BY: NADIA ZAIDI We have a lot of opinions when it comes to Afghanistan. War, human rights violations, and global intervention are usually at the forefront of that discussion. But one organization is helping us remember that animals, too, must…
The harrowing culture of Bacha Bazi – where young boys are auctioned to the highest bidder for sex
BY: NADIA ZAIDI The trafficking of young girls and women is a global human rights violation, but in Afghanistan young boys are exclusively the targets of sex slavery. It’s an underground world that operates in secrecy from misguided extremism, and is gaining…
Tales of Migration: From Istanbul to Toronto
BY: AISHA ILYAD Mustafa was born in Afghanistan, but continued his studies in Istanbul, Turkey. When he was offered to continue his higher studies in the Toronto branch of his university, Mustafa was not sure whether he wanted to travel to…
Tales of migration: Chasing after the North American dream
BY: AISHA ILYAD Toronto, a city with a population of more than 2 million people and home to 6 million people in The Greater Toronto Area, is one of the most multicultural cities in the world and is ranked as the…
The world’s most friendly (and powerful) passports
BY: TONY BUCHNON If you had the choice of any passport you liked, which would you choose? As it turns out, your passport says more than you might realise about your level of access to the world. European countries tend…
Afghan weavers are putting images of drones on their rugs as a form of silent protest
BY: TYLER FYFE In Afghanistan, weavers have used designs on rugs as a way of preserving the cultural fabric of home. Weavers of the past were drawn to images of flowers and traditional geometric patterns. But with over a decade…
Skateboarder uses a loophole in Afghan law to give girls back their freedom
BY: JESSICA BEUKER Afghanistan is considered the most dangerous country in the world for women. This is due to a number of threats including: health issues, violence and economic discrimination. It’s a country where over 50 percent of the population…