Initiator: Sheikh Kazimjon Mukhamedov, Imam Hatib of the Spiritual Department of Muslims of Ukraine in Kherson and the region, participant of the Dialogue in Action 1.0

Where: Kherson

Result: establishing contacts between believers and spiritual leaders, returning to traditional practice, opening a chaykhona near the mosque for communion after Namaz

Details of cooperation: Sheikh Kazimjon shared with us the desire to unite believers of different ethnic groups who came to Juma Namaz every Friday but had no additional opportunity to stay and establish communication and cooperation within the religious community. And this could help exchange ideas and create new jobs.

Therefore, our facilitators held several meetings in the mosque, where Aksakals and names from villages and villages of Kherson region first gathered. After several days of dialogue training and engaging active women in the community, we managed not only to establish contacts between believers and spiritual leaders, but also to return to traditional practice. Thus, with the support of Sheikh Kazim, a chaykhona was organized at the mosque — a tea zone where believers could stay after prayer and communicate in an informal atmosphere. At the same time, Muslims began inviting neighbors from the private sector of Kherson to tea, to share lunch and meat with them on the holiday of Kurban-Bayram, so that they could get to know them directly and not be afraid of dialogue.

Later, posters appeared in the prayer hall of the mosque based on our trainings, which were intended to remind of the principles of restorative communication and inspire its use in life. For us, it is an inspiring story of collaboration about the cohesion and strength of a small community, where sometimes it is enough just to recall and revisit everyday practices that have been effective for centuries.

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