Follow-up — Esra'a Al Shafei, Founder & Director of Majal.org | Bahrain

By: Laura Hennawi, The Fem Word Contributor

For Pride Month, The Fem Word followed up with the 2018 Vital Voices Global Leadership Award winner Esra’a Al Shafei, founder of majal.org, a platform that amplifies the voices of underrepresented and marginalized communities in the Middle East, including the LGBTQ+ community. The video interview above is from our chat with Esra’a in 2018, and the written responses below are updates from her two and a half years later in 2021.

NOTE: Esra’a remains anonymous out of an abundance of caution for her safety.

Laura Hennawi: You said that you wanted “a space where we did not feel isolated because of our differences because of our backgrounds, political, religious, sexuality, and so on.” How has majal.org continued to build an inclusive space that empowers and amplifies underrepresented and marginalized voices in the Middle East?

Esra’a Al Shafei: Every platform we have built is centered around community. For example, we created a space for marginalized communities, such as Syrian refugees, to tell their stories through music and podcasts. We also utilized game mechanics to enable LGBTQ+ individuals in the Middle East to engage with others without the constant fear of trolling. These platforms are still going strong over a decade later, and it remains a priority for us to ensure that marginalized communities continue to have a growing and safe presence online. 

We always felt it was more sustainable and impactful if communities were supported with resources and spaces to speak and advocate in their own voices. 

Laura: How have you grown as an individual alongside the platform that you started in 2015?

Esra’a: I've learned a lot about resilience and overcoming burnout. Working in a challenging space with very limited resources takes a huge toll on our minds and bodies, and it is important to recognize those warning signs and know how and when to slow down. We're not going to win every battle, but we need to preserve the strength to keep fighting long-term. 

For the full interview from Spring 2018, please click on the link: https://www.thefemword.world/her-story/esraa-al-shafei

Esra’a Al Shafei

To learn more about Esra’a Al Shafei and majal.org, check out this article from The Fem Word back in 2018, or go to https://majal.org/.

PHOTO CREDIT: GAYLE KABAKER

THIS INTERVIEW WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FEM WORD X VITAL VOICES PARTNERSHIP. VITAL VOICES INVESTS IN FEARLESS WOMEN LEADERS WITH A DARING VISION, AND PARTNERS WITH THEM TO MAKE THAT VISION A REALITY. THE FEM WORD BROADCASTS STORIES OF BOLD WOMEN IN CREATIVE SPACES AND HAS PARTNERED WITH VITAL VOICES TO BRING THESE STORIES TO YOU.