CultureTalks is a new series of discussions designed to celebrate the rich diversity of the University Hills Community, as well as the innovative and intelligent minds that call this home. CultureTalks are honest conversations on a rich variety of cultures, promoting a welcoming, and educational environment in which to engage and socialize with neighbors.
CultureTalks: Afghanistan
Thursday, June 22, Uhills Community Center
6:30 – 7:00 Snacks and Refreshments
Join us to welcome neighbors from Afghanistan for a casual evening of stories and photos.
7:00 – 8:00 Presentation
Learn first hand from Nasim Fekrat, a PhD candidate student in anthropology at UC Irvine. He has worked as a journalist and contributed to news outlets such as BBC, CNN, Foreign Policy Magazine, Nieman Watchdog and in publications run by both NATO and the United Nations. His work has been recognized by Reporters Without Borders (RWB)) and Information Safety and Freedom, in Italy.. https://www.fekrat.org/
Joining Nasim will be Parvin Ahmadi, a recent addition to our community, and herself a refugee, businesswoman, architect and designer. Prior to the US withdrawal and the fall of Afghanistan’s republic, Parvin worked as a senior engineer at Afghanistan’s Presidential Palace. She was involved in the design of many public buildings, such as studios, theaters, conferences, banks, and president’s houses.
The Refugee Experience
After more than four decades of conflict and instability in Afghanistan, an estimated 24 million Afghanistanis are in need of humanitarian assistance. Of the more than 6 million Afghanitanis who were forcibly displaced from their homes by the end of 2021, 3.5 million were displaced within Afghanistan while 2.6 million were hosted as refugees, accounting for one of the largest protracted refugee situations in the world.
The impact of the conflict on women and children has been particularly devastating — 80 percent of newly displaced Afghanistanis are women and children. The fundamental rights of women and girls are under threat and many children are out of school. Nearly 23 million people, or more than half of Afghanistan’s population, suffer from acute hunger.