Strengtening the identity of young Muslims in Poland?

Warsaw, Poland: 2 June 2024

The project “Let’s Empower Muslim Women and Children from Minorities and Let Them Talk About Themselves, Get to Know Each Other, and the Place They Live In” is carried out by the Muslim Religious Community in Białystok, Poland. The main goals of the project are to empower Muslim women, integrate them into society, share culinary heritage, exchange experiences, provide support and education, and familiarize them with the history of Poland, including Tatar settlements. The project also aims to integrate Muslim children and youth, help them discover their identity, and connect them with their surroundings. The education of Muslim children and youth about their identity through workshops and a trip to Warsaw is intended to encourage them to reflect and answer the question: “Who am I?”

On June 2nd, a trip to Warsaw took place, attended by children from the Polish, Crimean Tatar, and Chechen Tatar minorities. While children from the Polish minority have often had the opportunity to visit the capital of their homeland, for those from the Crimean Tatar or Chechen minorities, this was their first such experience. These children were born in their home countries, which they often do not remember, as they were raised in Poland, attend school here, and speak fluent Polish. Due to financial reasons, they often do not participate in school trips or travel anywhere with their parents. By organizing this trip, the goal was to show the children a part of Polish history enclosed within the walls of the Royal Castle, so they could feel the atmosphere of the Old Town and visit the Tatar Muslim Cemetery in Warsaw. This cemetery holds many stories of important Muslim figures who have made significant contributions to Polish history. Additionally, it was crucial to foster integration, fun, and the creation of beautiful memories. An additional part of the trip included a discussion with the children, during which they wrote down their answers and reflections on the question: “Who am I?”

They considered various aspects of their lives: family, community, religion, education, passions, life goals, and values that are important to them and how these influence who they are. All these activities aimed to show the children that they should cherish their traditions and culture while also educating themselves and being part of European society.