This October, ETA Neelam Vohra began a Study club with the university students who co-taught at SMKN 3 these past few months. Despite having gotten to know them a bit in school, the space Study club allowed, definitely brought a new level of closeness.

During the first meeting, they all watched a TED Talks given by Dalia Mogahed recommended by a fellow ETA. In it, Dalia discussed what her experience being Muslim in America was after 9/11 and since. The conversations that followed the video were intense at times and surprisingly intimate. Emotions flowed from the discussions and exchange about Muslims in America and what it’s like to be Muslim in Indonesia. By the middle of the meeting, some had tears in their eyes. Neelam, too, had tears while expressing how grateful she was to be surrounded by these friends willing to listen to her experiences.

Neelam Vohra is currently teaching at SMKN 3 Pangkalpinang, Bangka-Belitung