Monica is a master’s student in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University, where she also earned her bachelors degree in Communication. Monica is a dedicated teaching assistant at the University, where she merges academia with a passion tor social justice. Monica’s research focuses on the resilience of marginalized groups striving for positive change, and underscores the potential of digital spaces in advancing social justice agendas.
Mariam Hazhir has been working as a Secondary Teacher for 8 years with Surrey School District. She obtained her degree at UBC in English and Microbiology, and shortly after obtained her Bachelor’s in Curriculum and Instruction at SFU and completed her PDP training. More recently, she completed her Master of Educational Leadership and Administration at Yorkville University. Her principles of making connections to land for learning and strengthening inter-generational relationships and knowledge is evident in her community work.
Ahmad Baktash Nuri is a serving member in the Canadian Armed Forces. His occupation in the military is in Finance and Financial Services Administration. He is a student at Royal Military College of Canada and Simon Fraser University studying for his degree in Economics and Political Science. He has over 15 years experience in the Financial/Investment/Insurance industry. He runs his own Investment/Insurance business as a Financial Advisor as well.
Shahnaz Qayumi, M.A. Developmental Psychology & Pedagogy, is a faculty of the Early Childhood Education department at Langara College. She also received her master’s Certificate from the Harvard Program Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery (2014). She has taught Early Childhood Education at Native Education College, Kwantlen University College, and Vancouver Community College. She has facilitated an ECE (Early Childhood Education) program for Family Empowerment funded by the Ministry of Health in North Delta for low-income families.
In the summer of 2012, the Psychology and Educational Sciences Faculty of Kabul University generously gave PAC our own space to renovate and upgrade with donated computers and textbooks. The space was refurbished with new light fixtures, shelves and furniture, and eventually became the Centre of Excellence for Innovation and Research.
Aims, Goals and Objectives of the Centre
» Read more about: Centre of Excellence for Innovation & Research »
On September 18, 2011, the Afghan community proudly celebrated its first ever Heritage Day festival in the province of British Columbia, at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre. This was the first time the community had an opportunity to showcase Afghanistan as seen through the eyes of many Afghans residing in Canada.
Over the decades, Afghanistan’s image has been overshadowed by its representation as a war-torn country with the need for foreign intervention.
One of the major achievements of PAC is the one-hour TV program called “Caravan TV” that is broadcasted on OMNI. The main purpose of this TV program is to support the integration of new immigrants into Canadian society, introduce the non-Afghan Canadians to the culture of Afghanistan and to support the Afghan community in BC.
Caravan TV (and its past incarnation,
Not-for-profit program to promote humanitarian support for girls/women not in Canada: who have been injured and traumatized in Afghanistan. They are committed to their safety and delivering the help they need—this project was started by Sultana Abassy, Audrey Staudacher and De-Ann Chan.
The families are working locally on their own to raise funds, but they still need help.