People seek asylum in the UK for all sorts of reasons. Mum of two, Nadia, was forced to flee Afghanistan because she was an advocate for girls’ educational rights.

“I left Afghanistan in 2019 due to my activism as a girls’ education rights advocate and my work empowering women and girls. After over 10 years of working in this field, my life was under direct threat,” she says.

Nadia moved to Kazakhstan, hoping she’d be able to return to her home country once the political landscape improved. However, the situation worsened following the fall of Kabul in August 2021 and after a time, Kazakhstan was no longer issuing visas, so in December 2023, Nadia sought sanctuary here in the UK.

She first came to Action Foundation as a client, seeking advice about her qualifications (which include an MSc in Finance and a BSc in Physics) and whether they would be recognized in the UK.

“A week later, Action Foundation invited me to volunteer as an interpreter, since I speak multiple languages but after a couple of weeks, I was asked to take on some casework as well, given my skills and previous voluntary experience in London.”

Nadia quickly became an integral part of our InterAction volunteer team. “I volunteered for several months, assisting clients with various issues and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. Meeting people from different backgrounds, learning about their challenges, and understanding the UK system through real cases was incredibly valuable,” she says.

“Volunteering with Action Foundation reinforced my confidence and showed me that, despite being in a new country, I could still navigate and assist others through these processes.”

“InterAction Drop-in and the wider work of Action Foundation are invaluable for people starting a new life on Tyneside. They provide essential support, helping people learn English, find housing, gain employability skills, and build a sense of community.”

Nadia now has refugee status and has paid work as a welfare benefits adviser. Her 11-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son are both in school and enjoying learning.

Nadia says that education has always been her passion, particularly as her own – and that of her daughter – was interrupted.

“Growing up in Afghanistan in the nineties, I couldn’t start school in first grade due to the Taliban’s presence and had to begin in fourth grade. Later, in Kazakhstan, my daughter faced similar challenges due to our visa type, which delayed her schooling.

“Had we remained in Afghanistan, this would have been my daughter’s last year of schooling, as girls are currently not allowed to continue beyond Year 6.”

“As someone who has fought for girls’ education, it means the world to me that my own daughter can continue her studies. However, my hope is not just for her, but for all Afghan girls—that they, too, will have the chance to learn and build a future.”

Can you help us support more people like Nadia?

If you would like to help more people like Nadia, as they navigate their new lives in the North East, please consider setting up a regular monthly gift to Action Foundation.

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