Hazara Women of Afghanistan Share Digital Stories was a hybrid digital empowerment program designed to support refugees in the D.C. metropolitan area and Malmö, Sweden, by providing them with digital literacy and storytelling skills. It was the first-ever digital storytelling initiative dedicated exclusively to empowering Hazara women, providing them a unique platform to share their voices and experiences. I participated in this program in January 2025. I learned how storytelling can be a powerful tool for self-expression, allowing Hazara women to share their personal journeys and life experiences. The Hazara constitute the third largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and are the most discriminated and marginalized ethnic group in Afghanistan. They have experienced genocide and forced displacement since the 1970s. By participating in this event, we aimed to connect with others who had similar struggles and document our voices for advocacy, while also promoting messages of resilience and hope. In addition, participants were encouraged to preserve their cultural heritage and pass it down to future generations, maintaining their unique experiences and ensuring their histories are not forgotten. For Hazara, especially in the context of the Taliban’s oppressive governance, these digital stories are a tool to advocate for our marginalized communities back to Afghanistan and allow our voices to reach a global audience.

In summary, the Hazara Women’s Digital Stories program showed me how digital storytelling can be a transformative tool for empowerment, cultural preservation, and social change. This technology amplifies the voices of marginalized groups, fosters unity and peace, and helps reshape identities in the face of oppression. For more information, see the site below. https://www.judischekulturbund.com/hazara-digital-stories/

For eleven years, I worked  in the humanitarian field in Afghanistan. As a humanitarian aid worker, I supported two non-profit international humanitarian organizations (the Danish Refugee Council and the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees) with their missions in Afghanistan.  My professional experience in various roles in these two organizations helped me to significantly expand my knowledge and skills in community service and community development. Through my involvement in a wide range of program activities – including providing emergency humanitarian relief, protection services, women’s rights, advocacy, gender equality,  health & nutrition, education, economic recovery, peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and community engagement – I gained a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively support communities with their potential needs. I contributed my knowledge to program planning, community development, project implementation, and program evaluation in an effort toward community empowerment, community resilience, social inclusion and engagement. My background working with communities paved the way for me to major in the Community Leadership Master's Program at UMBC. This program enriched me. and provided me with adequate knowledge, skills, and competencies to work in communities and engage in community service. 

The Hazara American Association (HAA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Hazara community in the United States. Its mission encompasses providing assistance, advocacy, and resources to Hazara Americans, with a particular emphasis on fostering cultural awareness and preserving Hazara heritage. Through actively organizing cultural events and gatherings, HAA creates opportunities for community members to connect and celebrate their traditions together.

I have had the privilege of attending several cultural events where I witnessed firsthand how the Hazara American diaspora comes together to strengthen bonds and honor their cultural traditions through various activities, including music performances, traditional dance, and the wearing of cultural attire. These gatherings serve multiple important purposes: they build and reinforce community relationships, foster unity and connectivity among members, enhance overall well-being, and provide opportunities to commemorate significant historical and cultural events. Additionally, these celebrations offer a valuable platform for sharing Hazara culture with broader American society, promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

The Bamyan Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to support the Hazara people in Afghanistan and the United States. It focuses on education by providing scholarships to students in Afghanistan, especially girls, helping them stay in school and build better futures. The foundation also offers humanitarian aid to people affected by violence, poverty, and displacement, working with local partners to reach those most in need.  In the U.S., the Bamyan Foundation helps Hazara-Americans stay connected to their culture and community by supporting and sponsoring the Hazara American Association. The foundation also advocates for the rights and safety of Hazaras worldwide by raising awareness and urging action through campaigns like #StopHazaraGenocide. I am committed to staying connected with both organizations and the Hazara community to support the people here and back to the country. Bamyan Foundation was my Capstone Community Project Partner.  I worked to develop a collaborative project that can address the community’s needs. As part of my project, I created a digital story about this foundation and you can find it in below link. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/search?q=digital%20storytelling