My Inclusive World – MyMaximus

 

“Sustainable mankind is the ask where, We, as humans practice diversity, equity, and inclusion as an integral part of our tapestry called Humanity. Try thinking how it would feel to be in an abyss where you are discriminated against, marginalized, & excluded. Let’s imbibe inclusion as a mantra and not label anyone, they have names! God knows the world needs sustainability in every aspect, especially mankind!”

April 2024 marked the beginning of a very memorable and heartwarming journey that was connected to my soul’s purpose on this earth, “Serving Mankind.” I remember meeting a mother, a resilient woman and a visionary, Nahid Mudathir Hassan, who against all odds had fought battles to keep her non-verbal severely autistic son who had turned 18 under her dependent visa because as per the rules of land he had to be out of being a dependent under her visa as soon as he was 18. As she struggled to get these laws changed to keep him under visa as a dependent, her heart took a nosedive and soared like an eagle to come up with the idea of MyMaximus, a vocational training center for people of determination, as she never wanted any mother or any child to suffer like her and her inspiration, Ahmed. I joined the center and today as Head of Business Development and Corporate Training, I pen down my brief but soul-stirring journey with these lovely souls, who I believe are God’s children. Serving them has enriched my life in more ways than one.

As I walk through the vibrant halls of MyMaximus, I am constantly reminded of the rich tapestry we create together—a blend of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This month, as we have a dedication of this issue of “The Junior Trumpet” to the essence of compassion and inclusivity, I reflect on the words of my own quotation above that resonate deeply within me: “Sustainable mankind is the ask and it has to become an integral part of our tapestry called Humanity.”

Each student I meet carries a unique story, a thread that weaves into the fabric of our community. Take, for example, Lamees, who shares her passion for environmental science. She speaks passionately about creating a world where every voice is heard, where solutions are built on collaboration rather than division. Her journey, filled with challenges, serves as a reminder of what it feels like to be marginalized. It sparks in me a deep desire to ensure that every student, like Lamees, knows they belong here. Andrea on the other hand wants to be a psychologist and speaks about anti-bullying polices while Mariam Ashraf speaks about art as a therapy.

In another corner, I find Vinayak, an aspiring artist, whose work captures the beauty of his cultural heritage. His art not only reflects his identity but also invites others to see the world through his eyes. As he shares his creations, I see the importance of inclusion vividly painted across the canvas of our Academy. Vinayak’s story reminds us to think about the abyss of exclusion—how painful it must be to feel invisible. We must strive to ensure that every student feels valued, understood, and celebrated. Noa is another young lad who aspires to be a graphic designer while we have Ahmed Yaghi who wants to go into film making. I could go on and on about each child but these pages will not be enough. Each and every child that walk the halls have so much more abilities that we as human beings need to appreciate rather than exclude them and label them with ADD, ADHD, etc. Just imagine how it would be if we were to be named hypertensive, diabetic, heart failure, psoriatic and so on; wouldn’t that hurt us and humiliate us? Who are we to label these beautiful creatures designed by the creator himself?

As we continue to foster an environment where diversity thrives, let’s remember the importance of names. Behind each label lies a person with dreams, fears, and aspirations. I urge all of us to imbibe inclusion as a mantra, recognizing the power of connection in our shared humanity.

The world desperately needs sustainability—not just in terms of the environment, but in how we treat one another. At MyMaximus, we have the opportunity to cultivate compassion, ensuring that our community becomes a sanctuary for all. Together, let’s weave a future where everyone is seen, heard, and uplifted. Today as you skim through the pages of this magazine, I hope we have succeeded in opening your eyes into a world of these lovely souls that have poured their hearts into submitting a piece of themselves for the world to see, accept and respect them for who they are rather than who they want them to be. I am indeed humbled to walk with them and aspire to make a difference in others’ lives the way these lovely angels have made in mine.

In celebrating our students, let’s honor their stories and commit to nurturing a space where equity and inclusion aren’t just ideals but lived realities. Here, at MyMaximus, we’re not just building an Academy; we’re crafting a legacy of sustainable kindness for generations to come. We encourage each of you who read this to spread this far and wide to educate and enrich people’s knowledge about being an inclusive world and a sustainable mankind without which humanity will definitely need a reset button. I am grateful and indebted to the editor of this magazine, Purva Grover, for the honour she has given us and our students. Thank you for gifting us this edition and thank you all for the precious gift of your time. We invite all of you in our world whenever you would like to be a part of it.

 

Kavitha “Kay” Srinivasan