WebDecember2017

32 | www.westendermagazine.com
involved in Interfaith week here last month
(an awareness raising and celebration of the
different faiths in Scotland). She is also taking
part in workshop based events for families in
conjunction with the Scottish Book Trust.
Reaction to the book has largely been
positive with many parents sharing pictures
on social media of their children reading it
but not everyone approves. ‘We have had
some haters,’ Medeia says, with people not
keen to engage in discussion about different
faiths or practices. The other issue that has
caused debate has been the books title. ‘We
have taken a fair amount of flack for calling
head coverings ‘hats’ but the book is aimed
at young readers and that is the term young
readers are more familiar with.
Originally from Massachusetts, Medeia
came to London 12 years ago to study and
moved her family to Scotland earlier this year
enjoying the slower pace of life here. She
is keenly aware of differences in UK and
American classrooms.
‘We do live in a more diverse setting in
Scotland being physically closer to Europe
and the rest of the world. When I do school
workshops here and I ask if you have seen
an African head wrap or a hijab the answers
are much more frequently positive – yes
my mum wears one. Whereas doing that in
America, even in a diverse classroom, no-one
knows any of the head coverings in the book.
America is very different culturally.
‘I come from a very liberal family,’ she
continues, ‘and find when I go back home to
the States these days the Trump bandwagon
Competition!
We have two signed copies
of Hats of Faith, to give away.
Visit westendermagazine.com
and click on competitions by
the 31st of December 2017.
is very hard to stomach. I think a book like
this is really needed in America and it is the
right moment for it – I want our future to be an
inclusive one.’
Medeia has big hopes for this little book.
‘I want it to encourage tolerance and help
prepare young people for the culturally
diverse world we live in today. It’s a starting
point for discussion on interfaith diversity.’
Lesson plans are being created and will
be available from the Hats of Faith website
(colouring sheets are already available) and
more books may follow. Medeia is keen to
tackle festivals of faith next.
Moreover, the amount of knowledge
accumulated for this project won’t go to
waste, ‘I could do a PHD on head coverings
now,’ she chuckles. It is quite ridiculous for a
12 page book. Winston Churchill once said
that ‘if I had more time I would have written a
shorter letter.’ I now realize how hard that is
– it was no mean feat to create this book but I
am proud that we have done it!’
hatsoffaith.com
Website special offer: Buy one book and
donate one for half price to a school,
library or children’s hospital.
£2
Hats of Faith
OFF
*
RRP £8.99
*Exclusive offer for WESTENDER readers
at Waterstones 351-355 Byres Road
branch only, by 31st December 2017.