Collectiva Shamila (Arabic for inclusive) is a transnational collective of women engaged in multidimensional community building. the Collectiva was established by sharq.org in 2022 with an initial cohort of thirty women living across the Arabic speaking region. they engaged in peer-to-peer learning and met twice a month over the course of a year and together explored the myriad ways in which women’s participation in society and politics had been thwarted. they then documented what they had learned and reflected on and co-created taboohat: a series of fifty essays and articles about taboos that challenge women’s opportunities and leadership. the essays were translated (by people) into five languages to facilitate and reflect the inclusion that sharq.org strives towards in all endeavours.
Collectiva Shamilla was initiated in 2022 by sharq.org in a bid to enhance transnational collective action. invited to name the collective themselves, the first cohort of members chose the word Shamila, meaning inclusive in Arabic. members include both experienced and youth actionists from diverse demographic backgrounds who meet regularly to brainstorm and build as a collective. they are also assigned buddies and mentors within their cohort, facilitating participation in both peer-to-peer and guided learning exchanges.
collectively members enhance skills in community building, advocacy, collaborative action, co-creation and leadership through tailored training workshops and seminars while engaging in transnational efforts to create initiatives and learning resources for the benefit of a wider community of changemakers they seek to nurture and be nurtured by.
the first cohort produced taboohat: a digital collection of fifty essays and articles that aims to address unconscious biases that promote othering by exploring a multitude of taboos that often prevent women from active socio-political participation. topics explored include work, abortion, and harassment.
the second cohort will convene in 2026 and collectively decide what they will spend the year (2026) co-creating and we at sharq.org will support and facilitate opportunities for all to co-explore, co-learn and co-create through facilitation, mentoring, editing and dissemination.
