Brishna Habibi, 30, is a humanitarian advocate who arrived in Germany from Afghanistan in 2021. At that time, everything around her felt new and unfamiliar. “Despite entering a completely new social and professional environment, I integrated quickly and with ease.” From her early days in Germany, Brishna actively connected with Afghan communities and, along with adapting to a new society, committed herself to supporting her fellow Afghans. Between 2021 and 2023, Brishna worked as a volunteer in various offices and associations in her new home, gaining experience in the German work environment and contributing to community-based initiatives that supported integration and social cohesion.

Brishna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Political Science from Balkh University. Her professional background includes extensive humanitarian work in Afghanistan, particularly in child protection with Save the Children, where she worked as a trainer. “Through the Child Rights Governance project, I delivered awareness sessions for Child-Friendly Local Governance (CLG) and Child Protection Action Network (CPAN), focusing on child protection, safety, and children’s rights.” Her work aimed to strengthen community awareness and empower local structures to better protect children, especially girls. Beyond that, Brishna also worked with multiple national and international organisations on child protection and community-focused initiatives.

In Germany, Brishna worked as an interpreter and cultural mediator with TORDEN-LLC (Clovehitch-DEEL) in support of Operation Allies Welcome for one year. “In this role, I provided on-demand interpretation and cultural mediation services, including medical translation, logistical coordination, and social support for Afghan refugees.” Brishna worked closely with international stakeholders such as the U.S. Department of State, the International Office of Migration (IOM), and other partners, to ensure smooth pre-arrival, on-site, and departure processes for Afghan evacuees transitioning from Germany to the United States.

Being surrounded by people who shared her language, culture, and lived experiences made the process of integration for Brishna more comfortable and emotionally sustainable. “Many of my formal and volunteer roles were carried out alongside fellow Afghans, which helped ease the distance from my homeland and family.” As a result, she found this new chapter of her life both manageable and motivating. However, Brishna has also made German friends and professional connections living and working in Berlin. She values the freedom to study, work, express herself, and shape her future according to her own choices. “Access to quality education and equal opportunities has given me hope and motivation. Germany represents safety, dignity, and the chance to grow as an individual—opportunities that were not always available in my home country. Today, such freedoms are completely out of reach for girls and women in Afghanistan.”

Although her academic background is in Law, Brishna does not see it as a long-term profession. “Instead, I uses my legal knowledge solely as a means to raise the voices of Afghan girls and women, rather than as a future career path.” Looking ahead, she plans to pursue studies in IT and Artificial Intelligence, or eventually start her own business, aiming to change her professional direction and adapt to the evolving global landscape. “I strongly believe that the educational and professional opportunities available in Europe can enable Afghan youth to grow, contribute meaningfully, and become assets to both their host societies and their communities.”

Despite living abroad, Afghanistan remains deeply present in Brishna’s life—felt in every meal she prepares, in every heartfelt conversation with her compatriots, and in the emotional bond she carries within her. “To me, Afghanistan breathes through my existence. Yet this connection is also shaped by sorrow, particularly when I reflects on Afghan women and girls who continue to be denied their fundamental rights.”

Today, Brishna says she is content with where she is, fully committed to achieving her goals and making the most of the opportunities ahead.

“I carry thousands of unspoken stories in my heart…”