KNOWING AFGHANISTAN; BRINGING AFGHAN REFUGEES CLOSER TO THEIR HOMELAND

Over 200 refugees participated in a vibrant three-day event was held in Yazd from 4-6 March 2017 to mark the closing ceremony of the Government of Iran’s cultural initiative for Afghan refugees, ‘Knowing Afghanistan’, AVA Diplomatic reports.

For the fourth year running, the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (BAFIA) has organised a series of these events across the Islamic Republic of Iran in an effort to better acquaint Afghan refugees living in Iran with their country of origin. Those that benefit the most from these annual events are often the second and third generation of Afghans, who have had few other opportunities to familiarise themselves with Afghanistan’s culture, history and traditions.

UNHCR Representative Sivanka Dhanapala together with BAFIA counterparts participated in the final event contest in Yazd, which was attended by Afghan students, as well as NGOs and government officials including the Representative of the Supreme Leader’s Office Mr Salehi and the Afghan Ambassador to Iran H.E. Ambassador Noor. Creative performances were carried out by refugee students themselves, including sports activities, singing, poetry and local anthem recitals.

During the final talent competition in Yazd, young Afghans who particularly captivated the audience included an 11 year old refugee who is renowned for having memorized the Holy Quran, and a young refugee residing in Yazd who has harnessed his talents as a professional singer, leading him to successfully collaborate with an Iranian national.

In view of supporting youth empowerment and social inclusion efforts fostered by the Government of Iran, UNHCR participated in and supported the Knowing Afghanistan events across the country. Engagement with the refugee community proved very successful for the fourth year running. In Tehran province over 400 Afghans – mainly youth – participated in their local event, while in Shiraz, 250 Afghans were involved in their self-led ceremony through the facilitation of UNHCR and provincial BAFIA.

In total, 14 events were held countrywide in 2016, successfully engaging over 5,500 Afghan refugees in the rich history and culture of their homeland.

During the Knowing Afghanistan ceremony held in Bushehr, one poem recited by a young schoolgirl particularly resonated with her audience. Translated below, it poignantly highlights the dilemmas felt by many second and third generation Afghans, who often experience an affinity to their distant home in Afghanistan, yet also a belonging to their actual home in Iran. The sense of being both Afghan and Iranian, neither yet both, is perfectly captured in this poem; a sentiment which undoubtedly resonates with many of Iran’s young refugees.