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Fatimah Mulla

Markham, ON

Fatimah is an Addictions and Mental Health Counsellor currently working at Kids Help Phone and Canadian Muslim Counselling. In addition to her work as a counsellor, Fatimah has served as an Ocean Ambassador with Ocean Wise, a Canadian environmental charity focusing on the health of our waterways. She developed and facilitated a 6-week nature-based group therapy program called “Healing with Nature” for BIPOC Muslim women in the GTA. She aims to empower Muslims to connect with and lean into the natural world for healing and ultimately inspire a sense of eco-responsibility for our planet. She has also created an Instagram page @MuslimsForEarth where she creates a safe space to amplify BIPOC Muslim voices involved in conservation efforts and inspires eco-action in her local and global community.

Muslims for Earth Park Clean Up & Seed Planting

Muslims for Earth is an initiative aiming to amplify Racialized Muslim voices in Conservation (which are traditionally underrepresented), create a community of Muslims invested in stewardship, inspire a sense of eco-responsibility through community based events, encouraging Muslims to utilize outdoor spaces to improve mental health through nature-based individual and group programming rooted in faith.

About this Project

Communities Served

My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:

  • Senior citizens
  • Refugees & newcomers
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Racial or visible minorities
  • Multi-barrier populations
  • At risk youth & children

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.

  • SDG 3: Good health and Well-being
  • SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
  • SDG 13: Climate action
  • SDG 14: Life below water

How the project works

We use arts, crafts, physical activity, health-education and faith-based programming and discussions to explore the necessity of stewardship of the Earth. In mid-July, Muslims for Earth hosted a community park clean-up, a seed planting activity, painting and stand up paddle boarding lessons for muslim women. The aim for these project components were to bring Muslim women of all ages out to connect with nature to reflect on stewardship as it pertains to their faith, to create meaningful connection to natural spaces to encourage and take eco-action. We met our communities where they felt more comfortable while encouraging them to step outside of their comfort zones a little bit. We celebrated the many intersectional identities of Racialized Muslims in Canada and created a space that is safe and transformative.

Project Impact

All of our efforts, online and in person, allow us to amplify Racialized Muslim voices in Conservation which are traditionally underrepresented, create a community of Muslims invested in stewardship, inspire a sense of eco-responsibility through community based events that are action-based, and encouraging Muslims to utilize outdoor spaces to improve mental health through nature-based individual and group programming. The feedback from the community regarding the project was amazing! Folks came out and enjoyed spending time outdoors and connecting to nature in meaningful ways and participated in giving back to nature as well! I am the most proud of the participants, the Muslim women, who came out for the projects and showed strength and the courage to try new activities outside of their comfort zones and explored what conservation and stewardship means to them. One of our participants was even able to unlearn her fear of the water.

Project Mission

Muslims for Earth is an initiative that aims to: amplify Racialized Muslim voices in Conservation, which are traditionally underrepresented, create a community of Muslims invested in stewardship, inspire a sense of eco-responsibility, through community based events that are action-based, and encouraging Muslims to utilize outdoor spaces to improve mental health (through nature-based individual and group programming). What inspired me to initiate it is that I was noticing that there were so few Muslims involved in local or national stewardship efforts. It intrigued me to do some research and learn about inequities and barriers that prevent Racialized folks from being involved, participating in and enjoying natural spaces or waterways. Many Racialized people come from rich cultures, religions and traditions which are deeply-rooted in a healthy relationship with the natural world.There is a heavy emphasis in our traditions that encourage being mindful people which is becoming less and less important to newer generations. Unfortunately, through colonization and migration many Racialized people, including my own family and community, lose our connection to Earth. The goal to restore this connection to nature is what motivates me to do this work.

Project Team

Muslims for Earth is a small team consisting of two sisters, Fatimah and Farzana Mulla. They have a wonderful support system of family and friends who are incredibly supportive of their initiative and volunteer their support in various different capacities.Both sisters are passionate about exploring the intersections of their faith, the environment and mental health. They create community-based programming for Muslims to connect to the environment in meaningful ways in an effort to inspire eco-action.

  • Fatimah Mulla
  • Farzana Mulla

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