Olive Tree Foundation announces grant to support 14 & Muslim Documentary Engagement Initiative

The Olive Tree Foundation is pleased to announce that it has awarded a grant to support the project, 14 & Muslim Documentary Engagement Initiative in Ottawa.

14 & Muslim is a critically acclaimed CBC documentary that explores what it means to be Muslim in Canada through the eyes of three Muslim teens entering high school.

The film looks at Islamophobia in the classroom and in society and emphasizes the importance of building inter-faith and inter-personal tolerance and mutual respect.  

The project will utilize the film as an engagement tool for positive social change with a focus on students, parents, citizens, and leaders in the Greater Ottawa Area.  

“The Olive Tree Foundation’s support for the 14 & Muslim documentary enables us to engage with Ottawa-based educators, parents, civic leaders, and most importantly Ottawa’s Muslim and non-Muslim youth,” said Nabeel Ahmed, President, The Tessellate Institute. “The grant helps scale a popular public engagement initiative in the Greater Toronto Area expanding to support productive conversations in the Ottawa area around the importance of building allyship and standing up against Islamophobia in communities, institutions, and schools.”  

“We are delighted to build on The Tessellate Institute’s past work on Islamophobia in the public education system.”  

The main activities of the project will take place during Islamic Heritage Month this October (2019) and include a public screening of the documentary followed by an expert panel discussion; three major partnerships with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) that will include screenings for grade 7/8/9 students and facilitated post screening activities, as well as professional development sessions with OCDSB teachers around the film and the 14 & Muslim Educator’s Resource Guide.  

“The Olive Tree Foundation is very pleased to fund the 14 & Muslim Documentary Engagement Initiative in Ottawa,” says Muneeb Nasir, Chair of the Olive Tree Foundation, in announcing the grant. “With the rise of Islamophobia and hate incidents, this project will increase public knowledge and understanding about the lived experience of Canadian Muslims.”   

The project funders and supporters are Department of Canadian Heritage, Olive Tree Foundation, Inspirit Foundation, National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and Tessellate Institute. The Ottawa Outreach Partners are the Ottawa Muslim Women’s Organization, Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Ottawa Carleton District School Board.

The Olive Tree Foundation is a philanthropic foundation that promotes community development through the collection of endowed funds and charitable contributions to fund services for the long-term benefit of the community.