Ten years after KAICIID’s founding, this anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on how we engage in dialogue with those who see the world differently.

I am a woman. A Muslim. An entrepreneur. I live in a country where my faith is a minority, something that has never troubled me, but where women still struggle for basic rights in a deeply patriarchal society.

I was born and raised in Argentina, a nation that has long welcomed those fleeing war, persecution, and famine. I am the granddaughter of Portuguese and Lebanese immigrants: in my family history, the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Some arrived carrying crucifixes, others the Holy Qur’an—all united by their faith in one God and a shared hope for a dignified life.

I have always been curious. I studied Interior Design, International Relations, and Arab-Islamic Protocol. At 13, I dreamed of having a Torah in my home. I wanted to learn from the “other”, even from those my community viewed as historical enemies and vice versa. I wanted to understand, to listen, to approach the unknown.

At 14, I joined youth dialogue programmes in Argentina. That early exposure eventually led me to one of the most defining experiences of my professional life: being selected as a KAICIID Fellow in 2022, at the International Dialogue Centre based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Becoming a Fellow stirred something deep in me: my ancestry, the responsibility of studying at an institution created to promote interreligious understanding, and the opportunity to learn from educators representing every region, tradition, and belief system.

KAICIID taught me that dialogue is not naïve; it is strategic, courageous, and deeply committed. I learned active listening, tension management, emotional awareness, and, above all, that dialogue is also about community, solidarity, and human connection.

Working with people of diverse faiths in Portugal, Brazil, and Buenos Aires was transformative. From those experiences, two major projects emerged:

1. Peace Is Made by Women — my KAICIID graduation project, which brought together women from diverse faiths and social groups to rethink peace through sorority and feminine leadership.
2. En tus Zapatos Podcast, launched in 2023 with my friend and partner, Barbi Zeifer, a Jewish woman. This unique interreligious podcast in Latin America achieved unexpected success on television and digital platforms. Together, we proved that respectful, empathetic, and human-centred dialogue is possible.

The podcast was born in the aftermath of the tragic events of 7 October. While our friendship united us, our communities were in deep pain. We were devastated by the suffering in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel, grief shared by Jews, Muslims, Christians, and, ultimately, by all human beings.

How do you hold on to humanity in such darkness?

By creating a space where we could truly listen. A space built upon the tools I gained through KAICIID’s training. A space where active listening became my greatest ally. A space where standing in each other’s shoes became an act of healing.

When hate speech tries to delegitimize our work, I remember that KAICIID trained me to build peace, even in the face of hostility.

That is the legacy I carry.
That is the work I choose.
That is the path I will continue to build.

Finally, I invite everyone, even those who doubt peace or believe dialogue is outdated, to explore KAICIID’s training and fellowship opportunities. This experience is profoundly transformative. It brings us back to the core values of our faith traditions and sacred texts, humility, compassion, the struggle against ego, and reminds us that we are all called to care for the Earth and to extend compassion to every human being.