Taufique\u2019s connection with Rubaroo began in a rather unanticipated way. It was his professor who first mentioned the organization, and although initially uninterested, Taufique decided to apply. “I had recently been removed from a society, and I was feeling a bit upset. So, I just filled out the form without much thought,”<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When he received a call from Neha, informing him that he had been selected for a workshop on interfaith dialogue, Taufique\u2019s attitude remained indifferent. He even arrived half an hour late, thinking he would be turned away for his tardiness. However, much to his surprise, he found that the facilitators were running late too. The day began with an icebreaker activity, “human bingo,”<\/em> and Taufique immediately felt intrigued by the interactive approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the workshop progressed, discussing topics like stereotypes, human rights, and safeguarding, Taufique realized there was something unique about this program. “It was new, something we don\u2019t usually get to learn at university. It felt worth it,”<\/em> he reflected. By the end of the session, he was already planning to return the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second day brought even more impactful concepts. Taufique was introduced to the idea of \u201csafe spaces,\u201d<\/em> a concept he had never encountered before. \u201cRubaroo gives you a space where you can talk without fear or judgment. You can speak freely, without stereotypes,\u201d<\/em> he explained. This concept of a \u2018fifth space\u2019<\/em> \u2013 a place for open dialogue without fear – became a cornerstone of his Rubaroo experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taufique\u2019s engagement with Rubaroo didn\u2019t stop at workshops. He soon joined the organization\u2019s volunteer programme and later became part of Rubaroo with Gender, where he learned about gender and sexuality. For someone raised in a society where such topics were considered taboo, this was a major eye-opener. “Talking about sexuality was a big deal for me. It was something I didn\u2019t know much about,” <\/em>he admitted. But Rubaroo helped him embrace these difficult discussions with an open mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taufique also credits Rubaroo with teaching him invaluable life skills, especially time management. During his internship, he encountered a challenging but essential lesson. “Monisha used to scold me about being late, and I learned that time management is crucial. If you\u2019re working, you have to manage your time,”<\/em> he said. This lesson would later serve him well in his professional life, where he now takes only two days off in six months of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taufique\u2019s journey didn\u2019t just stop with personal development. The knowledge and experiences he gained at Rubaroo were directly applicable in his professional life. In his current role at a rights-based NGO, he has implemented many learnings from Rubaroo, including POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) guidelines, consent, and understanding gender and diversity. “Before Rubaroo, we didn\u2019t really understand consent. Now, I apply that knowledge every day,”<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He shared how Rubaroo’s teachings shaped his ability to connect with people, both personally and professionally. “What I learned at Rubaroo helps me every day \u2013 whether I\u2019m talking to people in the office or in the field,”<\/em> Taufique said, emphasizing the real-world value of these skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked about the tangible impact of Rubaroo\u2019s work, Taufique was clear. “Rubaroo is not just about knowledge; it\u2019s about showing you a path to make a difference,” <\/em>he explained. Through his network, Taufique has witnessed many Rubaroo alumni working on the ground, creating change in their communities. He mentioned friends like Kamal Naik, who went on to start the organization Good Universe<\/em>, as well as others who have made significant contributions in the fields of social justice and interfaith work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The influence of Rubaroo stretches far beyond the initial workshops. Taufique reflected, “Rubaroo gives people the tools to continue working in the field, even if they don\u2019t have all the knowledge. The impact is visible, and it\u2019s evident in the work that Rubaroo fellows are doing today.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflecting on his own experience, Taufique shared a piece of advice for those considering joining Rubaroo. “Patience is key,”<\/em> he emphasized. “In today\u2019s fast-paced world, we want quick results, but Rubaroo teaches you to be patient and commit to the learning process. You have to start from scratch, but it\u2019s worth it.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For Taufique, Rubaroo was more than just a learning experience; it was a catalyst for growth, understanding, and impact. As he continues his work today, Taufique carries the lessons from Rubaroo, knowing they will guide him in creating positive change in the world around him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a conversation with Taufique, a passionate individual whose journey with Rubaroo marked several shifts, he shared the story of how he first encountered the organization and how it shaped his personal and professional growth. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":407,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[19,16,14,10,13,22,11,17],"class_list":["post-334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-impact-stories","tag-confidence","tag-empowerment","tag-gender","tag-impact-stories","tag-interfaith","tag-opportunity","tag-rubaroo","tag-social-change"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Black-and-White-Blog-Banner-67.png?fit=2240%2C1260&ssl=1",2240,1260,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Black-and-White-Blog-Banner-67.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Black-and-White-Blog-Banner-67.png?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Black-and-White-Blog-Banner-67.png?fit=768%2C432&ssl=1",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Black-and-White-Blog-Banner-67.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Black-and-White-Blog-Banner-67.png?fit=1536%2C864&ssl=1",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Black-and-White-Blog-Banner-67.png?fit=2048%2C1152&ssl=1",2048,1152,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"Faiz Jiwani","author_link":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/author\/faiz-jiwani\/"},"category_info":"Impact Stories<\/a>","tag_info":"Impact Stories","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Black-and-White-Blog-Banner-67.png?fit=2240%2C1260&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=334"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":449,"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/334\/revisions\/449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Learning Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Impact on His Professional Journey<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Impact on the Ground<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Advice for New Participants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"CTA\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.rubaroo.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Screenshot-353.png?resize=1024%2C360\")
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