Afghanistan is a country in the heart Asia. Mostly ravaged by war. However today wherever the Afghan people are residing Afghanistan still lives!
There is just one Afghanistan but in every Afghan immigrant and refugee there is a different memory of their homeland. In the past the thought was that only those who loved their homeland lived in it. However today the new generation of Afghans love Afghanistan without living in their country or sometimes having ever seen it. Afghans can adapt to any country their hosted in but we will never find another Afghanistan.
Maqshosh reporter has interviewed Ms. Nagin Ravand . She is a student and football coach in Denmark. She was born in Afghanistan and raised in Denmark.
In this interview we talked about her motivation that why she helped the Afghan people, Also Football Charity Cup for Afghanistan and her life experiences as an Afghan in Denmark.
MA: Since you have been away from Afghanistan for years, what motivates you to stay in touch with the Afghan people?
My biggest motivation is the fact that my parents and I are from Afghanistan. My country is always in my heart and blood. Although I am not physically in Afghanistan, and although I grew up outside of Afghanistan, it still lives strongly in my heart.
My parents and siblings grew up in Afghanistan. Today my family and I live in Denmark but the rest of my family members like grandparents, aunts uncles and cousins still live in Afghanistan and now they are my first priority and motivation. I think it is very important to never forget where you come from and the same goes to values and traditions. In the end we are who we are because of our roots.
The women of Afghanistan will always be in prayers.
and generally the people of Afghanistan are facing the greatest possible perils. This is what makes me motivated to stay in touch with my Afghan people. I believe that we no one will ever forget what has happened in this “remote” country, nor will i. This is why we are not embarrassed to work for and remember Afghanistan in everything we do no matter what part of the world we live in, and no matter if we are originally Afghans or not. It is humanity that makes me fight.
MA: Have you been in Afghanistan since immigrating?
After fleeing to Denmark in 2001 as Afghan -refugees my parents and I travelled back to Afghanistan shortly in 2010.
My father believed that the new government was safer than the previous. He was happy because schools and universities re-opened after Taliban were “officially” driven out from government. The last time I was in Afghanistan when I was 18 years old.
I travelled alone on my 18th birthday, to see my country with a set of educated eyes, and to also explore the opportunities to play football for girls and women in my hometown Herat.
MA: What aids and help do you provided to your people at home, being family or otherwise?
Things that I do from Denmark to help Afghanistan is first of all to stay in touch with my family and the people to show them that I remember them and do think about them.
They can’t use my thoughts for much, but still I think that's the least I can do.
Besides that I try to host football tournaments and sports events in Denmark to raise money and awareness. On the 26th of September 2021 I hosted a very big tournament. Almost 20 teams signed up to play for Afghanistan, and the players were all from different backgrounds.
All the volunteers in charge and the coaches were women, all the players were men. I think that is a strong signal to send. We wanted to help 30 women and we've managed to raise over 20.000DKK. We sent this money to first of all women, and secondly to the children’s home in Afghanistan.
That's one way, I try to use my coaching skills to create an impact in Afghanistan even though we are here. I believe we still have responsibility especially those of us from here, free of war and able to make money.
MA: Are you in touch with the Afghan community living in Denmark or the European Union? How much do you like the social and civic activities of Afghan unions and associations?
I'm not so much in contact with other Afghan association, even though I do support them. I think it's something thats very noticeable about the Afghan youth is that, they are very ambitious and hard working. We are raised with ambitions and therefore have high goals.
I am not personally in contact with an Afghan community because I focus on my Academic studies next to my coaching-profession, so I am taking two educations at the same time which makes me run out of time.
My biggest wish for the Afghan community is that they try to include other cultures as well. Sometimes we forget to take in other people because we have so strong opinions, and it's good to have principles and strong values, but sometimes we need to remember that we are stronger together even with all different nationalities and religious backgrounds.
MA: If you were asked at a press conference about immigration, Afghanistan and Afghan girls, what would you say?
First of all I would say that Afghans aren’t immigrants but refugees. They do not voluntarily cross the borders and leave everything they have behind. If there was peace in Afghanistan, I am sure that the majority would want to go back.
I love Afghanistan and I think it's one of the most beautiful country .
Afghanistan is a place with so much diversity coming to life in the people and the nature. I believe that if there was ever peace in Afghanistan it would be one of the leading Nations.
The only negative thing about Afghanistan is that it is still divided. We are such a big strong country and if we all take our hands together and work together then my dream will come true. Unfortunately, right now we are fighting each other. We need to heal each other and help each other and I think that's my main message.
I believe that Afghanistan has the potential to be one of the best countries in the world, if we let it be, if we don't go to war, if we don’t absorb it for all it’s ressources, if the foreigners don't interfere in our country , if we can let it develop and make room for equality and education.
MA: Does the host community still recognize you as a refugee? In Danish society, how do the general public relate to refugees, especially Afghans?
I don't think the community refers to me as a refugee, since I am now a Danish resident. There will always be discrimination and people who are trying to use my background against me, but in the end I know that I am a Danish resident with a refugee background. Being a refugee is a part of my identity, but that phase of my life is over. Now i work, study and contribute equal to other residents, maybe even more…
Ahmad Nisar Husan 7.11.21