Ameen Foundation for Refugees and Inter Agency Network Education in Emergency

I am Khatira Amin, an Afghan refugee and the founder of the Ameen Foundation for Refugees (AFRe), a grassroots, refugee-led organization working in Pakistan’s underserved refugee camps. As a woman who had to fight for her own education against patriarchy, poverty, displacement, and cultural barriers, I am deeply committed to ensuring that no one—especially refugee girls and women—is left behind. At AFRe, we provide free weekend education to refugees, asylum seekers, and marginalized communities, particularly women who never had the opportunity to attend school. We also run mental health awareness sessions, support sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), and offer skill development programs to promote self-reliance. I founded this organization because I once lived these struggles—I know what it feels like to be denied basic rights simply because of my gender and my refugee status. Beyond AFRe, I serve as a member of the Refugee Education Council, country focal point for INEE, and a co-chair for the Education in Emergency Executive Committee under UNESCO’s Youth & Student Network. My advocacy focuses on education in emergencies, mental health, gender-based violence, and climate resilience. I raise my voice in national and global forums to make sure refugee communities are heard—especially those still waiting for resettlement or recognition and are cut off from education and livelihood opportunities. My mission is to create safe, accessible, and inclusive spaces where refugees, particularly women and girls, can dream beyond borders. My vision is a future where refugee-led voices are not just heard but are at the center of designing solutions that affect their lives.