Stories
CHILL Clips
Ugeshni - Enginner, Social media and Holistic living
Muslim women lead. Anjuman’s story is a powerful example of that fact,. Over the past 15 years, she has made a positive impacted to New Zealand education, particularly in special education, proving that Muslim women can and do hold leadership roles effectively and inspirationally.
Muslim Women Leaders—Meet Anjuman
Muslim women lead. Anjuman’s story is a powerful example of that fact,. Over the past 15 years, she has made a positive impacted to New Zealand education, particularly in special education, proving that Muslim women can and do hold leadership roles effectively and inspirationally.
Originally from Fiji, Anjuman has dedicated 14 years to special education in New Zealand, now serving as an Assistant Principal. Her leadership journey, from a secondary school science teacher in Fiji to a senior leader in New Zealand, is marked by her commitment to staff management, curriculum development, and enhancing student achievement.
Like many female leaders, she balances her profession life with being a wife and a mother. As a family, they enjoy hiking, cooking, and spending quality time together.
Anjuman’s resilience and drive are truly inspiring. She makes a difference for her students, colleagues, and the wider community. Her commitment to inclusive education and staff development is creating a better future for many. IWCNZ would like to encourage more people from all communities Anjuman’s path to support inclusive education. We appreciate the work Whaikaha does and also highlight this research on Disability studies in and for inclusive teacher education in Aotearoa New Zealand. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13603116.2021.1882059
There has a notable underrepresentation of Muslim women in leadership roles in New Zealand. Addressing this gap requires inclusive leadership practices and providing platforms for diverse voices. Understanding this, IWCNZ has been working to address barriers and to increase the preparation of Muslim women in the leadership space, having successfully mentored 28 aspiring Muslimah leaders.
Generally, women in leadership roles often face challenges, including gender biases and underrepresentation. The work that the Ministry for Women does is vital to progress in New Zealand. In roads have been made the public sector and we look forward to further progress in private section. For more information visit https://www.women.govt.nz/women-and-leadership
If you hear someone say “Muslim women can’t lead”… just CHILL and share Anjuman’s story
MUSLIM WOMAN SPREADS WORD ON HOLISTIC LIVING
Migrating from South Africa to New Zealand over two decades ago, Ugeshni has faced life’s challenges and growth with courage, proactiveness and vision. After entering Islam in 2013, Ugeshni also embraced a new path that led her to discover holistic living—a lifestyle that she openly and vocally advocates for today.
Struggling with PCOS and depression, Ugeshni sought ways to improve her own well-being. This led her to holistic living, an approach that considers the whole person—mind, body, and soul. Through attending a range of courses, lectures, and seminars, she gained knowledge about maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle. She engages in activities such as gymming, hiking, and biking to maintain her physical fitness. Additionally, she grows her own organic vegetables and makes her own bread and meals from scratch, guarantees that what she consumes is nutritious and wholesome.
Ugeshni actively shares her insights on social media, where she educates and inspires others to improve their wellbeing and to embrace holistic living. Her social media content includes tips on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being. Her work is garnering a quality following as Ugeshni uses her platform to make a positive impact.
As a solution-maker, Ugeshni embodies a ‘wholistic’ living philosophy and simply “hikes by” negative stereotypes about Muslim women’s passivity and inactivity. Her self-sufficiency and influential social media presence further dismantle the misconceptions of dependency and limited public engagement. Her work is help to ensure Muslim women’s voices are heard.
The underrepresentation and misrepresentation of Muslim women in media has been an issue in globally and in New Zealand. Specifically, the research confirms that media often uses negative portrayals of Islam and Muslims, frequently excluding or distorting actual Muslim voices, and reinforcing stereotypes through visual imager Global research also confirms that Muslims are underrepresented (25% of population yet just over 1% representation), often portrayed as violent or exotic, and Muslim women, when they do appear. are typically shown in submissive roles.
An example of NZ-based research can be found here https://ojs.aut.ac.nz/pacific-journalism-review/article/view/419
USC Annenberg research here: https://womensmediacenter.com/fbomb/muslim-representation-on-screen-has-a-long-way-to-go
Nesra - Educator and Community Leader
We would like to present to you Nesra, an educator and community leader, as the second participant in our CHILL Campaign.
From arriving in New Zealand as a child without English to becoming a primary school teacher, Nesra has been a role model in education for six years now. Her story challenges stereotypes, showing that Muslim women are contributors to education and to New Zealand society. Her innovative teaching methods and commitment to inclusion are making a positive difference in her students’ lives and the wider community.
Outside of school, Nesra also supports the Somali community and promotes educational opportunities. She authored “Ko wai au?” for junior primary students, extending her impact on education. The book, which is part of a series collaboratively created by IWCNZ and the Ministry of Education, includes resources for teachers and can be found online here: https://newzealandcurriculum.
Diverse educators like Nesra are essential, as highlighted by the Education Review Office’s 2023 report. They serve as role models, bring cultural competence, and build stronger community connections, benefiting all students academically and socially.
https://ero.govt.nz/our-
Explore more about the CHILL Campaign and how to challenge Islamophobic language at our website justchill.org.nz.
Samadiana - Gymnastic and Nursing Student
The Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand knows many that already do that, and we want to give a shoutout and appreciation to all the coaches, outdoor instructors, teachers and providers who are welcoming to diverse participants. At IWCNZ, we especially highlight Kate from First Step Outdoors who has worked with us to find those solutions for over 16 years, getting IWCNZ members scaling cliffs, paddling rivers, trekking through forests, and skiing down mountains. So when someone says, “Muslim women can’t,” please CHILL! And let them know, we’ve got this.
If you’re looking for advice on how to Challenge Islamophobic Language and Loathing, please visit www.justchill.org.nz Special appreciation goes to: DPMC, EYES AND EARS, Calvin and Ankita.