About US

Asma Faizi, President

Asma Faizi, is the President of the Afghan Women’s Organization. She is a lawyer. From January, 2006 to October, 2013 she worked as an associate at Torys LLP, where she primarily focuses on intellectual property litigation matters involving patents, trademarks and copyright. In November, 2013 accepted a position at SOCAN as In-house corporate counsel responsible for supporting licensing, IT, distribution, membership, marketing, communications, corporate, and litigation groups.

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Beheshta Jaghori, Vice President

Beheshta Jaghori, is currently serving as the Vice President of the Board of Directors at the Afghan Women’s Organization. Beheshta Jaghori is a doctoral candidate, completing the last year of a PhD program in Counselling Psychology at McGill University. She has a Masters degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia and an Honours Bachelor of Science in the same field from the University of Toronto.

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Huria Jalalzai, Treasurer

Huria Jalalzai, has a Masters degree in Public Policy and Administration from Ryerson University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. She is currently working as a Senior Advisor at the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development and since 2008 has worked with other ministries for both the provincial and federal government.

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Mina Saboor, Secretary

Mina Saboor, is a senior policy advisor for the Ontario government and has experience working in both the public and not-for-profit sectors. She obtained a bilingual Masters degree in Public & International Affairs from York University. After completing her Hons. BA in Political Science, Mina worked in New Delhi with a local non-governmental organization that serves abandoned children and young women in pursuit of higher education.

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Sheba Sheranze

Sheba Sheranze, has an educational and work background revolving around the financial services industry in customer service and finance the public sector. Sheba completed her Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Toronto in 2008. She is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA).

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Hakema Mashal Sidiqi

Mashal Siddiqi, is mother of four children. She is holding university degrees from faculty of the Literature Kabul University. After completing her higher education, she worked as a teacher at a girl’s high school.

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Kobra Rasul

Kobra Rasul, was first introduced to the Afghan Women’s Organization as a client in 1998 when she came as a refugee to Canada. She is a busy mother of four children. Kobra is a good role model for other refugees. She raised well educated children who contribute positively in Canadian Society.

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Parween Pazhwak

Parween Pazhwak, has graduated from Abu Ali Sina-e-Balkhi Medical Institute in Kabul, Afghanistan. She is a writer, a poet and children’s rights advocate.

Following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, she spent two years in Pakistan as a refugee before moving to Canada in 1994. She is married and has 4 children.

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Abeda Baluch

Abeda Baluch, is an active member of the immigrant and refugee Community. She is the mother of four children, three sons and one daughter. She has over 20 years of experience in media, including TV, radio and newspaper publications.

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Nasimeh Bayat

Nasimeh Bayat, immigrated to Canada in May of 2000 with my two kids and brother, settling down in the city of Brandon, Manitoba. Shortly after her arrival, she first started working at a nursing home for the elderly, and then moved on to acquiring a second job at a regional health center where she worked for a duration of 6 years.

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Sumaya Karimi

Sumaya Karimi has a Master’s Degree in Social work from University of Toronto. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social work and Psychology from York University. She is currently working as a registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Worker. Sumaya has extensive experience in working in hospitals, non-profit, government and university. She has worked with diverse and vulnerable communities including children, youth, women and families experiencing multiple barriers. While working with them she identified their complex needs, provided case management, advocacy, support and referral. She has experience in providing group facilitation, trauma-informed, solution focused, strength-based counselling and crisis intervention.

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