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Sept 2019 blog: My Story As A Hijabi Afghan Muslim Woman

As a Muslim Afghan Woman who wears a Hijab, I grew up always thinking to myself, “Where do I belong”? Sometimes I still feel like I ask myself this question even now. I guess life is a continuous journey of learning and self-evaluating. Identifying as a Muslim woman who wears Read more…

By ayediadmin, 1 year1 year ago
Uncategorized

May 2019 Blog: Maryam Monsef & Lessons on Resilience

  Maryam Monsef is a household name among Afghans in Canada and abroad. We know her accomplishments: She came to Canada as a refugee from Afghanistan in 1996. After being elected MP in 2015, she currently holds two ministerial portfolios. She was the 1st ever Afghan to be elected to Read more…

By ayediadmin, 2 years1 year ago
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Reflections on 2018 – here we come, 2019!

Welcome to our very first blog post Salaam everyone, 2018 was a landmark year for us – it is the year that we officially launched the Afghan Youth Engagement and Development Initiative (AYEDI), the first Afghan youth-led organization in Canada with the broad goal of (1) cultivating civic engagement and Read more…

By ayediadmin, 2 years2 years ago
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⁣1/3 🗣🗣 Last month, AYEDI partnered with T ⁣1/3 🗣🗣 Last month, AYEDI partnered with TakingITGlobal's #RisingYouth Program to launch the first Afghan-focused community impact incubator of its kind in Canada‼ 🇦🇫🇨🇦 The Afghan Community Impact Incubator (ACII) aimed to encourage young leaders and Change Makers in the Afghan community, by supporting their actions to improve the lives of others.🌟🧩⠀
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ACII offered participants ideation and project design advice💡, grant writing workshop✍🏼, up to $1500 in funding 💰, and guidance to launch their project 🚀.⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #AfghanYouth #Afghan #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration #TakingItGlobal⠀
⁣2/3 🎉🎉 We are thrilled to announce that a ⁣2/3 🎉🎉 We are thrilled to announce that a total of 20 youth-led Afghan-Canadian groups signed up for our Incubator Program!⠀
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Program participants successfully attended the workshops, worked closely with our ACII team leads to refine their grant applications, and were all approved for #RisingYouth funding.⠀
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Our first ACII “Change Makers” cohort have all kinds of awesome ideas that they received funding for. Some of these community service projects include yoga for moms in Dari 🏃🏻‍♀️, traditional afghan needlework🧵, a youth book club📚, video projects 🎥, language courses 👩🏻‍🏫, developing a mobile app for seniors📲, and various workshops and conferences on mental health, centering Hazara voices, and more 📝. All projects specifically target the Afghan diaspora in Canada.⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #AfghanYouth #Afghan #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration #TakingItGlobal⠀
⁣3/3 Through ACII, an unprecedented $30,000 💰 ⁣3/3 Through ACII, an unprecedented $30,000 💰in funding was provided to support Afghan-Canadian youth-led community service projects over the course of the next 2 months!!!⠀
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AYEDI will be showcasing these projects one by one on our timeline and in our story, in the new year. 🔍
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We are so proud to support Afghan-Canadian youth engagement, youth empowerment and to help Afghan youth bring their community service ideas to life!! 👊🏼🧡⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #AfghanYouth #Afghan #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration #TakingItGlobal⠀
⁣📣📣 DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS TODAY AT 5:00PM ⁣📣📣 DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS TODAY AT 5:00PM! LINK IN BIO! ⠀
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Sign up to be part of the first of its kind, Afghan Community Impact Incubator. ACII can help you bring your project to life!⠀
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👩🏻‍💻All program participants are automatically registered for the mandatory Ideation and Grant Writing Workshop. At least one member of your team must attend - but we want to see all of you! 👉🏼👉🏼 All workshop attendees will receive a $20 UberEats/DoorDash food voucher!!💰🍟⠀
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ACII is powered by AYEDI x RisingYouth. Visit our website for more details.⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #Afghan #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration
⁣🗣🗣TWO DAYS LEFT TO SIGN UP!!! ⠀ ⠀ AYE ⁣🗣🗣TWO DAYS LEFT TO SIGN UP!!! ⠀
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AYEDI x Rising Youth is proud to support Afghan-Canadian🇦🇫🇨🇦 youth engagement, youth empowerment and to help Afghan youth bring their ideas to life. 💡We want to talk to more youth, we want to support more projects, we want you to have everything you need to accomplish the important community work that you want to do. ⠀
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👉🏼 By joining the Afghan Community Impact Incubator (ACII) you will have access to ideation and project design advice, grant writing workshop, up to $1500💰in funding, and guidance to launch your project. ⠀
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📍Ready to join ACII and bring your idea to life? Deadline to sign up is Friday November 13 at 5:00 PM. LINK IN BIO. ⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #AfghanYouth #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #JeunesEnAction #LeadersDaujourdhui #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration #TakingItGlobal
⁣✍🏼Calling all inspired Afghan-Canadian you ⁣✍🏼Calling all inspired Afghan-Canadian youth!!🇦🇫🇨🇦Do you have a virtual and innovative project idea that supports communities from afar? 👩🏻‍💻 Do you need $1500 to launch your idea? 💰 Sign up for ACII today to be a change maker!! Swipe for details. 
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If you missed our information session this weekend - we got you covered. A recording of the session is up on our YouTube channel!! 👉🏼 Visit our website for more details, to watch the video, read the FAQs, and sign up for our program. LINK IN BIO.⠀
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— The Afghan Community Impact Incubator powered by AYEDI x #RisingYouth is proud to support youth-led community service projects that will create an impact in Afghan communities across Canada. — ⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #AfghanYouth #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #JeunesEnAction #LeadersDaujourdhui #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration #TakingItGlobal
⁣🗣🗣HAPPENING TOMORROW! Do you have questio ⁣🗣🗣HAPPENING TOMORROW! Do you have questions about ACII?⁉ Do you want to know more about Rising Youth funding💰? Do you need ideas💡 for a virtual community project? No problem! 👇⠀
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📍 Join us TOMORROW, Saturday, November 7 at 11:00AM for our INFORMATION SESSION. Link in bio to register!! 📍⠀
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You can also take a quick peek at our FAQ on our website, and never hesitate to send us a direct message! We are here to help.⠀
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Sign up today, to be part of ACIIs first cohort of change-makers!⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #AfghanYouth #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #JeunesEnAction #LeadersDaujourdhui #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration #TakingItGlobal
⁣⁣🗣🗣 Are you an Afghan-Canadian Change M ⁣⁣🗣🗣 Are you an Afghan-Canadian Change Maker? Do you need $1500 to bring your community project to life? If you answered yes, then keep reading! 👇⠀⠀
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The Afghan Community Impact Incubator (ACII) powered by AYEDI x #RisingYouth aims to encourage young leaders and changemakers in the Afghan community, by supporting their actions to improve the lives of others. We want to hear from more Afghan youth. We want to support more projects! ⠀
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📍Don’t forget to attend our Information Session on Saturday, November 7 at 11:00am-12:00pm to learn more about our program. LINK IN BIO. ⠀⠀
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⁣SIGN UP TODAY AT AYEDI.CA/INCUBATOR⠀⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #AfghanYouth #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #JeunesEnAction #LeadersDaujourdhui #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration #TakingItGlobal ⠀
⁣Introducing the Afghan Community Impact Incubat ⁣Introducing the Afghan Community Impact Incubator (ACII) Program ‼⠀
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📣📣Do you have an idea for a project in the Afghan community but need financial support? Are you an inspired 15-30 year-old Change Maker ready to take action? AYEDI’s got you.👊⠀
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AYEDI is partnering with TakingITGlobal’s #RisingYouth Program to launch the first Afghan-focused community impact incubator of its kind in Canada. 🇦🇫🇨🇦⠀
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The Afghan Community Impact Incubator (ACII) will provide Afghan youth with up to $1500 💰 in financial support to implement community service projects across Canada. ⠀
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ACII is a fast paced one-month program that offers you: ⠀
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Ideation and project design advice⠀
Grant writing and application workshop⠀
Access up to $1500 in #RisingYouth funding ⠀
Guidance to launch your project ⠀
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Ready to join #ACII and bring your project to life? Sign up online at the link in our bio!⠀
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Don’t forget to attend our Information Session on Saturday, November 7 at 11:00am-12:00pm to learn more about our program.⠀⁣ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
LINK IN BIO FOR MORE INFO. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#AYEDI #ACII #Incubator #ChangeMaker #AfghanYouth #RisingYouth #LeadersToday #JeunesEnAction #LeadersDaujourdhui #Youth #YouthEmpowerment #CivicAction #GetInvolved #YouthAction #YouthActivism #Canada #PassionToAction #BeTheChange #Inspiration #TakingItGlobal
Our Executive Director, Khalidha Nasiri (@khalidha Our Executive Director, Khalidha Nasiri (@khalidhana) will be speaking at @ruengagex’s Canada Vote Summit 2020 on a panel on voter engagement this week!

DATE: Tuesday, October 6th 
TIME: 2pm-2:50pm

“How do we demystify the voting process for first time and infrequent voters? What outreach strategies work and which are counter-productive?”

The Canada Vote Summit is FREE to attend. Link in our bio to register!

#democracydialogues #voterengagement #onpoli #cdnpoli
**PROGRAM IS FULL** We are officially at capacity **PROGRAM IS FULL**

We are officially at capacity for our Afghan Youth Mentorship Program!

Thank you to all of the mentors and mentees who have signed up. Some reminders:

👉🏼 Those who applied to be mentors must complete the full Matching Survey by this end of day today (check your email!)

👉🏼 Mentors and mentees will be contacted with next steps within 2 weeks

#afghan #youth #mentorship #toronto #scarborough #afghanyouth
AYEDI is excited to introduce you to our new Vice AYEDI is excited to introduce you to our new Vice President, Marjila Yousof! 

For the past year, Marjila has served on AYEDI’s Advisory Board as a Political Engagement and Outreach Advisor. As VP, she will be responsible for setting the group’s overall strategic objectives and direction, and working with the Executive and Advisory Board to deliver on AYEDI’s mission and vision. 

Her work to date has been shaped by that which she is most passionate about: improving the economic, social and cultural positions of women and girls, and encouraging the civic engagement of Afghan-Canadian youth. She is driven by a desire to identify and address the many and often times compounded barriers one may face to civic engagement – as a woman, a minority, a young person, and/or an immigrant. 

As a Policy Consultant, she has worked with YWCA Toronto Girl’s Centre, advocating for government investment in girls. Prior to this, she worked for a Member of Parliament and managed all activities of the Canada-Afghanistan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, including promoting the expansion of positive relations between Canada and Afghanistan, liaising with the Embassy of the Republic of Afghanistan and keeping updated communications with Global Affairs Canada officials on the Afghanistan program. 

Marjila earned her Master of Public Policy from the University of Toronto, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York University. 

By leveraging her academic and professional experience she hopes to support the building of a future where the voices of Afghan-Canadian youth are amplified. 

Marjila strongly believes in AYEDI’s mission and the importance of creating meaningful platforms for knowledge sharing, civic engagement, and advocacy. She is looking forward to bringing her expertise and passion to her new role with AYEDI, and to continue creating spaces for Afghan-Canadian youth to actively engage with and participate in.

Please join us in congratulating Marjila! 👏🏼

Get to know more about our team at: https://ayedi.ca/about-us/our-executive-board/
Have you applied for OSAP? Are you in or starting Have you applied for OSAP? Are you in or starting college or university?

Join us for a FREE Zoom webinar to learn all about:

- How to manage and maintain your OSAP loan
- How to apply for scholarships and bursaries at your university
- Specific scholarship opportunities available for Afghan-Canadians

Register at osapwebinar.eventbrite.ca or link in bio.

This webinar is hosted by @fatima_stridesto, @supportistanay, and AYEDI

#afghanyouth #osap #scholarships #scholarshipopportunities #university #college #youth #financialliteracy
Are you an Afghan aged 15 to 21 in Toronto? Do you Are you an Afghan aged 15 to 21 in Toronto? Do you want $200 and a mentor to support you with education, life skills, and career development? 

🗣: Join our Afghan Youth Mentorship Program, Forge Your Future as a participant!

This program is for Afghan youth aged 15 to 21 in east Toronto.

Afghan youth will gain skills and competencies to:
- Enhance their resiliency and build their capacity to pursue higher education and employment opportunities
- Improve access to Afghan-Canadian mentors who share similar lived experiences
- Build social and emotional wellness by providing safe spaces for youth to discuss issues specific to our community

More information on our posters and link for participant sign up is in our bio!

We would like to thank the City of Toronto for funding this program.

#afghan #youth #toronto #community #engagement #leadership #mentorship #university #college #highschool #scarborough
Anti-Black racism is prevalent in Canada, North Am Anti-Black racism is prevalent in Canada, North America and around the world, and the Afghan community is no exception. It is extremely important for the Afghan community to acknowledge the anti-Black racism that is prevalent in our homes, community spaces and peers. @arch.canada, AYEDI, @fatima_stridesto, @strides_toronto invite you to join us for an informational and discussion-based webinar about anti-Black racism in our community. ⠀

Come learn about the history of anti-Black racism, how it is institutionalized, the importance of allyship and how we can work individually and as a community to be better allies. For the second half of the session, we will take a step back and have a discussion about the ways that anti-Black racism is prevalent in the Afghan community and how to have discussions with family members about it. ⠀

We work from an anti-oppressive approach to which the team believes in practicing cultural humility and ongoing learning. We are committed to challenging systems, biases, racism and personal privilege. ⠀

This event is free to attend but we’ve also provided a pay-what-you-can ticket donation option. All funds raised through our donation tickets will go towards Not Another Black Life (@notanotherblacklife). If you are financially able to donate, we encourage you to do so. ⠀

Register on Eventbrite (link in bio) for our Zoom webinar discussion.
With regards to Sunday’s @skatoronto protest, wh With regards to Sunday’s @skatoronto protest, why we do not support it and will not be attending.
Saturday, June 6 2020 ⠀ The Afghan Youth Engage Saturday, June 6 2020 ⠀

The Afghan Youth Engagement and Development Initiative (AYEDI) would like to acknowledge the ongoing and collective grief, anger, and outcry concerning state-sanctioned police brutality and systematic anti-black racism against Black people in Canada and the United States. ⠀

#BlackOutTuesday is not only about being silent. We need to speak up and amplify important voices and information. As Afghan-Canadians, it is our responsibility to stand against anti-Black racism, and recognize and confront our own biases and complicity within ourselves. Anti-Black racism is present in the Afghan community and this plays a part in perpetuating systemic racism. We need to do more to challenge these views whether it is expressed by our neighbours, families, friends, and community. ⠀

We mourn and honour the lives of George Floyd, Andrew Loku, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Regina Korchinski-Paquet, D’andre Campbell and countless other lives that were unjustly taken away by the ongoing state-sanctioned police violence and systematic anti-Black racism. ⠀

We’ve listed a few links below and we encourage the community to support our brothers and sisters across the border in their struggle if you are financially able to do so: ⠀

1. https://minnesotafreedomfund.org 
2. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/freeblackmamas202 
3. https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd 
4. https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/ 
5. If you are posting your pledges to allyship right now and can afford it, please donate to Healing Collective Toronto. They are supporting Black therapists in providing low to no cost therapy to Black communities. https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-fund-for-blackled-mental-health-supports ⠀

No Justice. No Peace. ⠀

Black Lives Matter. ⠀

With love and solidarity, ⠀

AYEDI ⠀

Photo credit: @adeprogress
We support the Canadian Vote Coalition’s call to We support the Canadian Vote Coalition’s call to build a more inclusive #democracy, and applaud the work of community organizations who engaged Canadians in the 2019 federal elections. Informed by our experiences, AYEDI is proud to be a signatory on @ruengagex’s open letter to Elections Canada with 5 recommendations to improve voter engagement. Link in bio or www.engagedemocracy.ca/open-letter

#cdnpoli #elxn43 #youthengagement #afghan
Statement by AYEDI on Fatal Flight PS752 in Iran ⠀

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ⠀

Toronto, Ontario
January 15, 2020 ⠀

Salaam/Peace be upon you: ⠀

The Afghan Youth Engagement and Development Initiative (AYEDI) would like to share our deepest and sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of the 176 passengers killed on Ukrainian Flight PS752 on January 8, 2020 in Tehran, Iran. We grieve and mourn with you. ⠀

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani has confirmed that thirteen Afghan nationals were also on the flight, whose names have not yet been published. We hope that they are remembered and we pray for them and their families. ⠀

Justice must be given to those who have lost their lives. As Afghans know all too well, at the end of the day civilians are often the ones who bear the brunt of geopolitical tensions. We stand firmly in solidarity with our Iranian brothers and sisters both here in Canada and across borders globally to advocate for non-violent resolutions. ⠀

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un;
Indeed, to God we belong and to God we shall return (2:156) ⠀

With sincere love and solidarity, ⠀

AYEDI ⠀

Media may contact team@ayedi.ca for comment.
Today is Election Day! Make sure you #getoutandvo Today is Election Day! Make sure you #getoutandvote anytime from 9am-9pm at your local polling station ⠀

Join us at our Election Night Results Viewing Party - everyone is welcome, there will be free pizza!! Join us in watching the election results from 7pm-11pm at UTSC Room MW 120

Today is the last day to enter our Afghan Voter Contest where the winner will receive a $40 Tim Horton's gift card: www.ayedi.ca/contest (link in bio) ⠀

The Afghan Vote Coalition is a group of Afghan-led organizations who have united to send a message to all Afghan-Canadians to be informed and engaged in our democratic system by voting! ⠀

We thank the following groups for joining us to unite in this call: Afghan Professionals of Ontario (@afghanprofessionals), Afghans Reviving Cultural Heritage (@arch.canada), Afghan Student Union (ASU) @ UTSC (@asu_utsc), Afghan Youth Committee (@ayconline), Afghan Students' Association at UTM (@asautm), and ASA at UofT St. George (@utorontoasa) ⠀

#elxn43 #cdnpoli #afghanyouth
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  • Sept 2019 blog: My Story As A Hijabi Afghan Muslim Woman
  • May 2019 Blog: Maryam Monsef & Lessons on Resilience
  • Reflections on 2018 – here we come, 2019!
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