races.
The organizing committee is inviting all travel enthusiasts and professionals to be one in celebration on November 9-12, 2017 at the city of Tangier, Morocco. It will be a 4-day festive social and informational activities on the legacy of Ibn Battuta and the many benefits of travel to attaining global peace.
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1
The Richness of Travel
There is a saying, “Traveling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”
Travel offers you things you cannot buy, like memories. It’s something you can’t buy with money – the feeling and the time you spent some place new, doing an activity that is so new to you, giving you your life’s firsts.
Travel also lets you grow as a person. When after tiring days from work and you decided to unwind, unplug from all things keeping your mind busy, you are giving yourself a time to recharge. So you get back to work as a better, more energized person with a clearer mindset.
When doing a solo travel, people get scared for you. But traveling lets you meet kind people who will restore your belief in humanity. You also learn to trust. Trust other people and trust yourself.
When on the road, there will be challenges you have to face. Fears you need to conquer, you have to push yourself to your limit because it will put your life into a much better perspective. You’ll never know your boundaries until you learn to face your fears.
Being able to travel satisfies your curiosity on so many things about the world. It lets you embrace the offerings on the other side of the world and you begin to understand how things work and why. You now see things through their eyes.
Self-confidence can also be gained when traveling most especially if you travel alone. And because you need to face your fears, you get back home much braver than before. You become a better version of yourself.
Going places also makes you realize how much luck you have. You see the many realities that life gives.
Traveling gives you happiness. And while only rich people can afford to travel years ago, today, traveling becomes much more pocket-friendly. Even flying in economy class can make you happy and with so much cheaper options online, it’s hard not to give in to that wanderlust.
Traveling is an investment. Why? Because it’s like a real life education – it teaches you much more than school and a 9 to 5 job. It’s an investment no one can take away from you but can share with anybody. When you get old and can no longer travel, it’s those interesting travel stories that you will tell to your grand kids, you share the memories invested in your mind and heart.
This year, a travel festival to be held in Tangier, Morocco will celebrate everything about the richness of travel. Inspired by the legendary Ibn Battuta, the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta is gearing up for the second edition of the International Festival of Ibn Battuta on November 9-12, 2017. Travel enthusiasts and professionals are invited to celebrate together with the international travel community.
Mohamed Dekkak
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MohamedDekkak1