Muslim students breaking down cultural barriers in Regina

Muslim students from Regina Huda School are trying to bridge the cultural gap in this city by visiting public schools and talking about their religion.

About 325 studentbetweenpre-kindergarten and Grade 12 attendHuda school on the north sideofRegina.

There are an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 Muslims in Regina, and many students from the community attend public schools.

According to Huda students Abdul Rehman and Saria Jabbar, who are in Grade 11, their fellow students around Regina have lots of questions, such as why Muslims don't eat pork or why women wear head coverings, like the hijab.

"I've been in public schools where a guy asks Muslim girls to go out and the girl will say no and the guys ... they don't understand it's a cultural thing," Jabbar said.

The two were recently answering questions at Arcola School, an elementary school in Regina's public system.

"My parents are actually pretty happy about it," Rehman said. "They're really encouraging me to do it because it helps people to understand Muslim people in general."

Teacher Barb Hilts-Most, who works with immigrant and refugee kids at Arcola, says students are not the only ones with questions.

"Teachers definitely have questions as well. We all want to meet our students' needs and we all want to know as much about our students as we can," Hilts-Most said.

Both Rehman and Jabbar say they're happy to talk about their customs and dispel myths. They say they want what every kidwants:a chance to be understood and to fit in.