Skip to content

Musings 2: Another Robust Year of Forgiveness and Peace

December 1, 2017 | Azim Khamisa | Comments Off on Musings 2: Another Robust Year of Forgiveness and Peace | ,
Another Robust Year of Forgiveness and Peace  
 
This month I celebrate another robust year of public presentations in the USA and abroad, where I was able to share the message of manifesting peace through the practice of forgiveness. Audiences included youth, university students and adults. Many milestones were reached. And with the grace of God, the work continues to flourish now as we approach the 23rd anniversary of the tragedy – January 21, 2018 – that spawned the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF.org). Most notably, here are some of the highlights of 2017:
  • TKF continues to grow under the leadership of Tasreen Khamisa, Executive Director, and Benita Page, our awesome Director of Programs. TKF reached 8470 students in 34 assemblies, plus many other students that participated in TKF’s Safe School Model, which is delivering exemplary results. The Safe School model comprises of four separate programs:
    1. A live assembly with Ples Felix and me.
    2. A 10-week in-classroom curriculum on restorative practices.
    3. The enactment of a Peace Club on the campus.
    4. A successful mentoring program for the challenging kids.

  • Besides teaching kids how to fix, repair relationships and heal from life’s trauma, TKF programs are reducing expulsion and suspension rates by 70 percent while teaching the important values of empathy, compassion, forgiveness and peacemaking.
  • Of notable mention is the fact that Tasreen and Benita presented at two back-to-back conferences on TKF’s Restorative Practices programs:
    1. International Institute of Restorative Practice World Conference (Pennsylvania)
    2. Association of Middle Level Education Conference (Philadelphia)
  • There was also a 4-hour training to San Diego county and Sweetwater school professionals conducted by Tasreen and Benita in December.
  • The interest from the participants worldwide was so intense it crashed the TKF’s website. It is fulfilling to see that restorative practices – a mainstay for TKF over the last 23 years – is finally in vogue in our schools, prisons and community.
  • One sad occurrence was the passing of my dear Mum on April 28 of this year. She was a rock in my life and is missed immensely. Living to 87, she lived a good life in Vancouver within in her own home, nurtured by my sister Neyleen in the latter times.
  • I am currently in the process of writing my fifth book “Satyagrahi Leadership” – a leadership book based on the practice of truth. Satyagrah, loosely translated as “loyalty to the truth,” is a particular form of nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term “satyagraha” was coined and developed by Mahatma Gandhi. Satyagrahi leaders are few and far between in the world we live today. My mother was an exemplary Satyagrahi leader as featured in Chapter One of my upcoming book, which is dedicated to her and her memory forever. She was my spiritual mentor and in many ways helped me through the ups and downs of life. She will forever live in my heart, thoughts and daily prayers. May the good Lord rest her soul in peace eternally.
  • On a celebratory note this year, Ples and I did a TED Talk in New Orleans in the beautiful Orpheum Theatre with a 5-camera shoot to over 900 participants. The presentation is a 14-minute talk, highly structured and professionally presented under the strictest constraints of TED rules and format. I have a tremendous respect for the TED organization, one that is truly changing the world with insig htful talks by the world’s best and most brilliant authentic presenters. It will be published on TED.com on January 19 to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of Tariq’s tragic death. Be sure to tune in and search at go.TED.com/azimandples and share widely with your friends, families and network.
  • I was honored to do more international presentations this year. This included several presentations in London and India and a corporate workshop on “How to Create Unity From Conflict” to a major corporation based in Dubai UAE. I am doing more work in corporations, as I do believe corporations have the resources to improve the quality of life in their communities by espousing and role-modeling these important values.
  • I was also able to deliver several keynote and workshop presentations as well as regular presentations to grade school and university students, upwards of over 60 presentations a year to tens of thousands of students who are our future leaders. My presentations teach six important values of how to become a nonviolent leader, committed in creating peace in their individual communities. It gives me a lot of hope that these principles are not only teachable, but something our students are hungry to learn.

  • Finally – after a long 15-year battle, the best news to share with you is that Tony Hicks, the person who took my son’s life, will finally be up in front of the parole board. This will take place October 2018 when Tony is 38. At this board, my daughter Tasreen, myself and others from TKF will be advocating for his release. Please send a prayer that this does manifest. We look forward to Tony joining TKF and working with TKF, his grandfather and me. He is a changed man and eagerly studying for his degree in Child Psychology. I know in my heart of hearts we have saved Tony, but more importantly he will save many thousands of young souls who might otherwise have followed his previous footsteps. I believe this well demonstrates the power of forgiveness! It also shows what is possible! I wonder how many more Tony’s can be similarly saved and contribute to society.

With that good news, I wish you all a peaceful, joyous and a blessed holiday season and a prosperous and a healthy 2018 with fun, laughter and good works!
Posted in ,

Azim Khamisa

Search

Categories

Click below to receive Azim's Monthly Musings in your inbox.

Subscribe