That’s how it all started…
I was six years old – second grade. A new classmate joined us in May, I even remember the exact date: twelfth of May. I was wearing a yellow dress. The teacher asked him to sit next to me and we spent the whole day together. I was showing him around the place, we also played. On the next day, when I walked up the stairs, everyone was staring at me, and that’s how it started. I was bullied for the rest of primary school because I was friends with a Roma kid.
Now, after ten years, I am sixteen years old and I am still having the flashbacks of the bullying. I am just the voice of a young girl, but I have a story and message that must be heard, one which I hope can influence change amongst every generation.
Tonight I am praying in every language, every religion. Tonight Earth, I am talking to you. I am ashamed to even cry, because my tears cannot solve a thing. My being cannot accept how people are being judged by their skin colours, their needs or sexuality. We all come to this world as blank papers, where society helps us create the unique person we are, with different approach of how we see things. Even identical twins are not so identical.
We are living on the era of diversity. Yes, you got it right! It is the biggest treasure we as humans have. We should celebrate our differences, because as they say ‘’two minds are better than one’’, but imagine having twelve, twenty minds who are working together to solve a problem.
Us, here, are the generation of equality. We won’t make the same mistakes of the past and want to make a difference and lead a revolution which will lead to us to a better mixed, inclusive society where everyone, no matter their social background can be given the same opportunities in life as the rest of us. But before we can make this change, we need to make our message clear and need you to question why social inclusion is so vital for a modern society?
For at least once put yourself in the shoes of a disabled person who cannot move around freely. For at least once imagine being judged for loving someone. Discriminating against people for being themselves, for living the life they want goes against the core beliefs of a democracy where all people should be treated equally.
If you feel you should do something, if you think what I’m saying is right, stand up and fight with me!
Dardan Berisha
Luke Henderson
Maria Boboc
Morgan Blake
Rina Kadiri
Sidar Demirbas
