Join Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship and Green Card Voices for an exhibition on the stories of recently arrived youth from Afghanistan and a panel discussion.

Inspired by the book “My City Was a Sparkling Jewel: Voices of Newcomer Youth from Afghanistan,” the exhibition and event will serve as a platform to explore the journeys of 30 storytellers, ages sixteen to twenty-two, who come from various ethnic groups: Pashtun, Hazara, Pashai, and Tajik. Using a trauma-informed approach to storytelling, Green Card Voices and its Afghan partners carefully collected the stories of these youth who share the challenges faced, opportunities grasped, and dreams these youth had, and still have, for themselves, and for the families and friends they left behind.

Speakers:

Tea Rozman, Co-Founder and Co-Executive of Green Card Voices

Julie Vang, Program Manager of Green Card Voices,

Zahidullah, born in Nangarhār, fondly remembers his province for its chapli kabab and oranges, and after a harrowing escape from the Taliban through multiple countries, he now enjoys his new life in Minnesota, where he navigates cultural differences while aspiring to become a lawyer or pursue a career in science.

Marwa, born in Kabul, shared a happy life with her parents and six siblings. Though she felt safe there, her family knew they had to leave months before the Taliban took control. After a difficult journey through Qatar and New Jersey, they finally settled in Minnesota. To Marwa, life in the U.S. feels like freedom—like a bird breaking out of its cage. She believes all Afghan women deserve the right to live as they choose and is determined to pursue her dream of becoming a police officer, a goal she’s had since childhood.