People benefit from a Common Purpose course in many different
ways. For some it is a sense of self-confidence that emerges.
Others point to a specific piece of advice that transformed the way
they thought. Some argue that being taken out of your comfort zone
is a powerful and enriching experience.
For Reedah El-Saie it was the moment she was reminded of just
how important it is to communicate with people, especially when you
are with people from very different walks of life.
"The one thing that the course was brilliant at, was that it
forced you to network. Scenarios are set up so that you understand
others and tell participants about yourself. This type of
networking is always something I enjoyed as it enabled a greater
and more holistic understanding of the world around us."
And Reedah, who founded the Mica Gallery, which is
dedicated to Modern Islamic & Contemporary Art, used her
networking skills extensively when she launched an international
art competition in the run up to the 2012 Olympics Games, which is
proving so popular she had to extend the closing date because so
many people wanted to enter.
"My Place on the Isle: Exploring Faith & Identity in
Britain" turned into a high powered event boasting judges
including Rebecca Wilson from Saatchi Online and Roxane Zand from
Sothebys. Reedah describes the competition as the "baby that
has come out of the Common Purpose experience". She also
pointed out that the course had given her the opportunity to
examine the way she did things:
"I could see the potential synergy between my voluntary
experience, government advisory work and the business world".
By combining elements of all theses different spheres of life
Reedah launched the art competition, which is now planning
workshops in deprived areas in the 9 main regions of the UK.
But Reedah did add one important rider to her praise for the way
that Common Purpose had helped. "Anyone who goes on a course
will benefit hugely, as long as they have an open mind."
