‘I want to act as a role model to younger versions of myself’

Amaleehah Aslam Forrester has more than 6,500 followers on Instagram, is a project worker, social media manager and fundraising officer for Integrate UK and is also managing and coordinating the delivery of UK Youth’s EmpowHER programme for Integrate UK.

But the 23-year-old, who lives in North Bristol, isn’t stopping there.

On top of everything, she has started more than a dozen WhatsApp groups to create a space for women to connect, empower and uplift each other.

The groups, inspired by Florence Given’s Women Don’t Owe You Pretty, were created in one evening after a group connected in the comments of one of Florence Given’s Instagram posts.

“The group chats allow the sharing of experiences, uplifting one another and encourage discussions on topics relating to gender inequality including sexual harassment, dating and relationships, societal pressures, period poverty and more,” says Amaleehah.

“Creating connections during the pandemic has been challenging, but through bringing together women of all different ethnicities, ages, professions and backgrounds has empowered me and others to feel confident and supported on our journey to gender equality.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMK0NzEjIru/

Amaleehah, who posts on Instagram as @goldmoods, initially set up one WhatsApp group for the women commenting on Florence’s post. But within a few hours, she had more than 1000 DMs from people wanting to be a part of the new community.

By the end of the night, 13 groups had been created, totally more than 3,340 individuals, each with their own admins.

Many of the groups, which range from a book club to a gender-inclusive group, are based in different areas across the UK and countries across the globe, with many planning in-person meetups as soon as it’s possible.

Amaleehah and her sister started posting on Instagram aged around 17, as a way for them to express their identities.

“We’re mixed Pakistani-English and grew up in Greece” she says. “By putting together looks and sharing outfit ideas, we could be who we want, express our identities and embrace our diverse cultures – empowering other women to embrace themselves too.”

As well as growing a small and passionate community on Instagram, Amaleehah also works for Integrate UK, a Montpelier-based charity campaigning for gender and racial equality.

“The effects of the pandemic aren’t felt equally,” says Amaleehah, who, with her team, supported children across the city in their educational and emotional needs.

Integrate UK provided digital devices, ran 17 weekly remote workshops, 60 weekly tutoring sessions, and mentoring.

Amaleehah also project managed Integrate’s first animation, called Hijabs and Miniskirts.

“It carries a message of solidarity between girls and boys,” she says.

“The project participants wanted to make it clear that regardless of what a girl chooses to wear, it is her choice and is never an invitation for harassment.”

It was made virtually via Zoom and in-person in a Covid-safe environment over summer. The ten-minute-long animation “is particularly important at this time” and has more than 3,000 views.

Amaleehah is currently working with UK Youth on behalf of Integrate UK.

She works with 86 girls across Bristol as part of the EmpowHER Programme, helping young women improve their confidence, boost their wellbeing and develop a social action campaign.

“Currently a group is developing a national anti-sexual harassment campaign,” says Amaleehah.

“It includes reforming school policies, designing a book about young girls rights, developing a magazine providing help to their peers around body image and leaflets about how to respond to sexual harassment including catcalling and nude image requests.”

Going forward, Amaleehah is continuing to support Integrate UK’s work to improve gender and racial equality while helping women feel empowered through her Instagram community and WhatsApp groups.

“I would like to help women of all ages feel empowered through my social media and act as a role model to younger versions of myself,” she says.

Amaleehah also has hopes to write a book, saying: “I have thoughts and plans to write my own book in the future: challenging societies many expectations of women and what that means for young girls growing up today – providing hope for a future where all genders are equal.”

Main photo: @lauracharlottephotos 

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