Ramadan reminds us that rejuvenation comes from where we are. We realize we can make it through a day - and eventually a month! — of fasting when it seems otherwise impossible. We acknowledge our existing strengths and capabilities to build personal spiritual revival. This translates into work as activists to meet others where they are, recognize their capacity, and their aspirations.

During the volatile years following the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, when soldiers and militias filled the roads, the veil literally saved my life. One scorching afternoon, a furious soldier stopped me; only when I covered my head did his posture change. “Excuse me, Sister,” he said, handing back my documents.

One of the most impactful aspects of the CWFL Fellowship was its thoughtful engagement with the relationship between faith and leadership. The program moved beyond viewing spirituality as a private matter and instead highlighted how faith traditions can actively inform inclusive leadership, peace building, and principled decision-making.

When Anna became a mother at just 19, she dreamed of giving her baby a safe and loving start in life. But as a single mother in Bucharest, with little support from her parents and no stable income, no money for rent or for her baby's milk, she was desperately vulnerable. During the first year of the pandemic, some high school colleagues reached out to her. They promised her help and “safe work from home” just by video chatting online…