Afshin Jam on The Nazanin Foundation, family and life
Last week Kodoom.com had a chance to chat with Iranian-born Canadian human rights activist Nazanin Afshin Jam MacKay about her new charitable organization. Nazanin successfully campaigned to stop, in 2007, the execution of Nazanin Fatehi, a 17-year old Iranian girl who had stabbed a rapist in Karaj (a suburb of Tehran). The awe-inspiring story and connection of the two Nazanins was captured in "The Tale of Two Nazanins." To deliver on her promise to use half the proceeds of "The Tale of Two Nazanins" for future initiatives aiding and empowering women and children in need, Afshin Jam is in the midst of launching a new charitable organization, The Nazanin Foundation, the beneficiary of an upcoming event in Toronto by Comics Without Borders (Event link). Nazanin will be speaking at that event. A summary of our informal chat follows:
Kodoom.com: Why The Nazanin Foundation? How does it build upon your previous work?
Nazanin: Through my experiences with Nazanin Fatehi and Stop Child Executions, I realized the dire need for "non-political" programs to educate and empower women and youth. In particular, I wanted to set aside funds to support sheltering abused girls in impoverished areas such as rural Kurdistan. I also wanted to empower girls everywhere by promoting to them positive intelligent female role models, different than Kardashians [Nazanin smiling]! The new foundation is totally non-political, non-religious in nature.
Kodoom.com: You are former Miss World Canada, a licensed pilot, social activist and fluent in three languages. You have also tackled many perceived barriers in your own life, such as the male-dominated world of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Who are your own personal role models?
Nazanin: There are some well known and some lesser known people. For example, in Ethiopia, I witnessed the incredible dedication and work of Dr. Catherine Hamlin in treating women afflicted with obstetric fistula. I learned a lot from Mother Theresa. In Iran, I admire Nasrin Sotoudeh, the human rights activist and lawyer who tirelessly stands for her principles despite prison time and separation from her family, not unlike other democratic civil rights activists such as Aung San Suu Kyi, Nelson Mandela and Gandhi, whom I all admire.
Kodoom.com: What advice would you have for young women today, particularly those of Iranian descent?
Nazanin: Do what you can. If you have a dream, make it a goal. To many Iranian families, beauty and material success are important. I also encourage them to raise "grounded" children. Nurture their souls and teach them the power of love.
Kodoom.com: Speaking of which, how do you balance professional life and motherhood yourself?
Nazanin: Like other women, I strive to balance work and family schedules. In 2013, I took some time away from my professional and activism roles to spend more time with my son Kian and my husband (Peter MacKay, currently Canadian Minister of Justice). I continue to be very involved in Kian's life, and so is his father.
Kodoom.com: How much do you know about Kodoom.com?
Nazanin: Of course, Kodoom.com has been my main source when I need to check for local Iranian news and events for years. And I see you have listed my upcoming speaking engagement at the comedy event benefiting The Nazanin foundation.
Afshin Jam has also spearheaded the Stop Child Executions (SCE), an independent, non-political human rights group run entirely by volunteers to put an end to child executions in Iran.
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