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(© REUTERS)Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, the Founder and Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), has issued an urgent appeal for international assistance in the wake of a devastating earthquake that struck Herat and nearby provinces in Afghanistan on October 7th. The natural disaster has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in the country, leaving thousands dead and many more without homes or basic necessities. AIL has been actively providing aid in the form of shelter, medical care, and food, but the scale of the disaster necessitates a larger, international response.   (© UNICEF)Dr. Yacoobi emphasizes that Afghanistan is in a state of \"unimaginable crisis,\" worsened by ongoing conflict, displacement, and economic instability. She urges donors, philanthropic organizations, and governments worldwide to provide immediate and substantial support to help the affected communities recover. AIL has a 30-year history of serving Afghan communities, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare for women and children, and is now leading the relief efforts in the earthquake-hit areas. Your support, Dr. Yacoobi says, can make a meaningful difference in alleviating suffering and aiding recovery.Donate to Sakena Fund

24 March, 2023DarpanLess than 2 weeks away to go for the Power Women of Influence Gala 2023, we\'re so excited to announce our power-packed panel, — The Hon Attorney General of British Columbia, Niki Sharma, Business Leader and Regional Vice President of RBC, Devinder K. Gill; Social Activist also known as the \"Mother of Education\" in Afghanistan, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi; Indian Actor and the Winner of the Miss Universe pageant 2000, Lara Dutta Bhupathi; Media Personality and Host of CBC Vancouver News at 6, Anita Bathe. Neetu Garcha from Global BC will be the moderator.Be it in the form of a gentle, soothing touch from our selfless mothers, or the fearless and bold leadership of global leaders, we are surrounded by women of excellence in more ways than one. As mothers, daughters, and sisters, we are no strangers to the many sacrifices the female figures in our lives continue to make, going above and beyond to contribute to the betterment of our families and society.In the workforce, we have seen an uprising of women who, everyday, break the shackles of gender inequality and shatter glass ceilings to realize not only their own full potential, but really that of humanity overall! While world-renowned names may often grace the media and high profile events, sometimes, local heroes who are close to home may go unnoticed. Undoubtedly, it is these gifted and driven women who are making impactful positive contributions to society, which creates a ripple effect and leaves a global footprint. The time has come to recognize these women for all that they are, and for all that they have done for our communities. Having experienced the South Asian community inside out, DARPAN Magazine wholeheartedly takes on its next calling by humbly taking on the noble responsibility and honor of creating a platform to celebrate, admire, and recognize esteemed and accomplished women in our community. We take this opportunity to invite you to partner with DARPAN Magazine as we embark on this journey and urge you to join hands with us in celebrating the very females that build our homes and strengthen our communities, at the first ever DARPAN Power Women of Influence 2023. While world-renowned names may often grace the media and high profile events, sometimes, local heroes who are close to home may go unnoticed. Undoubtedly, it is these gifted and driven women who are making impactful positive contributions to society, which creates a ripple effect and leaves a global footprint. The time has come to recognize these women for all that they are, and for all that they have done for our communities. Having experienced the South Asian community inside out, DARPAN Magazine wholeheartedly takes on its next calling by humbly taking on the noble responsibility and honor of creating a platform to celebrate, admire, and recognize esteemed and accomplished women in our community. We take this opportunity to invite you to partner with DARPAN Magazine as we embark on this journey and urge you to join hands with us in celebrating the very females that build our homes and strengthen our communities, at the first ever DARPAN Power Women of Influence 2023. The first ever Darpan\'s Power Women of Influence 2023 event, proudly hosted by DARPAN Magazine, will take place on Friday, March 24, 2023.Ranging from business leaders and local politicians to young activists and TV personalities along with our chief guest (a world renowned celebrity) who will be walking for a cause and a power packed panel discussion. Our attendees witness their inspiring journey, which is then revered and celebrated by the community as a whole. DARPAN Power Women of Influence 2023 event will be one of the most-anticipated events in the Lower Mainland drawing 500-600 influential members such as key stakeholders, respected community and business leaders, and political dignitaries.The evening will consist of a Cocktail and Networking hour/ Extraordinary keynote speakers and a Panel Discussion by BC’s most influential South Asian women, followed by top-notch entertainment, and a gourmet meal. 

Bakersfield.com 2022. 6. 1(Picture: Yahoo Finance)WASHINGTON, DC and LONDON, June 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Fund for Children announces the winners of the 2022 Juliette Gimon Courage Awards today, recognizing the perseverance of three organizations working to challenge systems that exclude children and youth from education.This year’s winners are IRODA in Tajikistan, Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Society ( WAVES ) in Sierra Leone, and Afghan Institute of Learning ( AIL ) in Afghanistan, which are being honored for their work supporting children and youth who have been excluded from formal schooling. The three winners are committed to defending the rights of young people to access quality education and reach their full potential.IRODA was founded by Dr. Lola Nasriddinova and her husband Fazliddin after their five-year-old son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), at a time when medical professionals in Tajikistan had limited knowledge of ASD and children with ASD were not accepted into school. Lola and Fazliddin gathered a group of parents experiencing the same situation and established an organization to support children with ASD.IRODA has since pioneered ASD services and support across Tajikistan, training professionals and parents who work with children with ASD; helping children with ASD enroll in formal school and young adults with ASD find employment; and setting up both the first social enterprise café and the first early intervention resource center in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.“We have traveled a difficult and thorny path that has led us from being parents who were feeling lost and isolated to becoming activists and professionals working in the field of autism,” said Dr. Nasriddinova, the Executive Director of IRODA. “Thank you to all of those who have traveled this path with us, and above all, thank you to our children who have changed our lives and given us courage.”WAVES was founded by Hannah Yambasu in 2005. After personally experiencing childhood abuse and fighting to remain free of an arranged marriage, Hannah has dedicated herself to advocating for girls’ rights to freedom from violence and access to education. At great personal risk, she has confronted practices such as child marriage and female genital cutting, as well as advocating for policy changes that benefit girls and women.WAVES empowers girls to speak out against sexual and gender-based violence and to advocate for their sexual and reproductive health and rights, while engaging adults in the community to adopt more supportive attitudes and practices. One of the organization’s greatest achievements is successfully advocating to overturn a government ban in Sierra Leone that prohibited pregnant girls from attending mainstream schools and sitting for national exams.“We believe the award is recognition of our hard work and commitment to creating a safe and enabling environment for women and girls,” said Yambasu, the Executive Director of WAVES. “This award inspires confidence and passion in us to continue to address issues relating to women and adolescents, especially girls, and to do more to build the agency of young people to speak out against sexual and gender-based violence, advocate for sexual and reproductive rights, and become agents of change in their communities.”Dr. Sakena Yacoobi founded AIL after witnessing as a child the struggles women and children faced accessing health care and education.Since its inception in 1995, AIL has significantly increased access to education for girls and women by providing them with private schools and learning centers and by fostering literacy. AIL delivers leadership and human rights workshops, including a two-year leadership program for high school students and a women’s empowerment program for 70 female leaders in Herat, Afghanistan. The organization also set up a legal clinic to enable women to understand their rights and access free legal assistance. With growing concerns about girls’ access to schools and education again, AIL is exploring safe ways to bring education to girls and women, including a partnership with TV Meraj for a televised education program that would reach children without access to school.“It means the world to me to receive this award because children are the hope for a peaceful future – we must nurture and put them above all,” said Dr. Yacoobi, AIL’s Executive Director. “I am a voice for millions of Afghan children suffering through such crises who are not being heard. I know how much it meant to Juliette to see children happy, given opportunities, and succeed in all parts of the world.”Global Fund for Children gives the annual Courage Awards through the Juliette Gimon Fund for Courageous Leadership – a more than $1 million endowment made possible by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and other donors – in honor of Juliette Gimon, who passed away in 2018. A former GFC Board Chair, Gimon helped shape GFC through her wisdom, insights, and profound concern for children, changing hundreds of thousands of young lives across the globe.“We’re delighted to recognize IRODA, WAVES, and AIL for their dedication to challenging systems that are excluding young people from education and for helping children to access essential needs and become agents of change in their own communities,” said John Hecklinger, President and CEO of Global Fund for Children. “Like Juliette, the leaders of the winning organizations are brave women who are passionate about supporting children and youth.”This year, the Courage Award Selection Committee has designated a new category of award recognition, honorees, to celebrate more community-based organizations positively impacting children in challenging circumstances. Along with the 2022 award winners, the 2022 honorees have demonstrated incredible courage in service of social change.In Peru, 2022 honoree Yanapanakusun provides housing, access to education, and other support to child and adolescent laborers, migrants, and trafficking survivors, as well as to other young people in vulnerable circumstances. In Honduras, 2022 honoree Warriors Zulu Nation Honduras empowers youth in neighborhoods with a significant gang presence to practice different art forms while exploring social issues that impact their communities.The 2022 Courage Award winners were selected from among 14 finalists that have empowered children and youth to overcome tremendous obstacles, including inequality, exploitation, and a lack of access to quality education.Join Global Fund for Children on June 16 to celebrate 2022 Courage Award winners and to meet their inspirational founders. Register for the online event today.ABOUT GLOBAL FUND FOR CHILDRENGlobal Fund for Children partners to build a world where all children and youth enjoy equal resources and opportunities in society and live free from violence, discrimination, and exploitation. To that end, GFC invests in innovative local organizations, helping them deepen their impact and develop their capacity for social change. Together, GFC and its partners advance the rights of children and youth facing poverty and injustice and equip them with the tools and skills to reach their full potential. Since 1997, Global Fund for Children has invested $51 million in more than 900 organizations, reaching more than 11 million children and youth worldwide. For more information, visit www.globalfundforchildren.org.ABOUT THE JULIETTE GIMON COURAGE AWARDSJuliette Gimon, a former Board Chair of Global Fund for Children, passed away on February 24, 2018. GFC established the Juliette Gimon Fund for Courageous Leadership, a more than $1 million endowment made possible by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and other generous donors. Annual awards from the fund – the Juliette Gimon Courage Awards – recognize innovative grassroots organizations around the world that are positively impacting children in especially challenging circumstances. Some recipients have overcome considerable obstacles to pioneer an innovation that transforms circumstances for children and youth. Others demonstrate the courage of resilience, thriving amid unusual contextual challenges; still others have leaders who have navigated personal hardship and channeled adversity into their organization’s cause. For more information, visit www.globalfundforchildren.org/courage-awards.ABOUT IRODADushanbe, TajikistanIRODA provides access to quality services appropriate for the unique needs of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a context where there is a lack of knowledge and acceptance of ASD, IRODA trains professionals and parents on working with children with ASD, facilitates a parent support group, and helps children with ASD enroll in formal school. The organization has partnered with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in Tajikistan to create guidelines for the clinical diagnosis of ASD and initiated the first early intervention resource center at a local preschool in Dushanbe. For more information, visit https://autism.tj/.ABOUT WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE AND EXPLOITATION IN SOCIETY (WAVES)Bo, Sierra LeoneWAVES develops the capacity of girls in Bo, Sierra Leone, both in and out of school, to speak out against sexual and gender-based violence, advocate for sexual and reproductive rights, and become agents of change in their communities. The organization also conducts extensive community outreach and advocates for policy changes to benefit girls and women. WAVES stands with girls and women who are experiencing challenging social norms, such as child marriage, and advocates for their rights to education, employment, political participation, and social justice. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/WavesWomenRightsSL/.ABOUT AFGHAN INSTITUTE OF LEARNING (AIL)Kabul, AfghanistanThe Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) increases access to education in Afghanistan by providing women and children with education, health care, and health education. The women-led organization supports youth clubs and offers training on a range of topics including peace, leadership, and human rights to both youth and women. AIL has also set up a legal clinic offering free advice and representation for women. The organization’s founder, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, has established 352 learning centers and four schools, as well as a hospital, a radio station, and a TV station, in Afghanistan. For more information, visit https://www.sakena.org/afghan-institute-of-learning.php.

The Sunhak Peace Prize presentation was made by founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, and Sunhak Committee Chair, Dr. Il Sik Hong, at the UPF World Summit with the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace attended by 800 former and current members of parliament from 120 countries. Dr. Gino Strada, 68, a surgeon who works on the front lines of war zones and in refugee camps, and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, 66, an Afghan educator who teaches in resettlement camps in Afghanistan, were selected as co-recipients of the Sunhak Peace Prize at a ceremony in Seoul, Korea on Friday, March 3.The Sunhak Peace Prize was founded in 2015 by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, widow of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, who died in 2013. The Sunhak Peace Prize, awarded biannually, “honors individuals or organizations that have made enduring contributions to peace and human development for future generations,” according to the Sunhak Foundation which gives the award.Dr. Strada is an Italian surgeon and founder of the NGO Emergency, recognized by the United Nations. Emergency has operated in theaters of war in thirteen countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, and the Central African Republic.In the late 1980s and early-90s, as a heart surgeon with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), he worked in war zones in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Peru, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Bosnia. His field experience motivated him and a group of colleagues to found Emergency as an NGO. He said he wanted to create “a small, agile, highly specialized medical organization.” He wanted to be able to go into conflict areas quickly, bypassing the usual bureaucratic delays.Today, Emergency operates eight surgical hospitals in areas of conflict in Africa and the Asian subcontinent. The organization has also established more than fifty first-aid health care centers near heavily mined areas, many of them in and around areas of active conflict.In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Strada said, “Refugees often ask me, ‘what did I do wrong?’ That question always shocks me. The elimination of war or human conflict is the only practical solution to end human suffering, and it is the only practical solution to end human suffering.”This year’s co-recipient, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, is the CEO of the Afghan Institute of Learning, which she founded in 1995 in response to the lack of education and healthcare that the Afghan people were facing after decades of war and strife. Since its founding, the organization has either has worked at the grassroots level, establishing four schools, a hospital, and a radio station. Her work has a beneficial impact on the lives of millions of Afghans, especially with her work educating young girls and women. Her efforts have greatly reduced the infant mortality rate and the death rate of Afghan women and improved the illiteracy rate among Afghan women.In her acceptance remarks, she said, “In 1979, all my family members became refugees in the war between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan. I know what deprived me of all my rights; I know what I have forfeited. For that reason, I must pass along this award to Afghan women and children today.”Dr. Hong, who is the former president of Korea University, said, “As a prize founded on the vision for peace in recognition that the people of the world are one family under God, the committee elected to present the refugee crisis as its core theme for the 2017 awards.”Chairman Hong, added, “Presently as we face the largest number of displaced persons on the global level since World War II, the international community must make a transnational effort for the common benefit of humankind.” He added, “In order to create a world of lasting peace, the award’s founder emphasized the love for humanity that transcends divisions of race, national borders, ideology, and religion.”Chairman Hong asserted that “At a time when the global refugee crisis seems to be worsening by the day, these two laureates, who have devoted their lives to fundamentally rebuilding the lives of refugees through providing the most essential of our rights to ‘medical aid’ and ‘education,’ are the heroes of this era.”The award ceremony, held in the Lotte World Hotel in Seoul, was attended by more than 800 delegates, including former President of Kiribati Anote Tong who gave a congratulatory address, saying, “The refugee crisis requires a global response, and therefore we must enhance the global effort through cooperation and coordination between all actors.”

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee today held their 2nd Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony and awarded a prize of $ 500,000, a medal, and a plaque to Gino Strada, a refugee medical relief activist, and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, an Afghan woman educator.Dr. Gino Strada has created an international medical NGO called EMERGENCY and has saved over 7 million lives by providing free-of-charge medical relief to war victims in the Middle East and Africa. Dr. Sakena Yacoobi has been recognized as a distinguished educator for women\'s education.The Sunhak Peace Prize is awarded biannually to individuals and organizations who have contributed to the peace and wellbeing of future generations.

Gino Strada, a refugee medical relief activist, and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, an Afghan woman educator, have jointly been selected as the winners of the 2017 Sunhak Peace Prize. The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee today held their 2nd Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony and presented the two laureates each with $ 500,000 in prize money along with a medal and plaque.Dr. Gino Strada was recognized for his work with EMERGENCY, a humanitarian medical relief organization he founded that provides free of charge medical care to war victims in the Middle East and Africa, and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi was recognized for her dedication to women\'s education in Islamic society.

Segye Times founder\'s birthday and Foundation Day commemoration, interview with the co-laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize - Afghan woman educator, Dr. Sakena YacoobiFebruary 3, 2017Refugees have gone through so much pain as part of a global village suffering from conflict and war. According to UNHCR\'s 2015 Global Report, the number of refugees worldwide is estimated at 16.12 million.  As US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on his immigration ban, and more European nations began following suit closing its borders, refugees found themselves in more difficulties.  But there are people who have been working hard for more than 20 years for refugees with nowhere to go. Italian surgeon Dr. Gino Strada (68), who saved over 8 million people by providing medical care to war victims in conflict areas around the globe, and Afghanistan\'s female educator Sakena Yacoobi (66), who presented a solution for refugee resettlement through education.  The two winners of the 2017 Sunhak Peace Prize were invited to attend the awards ceremony held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, Korea on February 3.  \"The refugees should be equally respected,\" they said in an interview with Segye Times on February 1, \"It is urgent that the international community addresses this crisis.\"Dr. Sakena Yacoobi explains the significance of refugee education in an interview with Segye Times, held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, Korea on February 1. By Sangyoon Ha, Segye Times Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, who has abandoned a comfortable lifestyle as a professor in the United States, has returned to Afghanistan to provide education for refugees.  In 1995, the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) was founded to establish a systematic educational foundation, and has educated over 13 million refugees to date.  \"When you become a refugee, you not only lose your way of life, but also your self-esteem as well,\" Dr. Yacoobi stated. \"If I am to succeed in helping them resettle through education, it is so important that the international community comes together on this issue.\"​― What was your reaction to winning the Sunhak Peace Prize?“I am very excited and happy to receive this award.  In a world with so many issues, I am grateful that the Committee raised the plight of refugees as their focus.”​―Why is education so important to refugees in particular?“Education is closely related to the economic power of the nation as well as to raising individual morality and values.  Educating women leads to educating children because they naturally learn through their mother, which leads to the education of the whole family itself.  Educating the family is ultimately linked to educating the whole society.”​―Was there a particular turn of events that made you give up a comfortable lifestyle as a professor in the United States and come back to your home country to devote myself to its education?“I am very lucky. I received a good education and a good paying job.  I was able to take care of myself enough to have a decent living.  But in the back of my mind, I always thought about my younger siblings in Afghanistan.  Though I was living a comfortable life, my family and the people I cared about back home, were suffering in Afghanistan.  I found myself disenchanted and asking myself what my life in America really meant.” On the morning of February 3, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon awards Dr. Sakena Yacoobi the Sunhak medal during the 2017 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony held at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, Korea. By Sangyoon Ha, Segye Times ―You must have gone through so much.  How were you able to overcome them?“I needed to establish trust with the community leaders and convince them that education would be safe and that it made society more abundant.  It was necessary to get their support so that everybody could be safely protected. The process took a long time.” ―It seems as though the Trump administration (US President) is taking a hostile stance against refugees.  Please share with us your feelings about this.“I feel very sorry it had to be that way.  Refugees are also human beings.  They are not objects or some different existence, but human beings just like us.  Refugees did not just simply lose their homes.  They lost everything, including their self-esteem and self-respect. The returning refugees are more economically and mentally exhausted. Refugees are mostly young women and children.  These people are the ones that give strength to the next generation.  Taking this into account, we should not ignore the refugee crisis in the US or in Europe.” ​―What concept would you recommend for the next Sunhak Peace Prize?“We should be concerned with the injustice in our society and its hegemony as a whole.  We must focus on creating a peaceful world without war where all people around the world can live a life of equality, not just a handful of privileged people.”By Hyejong Nam, Segye Times hjnam@segye.com

Doctor and educator dedicated to refugees honored at the 2nd award ceremony;Now all countries around the world must follow suit to solve the refugee crisisFeb 4, 2017Two peace messengers who gave life and hope to refugees throughout the world were jointly awarded the Sunhak Peace Prize.  The Sunhak Committee (Chaired by Dr. Il Sik Hong) awarded the 2nd Sunhak Peace Prize to Dr. Gino Strada of Italy and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi of Afghanistan, at the awards ceremony held yesterday at the Jamsil Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, Korea.  The Sunhak Peace Prize was enacted as a proposal by the founder of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, to realize the ideals set forth by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who emphasized that global peace must be achieved through true love.  The inaugural award was given in 2015, to Dr. Modadugu Gupta of India, who contributed to the resolution of the food crisis, and President Anote Tong of Kiribati, who strove to cope with climate change.This year\'s laureate, Dr. Strada, founded EMERGENCY, an international humanitarian medical group in 1994, helping over 8 million lives by providing medical relief in conflict zones in the Middle East and Africa. In his Acceptance Speech, he appealed, \"Renouncing the logic of war and practicing fraternity and solidarity is not only desirable but urgently needed if we want the human experiment to continue.\"  Dr. Yakoobi is called \"Mother of Education\" in Afghanistan.  She founded the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) in 1995 with the belief that education is the only solution for the future of refugees and educated over 13 million. Dr. Yacoobi stated, \"When you share love, compassion, and wisdom, you provide humanity with an indestructible base for living in peace and harmony that no one can take away.\"Today, the refugee crisis is a common human issue facing the whole world.  This is also why the Sunhak Committee has focused on the two righteous individuals who have dedicated themselves to solving this crisis.  According to UNHCR\'s 2015 Global Report, 16.12 million refugees have been displaced by war and persecution around the world.  Unlike the rapidly increasing numbers of refugees around the world, their presence is increasingly shrinking.  The majority of them have not even been properly given refugee status.  Recently, many developed countries in Europe and elsewhere, have refrained from letting refugees enter their borders because of risks to national security and employment.  The United States, which held a lenient stance on immigrants, has also begun locking its doors.  As President Donald Trump fired an anti-refugee administrative order, more than 50,000 Syrian refugees and 26,000 Somali refugees have fallen into international misery.We now live in an era of one global village where the whole world is coming together. How could we dare claim to care for the common fate of mankind, in such a world where our neighbors are suffering as refugees?  Committee Chairman, Dr. Il Sik Hong stated in his Welcoming Address, \"The international community should make transnational efforts to resolve the refugee crisis for the common good of mankind.\"  The two laureates paved the way for creating solutions to the refugee crisis with incredible courage and devotion.  Now the nations of the world must follow suit, transcending borders and races, and embracing all people as one family.[Original Article]​