Carleton Student Launches Club, Cultural Space for Fellow Afghan Students

After the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, most women and girls were suspended from pursuing higher education, a ban that was enforced while students across the country were trying to take their final exams.

One of those women was Madina Mashkoori, now a second-year Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS) honours student at Carleton University.

Mashkoori had just finished her first year at Kardan University in Kabul, Afghanistan when her family was forced to flee the country.

“After the collapse of the government the situation was really scary. Imagine going outside and not knowing if you’re returning home alive or not. It sounds like a movie scenario, but that was most people’s real life,” says Mashkoori.

Academic Pursuits Driven by Difficult Experiences

Leaving their homeland in pursuit of safety and equality for the women in their family, Mashkoori’s father decided to move them to Ottawa in February 2022 to allow her and her siblings to pursue their education in Canada’s national capital.

“He used to tell me to learn politics, but never work in politics,” she says.

With a concentration in Global Politics, Mashkoori wants to better understand how governments and institutions function and why global conflicts like the one she lived through in Afghanistan keep happening.

“My purpose has always been to help people in need. I would like to work on humanitarian affairs, somewhere where I can benefit others. I want to learn about these crises and their histories.”

Mashkoori found the transition to Canada initially challenging as she adapted to a new culture and language.

“I chose Carleton after hearing how the professors are unbiased and supportive, and how the staff members are accepting of diversity and inclusion,” she says.

Mashkoori was able to transfer all her first-year credits from Kardan University and joined Carleton as a second-year student last September.

“When you go through a lot of challenges in life, even a little privilege is a big one,” she says.

Since joining Carleton, Mashkoori is thriving in her academic pursuits and has taken full advantage of all that the university has to offer – including participating in the Carleton Political Science Society’s Model Parliament in the Canada Senate Chambers last February.

Building a Community for Carleton Afghan Students

In March 2023, Mashkoori and fellow Afghan students launched a new club on campus, the Carleton Afghan Students Association (CASA).

CASA strives to be a place of support for students from Afghanistan and newcomers, as well as a community hub for Afghans to celebrate their culture. It is open to students of all backgrounds to learn about the beauty and history of Afghanistan, as well as the unfortunate injustices currently taking place there.

“We thought that by starting the CASA, we would be able to connect with other Afghans on campus and in the Ottawa community, while also helping each other develop good networks and better understand Canadian society, the university and its academic spaces,” says Mashkoori, who has been re-elected as CASA’s president for this academic year.

CASA held its first meet-and-greet event last March and welcomed over 80 visitors. Since then, the club has continued to grow and further promote itself in the Ottawa community by participating in the Nowruz New Year celebration on Parliament Hill with Chandra Arya, the MP for Nepean.

In light of the devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan this October, CASA is planning an earthquake response fundraiser dinner in November in collaboration with the Afghan Canadian Support Network.

Volunteering Opens Doors to Career Opportunities

Volunteering through Carleton’s BGInS program has opened doors for Mashkoori and has even secured her a permanent full-time position as a project management officer for the GLOCAL Foundation of Canada, which promotes digital civic engagement by distributing microgrants to empower young Canadian community leaders.

“I’m really grateful to be with this department and with Carleton. It was a bridge for me to get where I want to be and I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had so far.”

After completing her co-op, Mashkoori plans to apply for an international internship abroad in her final year.

“My faculty advisors recommended I travel to a place where I’m not familiar with the culture and language,” she explains. “We’ll see where life takes me next.”

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Tuesday, October 24, 2023 in Asian Heritage Month, Faculty of Public Affairs, International, IWD 2024, Student Experience
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