Zena is a Persian-Iraqi poet who draws on her experiences as a former refugee to create her poetry — exploring ideas of home and belonging, exile and war. With a master’s in human rights and immigration, refugee rights form a central part of her poetry and her work.

She’s contributed to BBC Radio 2’s Pause For Thought, performed at the Poetry Cafe in the heart of London’s Covent Garden and Imperial College, London, for International Women’s Day. By day, Zena runs a refugee resettlement programme in London, and she also happens to be a trustee of Amos Trust!

Rakaya Fetuga is an award-winning poet and writer from London of Ghanaian and Nigerian heritage. She describes her work as depicting “women of the global majority through an ethereal lens”. You’ll hear broad concepts captured by tiny, sensory details that conjure up vivid moods of nostalgia, anger, joy, sorrow, and celebration in her work. 

Hopeful Read:

The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran

Hopeful Listens:

Modern Love — The New York Times (podcast)

Where Should We Begin — Esther Perel (podcast)

Hopeful Watch:

Oprah & Viola: A Netflix Special

Hopeful Anthem:

One Step At A Time — Jordin Sparks

The poems that Zena performed for us were called The Women Of My Country and My Lebanese Neighbour. The poems that Rakaya performed were called The World Is Yours (scroll to 52:49) and Why I Asked My Kid Self To Hang Out After School. You can follow Zena on Instagram and Twitter and Rakaya on Instagram and Twitter. You can find out more about SUFRA here.

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We Do Hope regulars, journalist Jessie McDonald and director/producer Tilly Reith, chat to climate activist Disha Ravi from India. Disha’s work involves organising activism around climate and environmental education and promoting understanding of the issues of intersectional climate justice.

Disha Does Hope: Climate activist Disha Ravi

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Disha Ravi works with Fridays For Future India, FFF MAPA (Most Affected People and Areas) and FFF International. FFF India is a movement started in India to demonstrate the power of the youth regarding the climate crisis. She has been featured in Vogue for her environmental activism and is a freelance writer who has written think pieces on climate change for The Independent and Al Jazeera.

Hopeful Read:

Enid Blyton 

Hopeful Watch:

Attack On Titan (Anime)

Hopeful Listen:

Hot Take with Mary Annaïse Heglar and Amy Westervelt (Podcast)

Poetry Unbound (Spotify Channel)

Hopeful Anthem:

Ghar — Bharat Chauhan

You can follow Disha on Instagram and Twitter. Please visit the Friday’s For Future website for more details about Disha’s work.

Please follow us on the socials at Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and also rate, review and share this episode across your socials or with a friend. Thanks!

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Ellen Logan is one of the directors and main organisers of The Big Ride for Palestine. This annual cycle protest involves hundreds of riders cycling across parts of the UK to raise awareness of Palestine rights. Initiated in 2015 by activists who wanted to combine their love of cycling with Palestine solidarity, The Big Ride has grown exponentially year on year, attracting people of all ages, ethnicities, religions, backgrounds and nationalities. Ellen has been campaigning on issues in Palestine since 2015, following three months of living and working in Ramallah and Birzeit. You can follow Ellen on Instagram and Twitter. 

Linzy Na Nakorn is a dance/theatre-maker and community organiser based in Bristol. She primarily uses her skills across the arts to create socially engaged performance that seeks to challenge, advocate for and expand on conversations around care, resistance, housing, disability and collectivism. She has been an organiser/volunteer with The Big Ride since the summer of 2021, contributing to the rides outreach, cultural and community engagement. You can follow Linzy on Instagram and Twitter. 

Noor Thabet was appointed as an Administrative Officer at uMake in 2022, a Palestinian entrepreneurship support organisation that helps entrepreneurs and startups across Palestine. She is currently The Big Ride for Palestine Ambassador. She helped raise £80,000 to build further secure playgrounds for children in Gaza. You can follow Noor on Instagram and Twitter.

To find out more and to sign up to The Big Ride for Palestine, please visit their website here.

Hopeful Read:

Bending The Rules by Rafique Gangat

Hopeful Watch:

Journey to Jagdula by Jordan Caroll

Hopeful Listen:

The Blindboy podcast

Hopeful Anthem:

Free Palestine by Lowkey

To find out more about The Big Ride for Palestine and to follow their socials, please visit their website here.

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