Asma Faizi, 2022 YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction, and President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Afghan Women's Organization Refugee and Immigrant Services (AWO).
What does receiving the YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Award mean to you?
Receiving YWCA Toronto’s Women of Distinction Award means a great deal to me because of what it can do for the women in my community. In addition to providing visibility of the great work that AWO has done for the past 30 years, this award will show the positive impact Afghan women make in society.
As President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Afghan Women's Organization (AWO), you have been instrumental in creating opportunities for Afghan women and girls for several decades. Can you share one success story that is dear to your heart?
Several years ago, there was a young woman who was only 17 years old. She had a falling out with her husband, and he threw her and their daughter out of their home. They had nothing more than the clothes on their backs. She called AWO from a payphone and did not even know her location or where she lived. She had to ask people passing by where she was so that we could pick her up. After finding her, we brought her to our organization. In addition to helping this woman find a place to live, we provided language training and emotional support. We also sponsored her brother to immigrate to Canada so that she had family and did not feel alone and isolated. She studied mental health at school and works in the field. Her daughter is currently in university.
This is just one example of the support that AWO provides to vulnerable newcomer women since its inception. Newcomer women have often endured abuse, been confined to their homes, been prohibited from contacting family members, including their parents, and have found it difficult to obtain formal education or skills. For these women, we create a safe space that builds trust and provides them with the information and support they need to achieve success, live in dignity, and contribute to society.
Amplifying the voices of Afghan women and girls is also fundamental to your work. Can you explain why this is critical?
My passion and commitment stem from the heartbreaking events of the past four decades that have impacted the lives of Afghan women and girls in my country of origin. Women and girls in Afghanistan are disproportionately affected by the seemingly endless violence throughout the country yet their voices are often silenced. We hope that amplifying the voices of these women through AWO will act as a catalyst for positive change in Afghanistan.
You are a recognized leader in your field. Can you tell us what brought you to this work?
Even though I was only three years old when my family fled Afghanistan, I have always had a deep connection to my roots. The experiences of fear and persecution that my family and other Afghans have faced have been a primary driver of my work. The distressing events over the past four decades, including how it has impacted the lives of Afghan women and girls is one of the primary reasons I joined the AWO and why I became a lawyer. I will never forget the images of Afghan refugees crossing the border only to be beaten and forced to return, and the feeling of overwhelming rage and helplessness that accompanied those images. I struggled to understand why this was happening and why seemly no one was doing anything about it. My connection with the suffering of Afghans, particularly women and children, has always driven me to do what I can to ensure that basic human rights are respected and to give voice to those who lack the same opportunities.
What do you envision for the future in your sector?
When arriving in Canada, newcomers face many challenges integrating into Canadian society. The first steps of a newcomer's transition to Canada—finding a home, employment, learning English, becoming familiar with Canada's legal system, and getting information about health care—are all crucial for a newcomer to build a successful life here. AWO envisions a unique holistic environment for newcomer women and their families, particularly those who have suffered from war and persecution. We envision a sector which focuses on newcomer women from diverse backgrounds who have different histories, different circumstances, and different desires. In order to meet the needs of these newcomers, the settlement sector must involve them and their families in the planning of services, and ensure the services are provided through an appropriate cultural lens.
What keeps you motived in these challenging times?
Despite the horrific suffering that Afghan women have endured over the past four decades and continue to endure today, I am motivated by the women who refuse to give up; by those who remain in Afghanistan and protest; by those who are helping create economic opportunities for women; and by those who do not stop dreaming for a better Afghanistan. I want these women to know that women around the world are listening to them, much like AWO, and will continue to lend their voices and support them to rebuild their lives. I want them to know that they are not alone.