I am Dr. Soraiya Moola and I live in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Although I trained and graduated as a dentist, my true passion has always been counseling: connecting with people, empathizing, and listening from a place of non-judgment and understanding. Regrettably, in dentistry, attentive listening isn’t part of the diagnostic or treatment protocols. Most of the ‘feedback’ I received from patients consisted of muffled grunts, gurgling, and sounds of fear — which was understandable, given that my hands were often in their mouths!
Sadly, fixing teeth did not give me the satisfaction that my soul sought, and within me was a “passion” a calling that grew louder by the hour.
The universe played its role and I was accepted as a volunteer at a radio station’s online counseling service unbeknown to me then, a major change was to take place in my community, as a result of this.
Counseling anonymously brought me immense satisfaction but a tremendous sense of sadness and helplessness.
The emotional suffering and pain that people were experiencing were being subdued by a materialistic world, a world of material wants and needs, a world of competition, a world of inhumanness, and a world where individuals were lost.
Culture plays a huge role in our lifestyles and attitudes. The tenets of my culture meant that at times, personal and family issues could at times be swept under the carpet. Posing a stable, strong, and united front to the world is a facade that some communities insist on projecting.
In reality, significant social issues may lie at the underbelly of communities across the world and my nation is no different – e.g. child abuse, physical, mental, and financial abuse. Seemingly perfect societies often have a dark side.
Working in a predominantly Euro-centric environment, it was revealing to discover that many of the callers were local populations of different backgrounds who had no support from their religious leaders or their community. These individuals were being counseled by people of different faiths and beliefs. While this is commendable, there are inherent differences in values and religious tenets.
One call that deeply disturbed me came from a mother whose young daughter was being abused by her stepfather. I advised her to reach out to the religious leaders in her community, for guidance and assistance. Her response was that she had been advised to have ‘patience’.
This reply deeply troubled me. The heart-wrenching notion of a young girl enduring not only physical but also emotional and spiritual suffering, with her life shadowed by such trauma, drove me to seek assistance from religious leaders. I knew that to effect meaningful change within the community, I would have to enlist the support of the more senior members of the religious community.
We live in a patriarchal society. Traditional faiths and cultures across the globe convey that men are the protectors, holding a position above women due to their physical strength, capacity to provide, and their divinely ordained responsibility towards the females in their homes.
Yet this young child was being harmed not only by the patriarch of her family but also, indirectly, by the societal patriarchs — all-male religious leaders, whose duty is to guide the community.
Providence would have it such that when I approached a senior religious leader – he was young, vibrant, highly intelligent and socially conscious.
He was educated, approachable, and sympathetic, expressing concern that the community was falling short in its duty to support the vulnerable, the wounded, and the voiceless.
With his unwavering commitment and support, a ‘Careline’ was birthed. It stands as a testament to inclusivity, an online counseling service designed to embrace all communities, but with a special emphasis on supporting the minority community.
Recognizing the evolving needs of society, religious leaders have been equipped with social skills training, helping them to better understand and address the nuances of modern challenges.
The establishment of this platform means that individuals now have a space where they can seek counseling services that resonate with their core values and beliefs. The ripple effect of such an initiative is evident, as similar services have sprouted up in other cities, each aiming to cater to the specific needs of their local communities.
Above all, the overarching lesson and message is clear: psychological well-being isn’t just a luxury or an afterthought. It is absolutely essential for leading a holistic and healthy life.
Rumi, a wise and profound poet, once said:
‘When you do things from your soul, you feel a river of joy within you.’
The establishment and success of Careline exemplify this sentiment, showing that when endeavors stem from a place of genuine care and commitment, they not only bring solutions but also spread immeasurable joy.
