Stories of ramadan : kilma

Live Well recently connected with a unique team of men (Sultan Gritli, Ibrahim Dashash, and Khalid Alothman) who are doing their part to connect the community in Al-Khobar, Dammam and beyond.

Instead of using their platform to promote those who have achieved something extraordinary - these men have created a space where regular people can share their stories. Kilma, is a periodic meet up initiative which provides much needed unity in these socially strained and isolated times. The listeners get a glimpse into experiences that are at once familiar because perhaps they have lived them… in a way… too.

The themes are universal and relatable. A short recitation - and we are united before we part.

Kilma would like to extend a special invitation to the Live Well Community to help us expand our Ramadan experience! You are invited to join the Kilma team this Wednesday, April 28 at 10 p.m. at The Shed and share (if you are so inspired) or listen to stories of Ramadan present and past. Please register here as space is limited.

Khalid, Ibrahim and Sultan will share the story of Kilma in their own words below! Don’t forget to leave a comment or question about Ramadan, Ramadan memories and what this month means to you whether you are in the Middle East or not.

LWFCo : What does Kilma mean? Why this name? Why is the Kilma name meaningful?

Kilma is a very informal way of pronouncing كلمة (Kalima) which means “word” in Arabic. We choose this name because it signifies the power one word can have,. Every story begins with a single word. It also signifies the idea and purpose of our initiative - giving people a place to share their word “Kilma”. It’s a space where your “Kilma” is heard.

LWFCo: Can team members recall the first Kilma event? Can you tell us a little bit about how that went? What were the feelings before, during and after the event? Do you recall any feeling particularly about that event?

We opened the doors, 50 people came in on January 26, 2020 at the Geeks Cafe in Al-Khobar. Fifty strangers walked in, but a Kilma community walked out. From the very first Kilma event we felt a sense of responsibility to set the tone for every superseding Kilma to have interesting and encouraging stories and a captivated audience.

The purpose of Kilma manifested in a communal connection of the audience. Their overwhelming supportive response left us hopeful that the message of Kilma was well received. All this happened through word of mouth or those who happened to be passing by. We felt that the community had now taken its part in the growth of Kilma.

LWFCo : Can each one of the team recall a favorite Kilma story? Why is it a favorite?

Khalid Alothman : I know this is going to sound very cheesy but my favorite story still hasn’t been told. Yeah, yeah. It's a copout but seriously, Kilma is still in its beginning, and there are many stories that haven’t been told yet.

Sultan Gritli : I’ll agree with Khalid on this one. I can’t pick a favorite, although we’ve had many amazing stories, we know there are more out there waiting to be heard. Hopefully Kilma alongside our amazing storytellers will push on through to break more barriers & encourage more people to share their stories.

Ibrahim Dashash : A good story is a story that you can’t seem to get out of your head. And there are many Kilma stories that I can recite with all its details. But since Kilma is not about picking favorites, so I would prefer not to favor a story over another.

LWFCo : Does everyone have a story? Why is storytelling so important? How does storytelling help someone live well? Live better?

Khalid Alothman : Yes, absolutely. Everyone has a story. Storytelling affects people differently. As the listener it gives you perspective, empathy, and a window to connect and bond with the storytellers. As the storyteller, the process of writing and telling your story acts as a therapeutic outlet through introspection by reliving their own stories and dealing with unresolved emotions. It can also give them closure as they write the conclusion to their story.

Sultan Gritli : We humans learn from each other, from our history and experiences, we learn so much as kids & as adults through stories, books, movies, folktale etc.. We have a need to share.

Ibrahim Dashash : Have you ever heard of the butterfly effect? A good story could either inspire people or have an emotional impact on someone. That effect could cause a positive chain of reaction that could lead to something good happening somewhere across the globe. I believe that there is no way to measure or determine how powerful a story is. Another effect is on the storytellers themselves, as they may feel relieved after sharing their stories, or sometimes they’d look at their stories from a third person’s perspective.

LWFCo : Tell LWFCo. readers about the importance of telling their story no matter how seemingly insignificant it seems to them?

In addition to being a therapeutic outlet, part of the storytelling experience lies within the uncertainty of who it will affect and to what degree. The goal of sharing a story is to touch people’s lives.

You never know who has or is going through what you’re going through, your story might encourage someone that can relate by letting them know they’re not alone, or even maybe reach someone that could share their similar experience with you in a helpful way.

LWFCo : How can LWFCo. readers connect with the Kilma team?

Obviously through their stories, but they can also connect with us by sending us a message to our IG page: @kilma.me, Twitter: @kilma_sa, or email us at kilmah.me@gmail.com