The Girl Next Door from Afghanistan
Nelofer Pazira
- Click here to listen to a sample of the documentary.
(runs 6:58)
Moncton, New Brunswick is becoming a more diversified city these days. But in 1990, when Nelofer Pazira and her family arrived from Afghanistan, they were the only Afghan family. Nelofer was seventeen and spoke no English. Her family fled Kabul when the city was under constant attack and her father, a doctor, risked arrest because he didn't support the pro-Communist government.
Fifteen years later, Pazira is a journalism graduate from Carleton University. She has published her own story and spent the last few months on a book tour throughout North America. She has starred in feature films and contributed to CBC Television's The National. And later this spring, she will become familiar to CBC Radio audiences as one of the panelists on this year's edition of Canada Reads.
This week on Maritime Magazine, the story of her transformation from a shy immigrant girl to a confident international writer. Freelance broadcaster John Gaudi looks into how Moncton contributed to her accomplishments.
Related links:
The Dyana Afghan Women's Fund homepage.
Information about her new book: A Bed of Red Flowers, published by Random House.
The city of Moncton's homepage.
Moncton High School's homepage.
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