Interview with Nooria Kamran from Children Without Borders

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Nooria Kamran, founder and co-president of Children Without Borders (CWB), a registered non-profit organization with the mission to eradicate child labour in Afghanistan and other underdeveloped countries. Nooria works as a marketing director and law clerk at Ristich Law and is the mother of two young children. Despite her busy schedule, she still manages to make her activism a priority.

What inspired you to start CWB?

Seeing the privileges and opportunities that children living in the west are afforded, my friend and co-founder, Farid Zamani and I, decided to create a platform to help children in Afghanistan and other underdeveloped countries access quality education regardless of financial status.

Can you describe the moment you decided to start CWB?

Starting off was a moment of mixed emotions. As excited as I was to launch CWB, I was also nervous. It meant a lot of work, a lot of time away from my family and children, but I remained focused on the outcome of our work.

What challenges did you face starting your organization?

First and foremost, it was building the trust between CWB and potential donors. People were concerned that there would be administrative costs associated with their donations, they preferred to donate directly to the beneficiaries rather than a newly founded organization. CWB delivers 100% of the proceeds to the beneficiaries and does not to charge an administrative fee on any donation.

What successes has CWB experienced?

CWB was launched in October 2016 in Toronto and Kabul. We began our vision by sponsoring three families. Today we have expanded our vision into eight different provinces across Afghanistan with more than 486 students currently in our long-term sponsorship program. In 2020, CWB launched various campaigns and successfully raised $375,805.00 despite all the challenges created by COVID-19. We also delivered food packages to over 800 families in 15 provinces across Afghanistan.

How do you see CWB growing?

At CWB, in addition to fighting child labour, we are also in the midst of launching family empowerment initiatives which will assist families in becoming self-sufficient and financially independent.

Can you share an impact story from a child or family that you have helped through CWB?

In August 2017, we came across two young girls named Aziza and Halima. In 2015, they lost their father to cancer. Their mother, Salima, was working between houses and was still unable to provide for her six children. As a result, their mother was forced to give her two younger sons to a nearby orphanage, and Aziza and Halima both quit school and began sewing purses to get by.

When our member arrived at their house for an assessment, they were being evicted from their house and their household items were being thrown out. Four years later, last month, both Aziza and Halima graduated from high school after acquiring first position in their respective classes. They are now preparing for the Kankor exam. Halima wants to become a doctor while Aziza wants to study computer science. Had it not been for CWB, these children would have not had the opportunity to pursue their dreams.

What is your favourite part of the work you do?

The relief when we confirm a family’s long-term sponsorship. Most of the children who are labelled as beggars and shoe polishers, have great potential; all they need is a hand to guide them and a pen to rewrite their future.

Have you experienced any challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Due to the pandemic, CWB has not been able to organize many events for the community due to the restrictions that were in place in the GTA. However, we have still managed to raise more funds than last year; people seem to be giving more during these trying times.

How can others get involved with CWB?

We have a lot of vacancies at CWB and are always looking for eager and passionate individuals to join our movement. The jobs are posted on our website, www.childrenwithoutborders.ca.

What advice would you give to other Afghan-Canadians who want to start their own non-profit or take on a major project?

Canada is a land of opportunities and a place where our dreams can be a reality. There is a lot of help that is needed in Afghanistan, whether it’s for development, child labour, women’s rights and so much more. Those of us living in the west are fortunate and have that opportunity to do something beneficial for our motherland.

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Website: www.childrenwithoutborders.ca