Fleeing Afghanistan<\/h2>\n
Leaving Afghanistan in 1999, her academic parents feared persecution but also knew the opportunities for their children were limited in such an oppressive regime.<\/p>\n
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Shabnam and her father on her graduation day<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cMy parents were academics,\u201d says Shabnam. \u201cMy father had completed his PhD in Law and my mother also studied Masters in Law. They knew their security was at risk. Anyone with connections with an academic background was under threat \u2013 they decided it was best to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coming to the UK, none of the family spoke English and the situation was extremely daunting with a new society and culture to adapt to.\u00a0 After two years, Shabnam\u2019s father had seen the gap in support for refugees and asylum seekers and he decided set up a charitable organisation, the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association<\/a>. The organisation provides support, skills and knowledge to help communities live and prosper in the UK. Over the years the charity grew and expanded its services across London, and in 2018 it was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Services<\/a>, awarded in recognition of its care, service and commitment to supporting marginalised communities in the UK.<\/p>\n Shabnam was inspired by her father\u2019s commitment and motivation.<\/p>\n \u201cGrowing up in that environment was motivating. Myself and me three siblings were academically driven and involved in the voluntary sector from a very young age. From the age of 18, informed by our own first-hand experiences, I was involved in designing holistic support for refugees adapting to their new life in the UK\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Doing very well in her A-levels, Shabnam could have opted to go to a mainstream university. But she did not want to leave the voluntary work she was doing at the time on women\u2019s project as she knew the experiences and skills she gained would bring long term benefits. She came across the idea of distance learning with The Open University.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMy parents saw my passion in what I was doing and supported my decision to start with the OU.\u00a0 The non-conventional way of studying would bring long term benefits to me. I liked that I could study in my own time and had independence to solve difficult tasks myself without distractions.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe best thing was if I had any questions my tutors were only a phone call or email away. Law is a difficult and intense subject; having someone on hand made it much better for me. I never felt lost through the OU system, there was always someone willing to help and give guidance.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Taking six years to complete her degree, Shabnam\u2019s friends who opted for traditional universities were graduating ahead of her.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was challenging seeing them complete their degrees. But, many of them had more debt and were unemployed for a while or not working in the areas they wanted to. I was still going but had already gained much more work experience. Some were confused as to why I had chosen the OU, many people think it is for older people, but when I explained what else I was doing alongside study, they were really impressed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was difficult to balance work and study. I didn\u2019t have a social life for a while, and I would work into the early hours sometimes. It was a lot to juggle \u2013 but I wouldn\u2019t be where I am if I hadn\u2019t done both. The fact I could arrange my timetable based on my own schedule meant I could manage it.\u201d<\/p>\n Part way through studying, Shabnam got a job for a local MP working as a Caseworker, the first point of contact for local constituents. She started using her new legal knowledge to deal with constituents\u2019 enquiries to resolve constituency and parliamentary policy issues.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first started with the OU I thought I would go on to practise Law, but as I went through the degree I realised I wanted to use my skills in a different way, to represent marginalised people.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n She has now moved into local government to implement the Prevent element of the Government\u2019s Counter Terrorism Strategy at a local level, helping to educate safeguarding professionals and raise awareness of the threat posed by radicalisation to local communities. “I was interested in how the Prevent Strategy responds to the ideological challenge faced from terrorism and aspects of extremism. With a refugee background, I was able to use my experience to raise awareness that individuals from diverse backgrounds can be British and express their identity and religion openly, it\u2019s what makes Britain.”<\/p>\n Shabnam completed her OU degree in 2016 and has since gone on to complete a Masters in International Security & Global Governance from Birkbeck University.<\/p>\n Shabnam’s family helped her celebrate her degree achievement<\/p><\/div>\n Shabnam also continues to volunteer, mentoring women who need support and guidance, and who are in vulnerable situations. These include refugees, domestic abuse victims, those lacking confidence or who have been discriminated against. She is using her professional experience to help guide them into training and work, to help them access services, or just to be a listening ear.\u00a0 Shabnam is also an Ambassador for the 50:50 Parliament campaign<\/a> to get more women into political life; and this could be something she does herself in years to come.<\/p>\nDeciding on the OU<\/h2>\n
Working with communities<\/h2>\n
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Passionate about politics<\/h2>\n