One voice, one heart – The Story of Freshta Hemmati
Freshta Hemmati is an Afghan refugee who overcame many obstacles to pursue her passion for journalism. She arrived in Canada in August 2022 and now calls Charlottetown home.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 1996, Freshta’s family fled to Iran. Her parents homeschooled her because she did not have the right to an education as a refugee. At the age of 8, her family returned to Kabul, and she started school for the very first time in grade 4. Her father noticed Freshta’s extraordinary public speaking and leadership skills, and encouraged her to follow in his footsteps and enter politics. The positive support from her family has helped her achieve her goals.
“My mother always tells me to never stop flying higher. This makes me work harder to be the best version of myself and make my family proud,” says Freshta.
In 2014, Freshta entered the undergraduate program in journalism at Kabul University. She began her journalism career while still in her second year of university. After graduating in 2017, she worked as a journalist while also working as a communications advisor for a women’s empowerment initiative funded by the World Bank and the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
Freshta’s life took yet another turn when the Taliban regained control of the country in August 2021. Her work placed her under direct threat. Concerned for her safety, she escaped to Kazakhstan alone. Freshta used the time there to complete a 1-year master’s degree in social studies while her Canadian immigration application was being processed.
Upon her arrival in Canada in August 2022, she felt lost and lonely, but the respect, kindness and support she received from workers with the Immigration and Refugee Services Association (IRSA) in Prince Edward Island (PEI) helped her settle in her new Charlottetown community. She now feels safe and at peace, and finds comfort volunteering for Nuwelcom, a language app that helps newcomers adjust to life on PEI.
“IRSA has shown immense support in my resettlement journey,” says Freshta. “They helped me find friends and connected me with other Afghan families. The cultural events are organized to connect refugees with the residents.”
Shortly after her arrival in Canada, Freshta launched the Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization with the help of other Afghan journalists. Through this platform, she advocates on behalf of the unheard voices of Afghans globally, with a special focus on women. She also works part-time as a freelancer for CBC PEI and full-time as a client engagement facilitator for IRSA.
Freshta expresses gratitude and says, “I would like to thank the government of Canada for its commitment to help vulnerable Afghans. Canadians have shown great sympathy and stepped forward to support us.”
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