Zahar Kohandel is a 25-year-old student pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Middle Eastern Studies. She also works as a student assistant at the Ministry of Culture and Media in Hamburg. Her parents migrated to Germany in the early 1990s, and she has a younger brother.

Zahar considers Germany to be her home country since she was born and raised there, but she also visited Afghanistan when she was a child. “When I was only six years old, I visited my father’s relatives who resided in Jaghouri, a district of Ghazni province, Afghanistan, with my family. By that time, my mother had no family left in Afghanistan.”

Zahar is deeply connected to Afghan culture and is concerned about the situation of the people of Afghanistan. “I do everything I can to assist the Afghan people in every way, especially in terms of providing humanitarian aid or political support, such as organizing demonstrations and campaigns to raise awareness about the current situation of the Afghan people.”

Zahar took part in the Miss Germany Awards in 2023 and was ranked among the top 40 contestants. “My participation in the event was aimed also at raising awareness about the status of women in Afghanistan. Today Afghan women have no access to basic human rights, such as education.” Zahar was raised maternally in a Christian household and in her free time she is sometimes modeling.

Zahar struggles with her identity, feeling like an outsider both among her fellow Afghans and among Germans. “I always feel a bit different in comparison to the other Afghans I know, since I was raised in a Christian household. I also have trouble seeing myself as a German, because I am not accepted as German by other Germans.” She manages to strike a balance between her Afghan and German identities, something she takes pride in. “As a woman, it was not easy for me, but I persevered and remained resilient against anything that could hinder my progress.”

She would like to work in NGOs or political areas to be active in political and humanitarian causes in the future. “I have a positive outlook for the future and I am sure that there are plenty of Germans who are against the shift to the right,” she stated.

Zahar has limited memories of her first visit to Afghanistan, but she recalls the warm reception she and her mother received from her family in her father’s hometown. “Being a vegetarian since my childhood, concerned the locals. I also remember that my family praised me for my fair complexion, what seemed a bit odd to me, since I knew, that in Germany tanned skin was seen as beautiful. I felt comfortable and happy among my family. Sadly, I had to leave soon, and this remains my only memory of Afghanistan.”

Zahar suggests that newcomers to Germany take advantage of the opportunities available for a better life in this country. “If you feel isolated, try to connect with others and make use of the resources available to you. Starting a new life can be challenging both physically and mentally but know that you will not be alone in your struggles.”

“My parents’ hard work to make the life I have today remind me to move forward every day as a stronger person. I hope for a prosperous Afghanistan.”