Below is an article written by our granddaughter, Kosovare Ibrahimaj, responding to my question of how does it feel to join the board. The article speaks for itself and certainly makes Muna and I very proud of our grandchildren.
Basem Hishmeh
As the newest generation to be brought into the Muna and Basem Hishmeh Foundation, we recognize that there is a responsibility that comes with our new titles. My cousins, Blake (24) and Brady (22) Hishmeh, my brother, Nimon lbrahimaj (25), and I, Kosovare lbrahimaj (23), have had the chance to watch our grandparents bring joy to children's lives through their foundation, which brings music, dance, and art to the children of Palestine and underprivileged children throughout the US.
Our family wouldn't exist had our grandparents not been helped to come to America, and that alone has given us a different perspective on life. We were born with the knowledge that we are only here because of the goodness of others, and to truly honor the help we were given, we now have this goodness to pass along.
I was tasked with writing this article as one of my first introductions to my family's work. "How does it feel to be on the board of directors?" was the subject of the email sent from my grandfather. To say I was nervous to write this is an understatement. It all boiled down to this: What is the best way to introduce us that shows we are ready for our new roles? I turned to my cousins and brothers to see what they thought about it all.
To Blake, it strengthens his pride in our Palestinian ancestry. "I might have blonde hair and light skin, but I'm Palestinian and no one can take that away from me. We were brought up Palestinian, we ate Arabic food, we grew up in an Arabic household, and now we get to give back to our community and continue to contribute the way our grandparents taught us."
Brady shared this sentiment, adding that he is "incredibly proud to be a part of this foundation because of the sense of purpose it instills within us. Being able to give back to a community so rich in culture and strong at heart, along with the amazing talents of the children lends credence to a better and brighter future." He is "honored, and humbled, to be able to participate."
Pride is a strong driving force in our family, as Nimon's excitement stems from being "proud to be a part of something our grandparents started. Getting to learn about our heritage from people who have given back to their community is inspiring" and he "hopes to live up to their example."
Then there's how I feel about my new role. Simple answer, it feels pretty darn great! Like my cousins and brother, I also share their pride in our grandparents and our heritage. I now have more opportunities to bring the goodness given to our family into the lives of others. I've been waiting for this time to come where I can really be involved in making the world a better place, and what better first step than this one!
As for the not so simple answer, it feels ... layered. On one hand, yes, it is simply wonderful to be part of such an amazing organization. On another hand, it feels almost bittersweet. It means that there is still a need for charity work to be present in this world. It means that Palestinian children are still struggling. It means the occupation of Palestine is still alive and well. It means that injustice and human rights violations are still happening.
So ... where does that leave me?
It leaves me feeling motivated. It leaves our family feeling motivated. No occupation, no apartheid, no social or human injustice will stand in the way of my family. My grandparents created this foundation not just to bring music and art to children, but to give them more purpose in life. To open doors that were previously closed or nonexistent. And now we get to be part of that legacy.
While the four of us- Blake, Brady, Nimon, and myself- are becoming directors of the foundation, there's two more that aren't far behind us. My cousin Hayden Hishmeh (19) and my younger brother llir lbrahimaj (19) are well on their way to making an impact in the world, and their time to shine with the foundation will soon follow. Although not on the board of directors yet, the excitement they share for their futures with us is not lost. "Being able to actively participate in, and having an actual role in, the foundation" is just one of the many reasons llir will be happy about becoming a director. Hayden shares this enthusiasm as well, stating "the arts have the ability to change a person's reality. As a board member I'll have even more of an opportunity to help improve these children’s' lives."
With these new titles comes new responsibilities. The responsibility to uphold the integrity of the foundation. The responsibility to help this foundation age and grow long beyond our time with it. And the responsibility to use our privilege as a tool to keep Palestinian and American children at the center of the discussion because not so long ago, our grandparents were those children. They created this foundation knowing what life is like in the children’s' shoes. They raised us to know how incredibly lucky we are that we only know of these harsh circumstances through stories and not experiences. They raised us to understand the importance of giving back to the community that gave them a chance at freedom. They taught us that with knowledge comes the responsibility to spread that knowledge, and in spreading that knowledge comes progress, and from that progress real change can happen. That is their legacy. That is what the bones of this foundation are made from. And we intend to keep it that way.
So, Sido, how does it feel to be on the board of directors? It feels like it's about time.