ABDUL HAFIZ QAZIZADA

Abdul Hafiz Qazizada is from Afghanistan and he is an Associate Certified Chartered Accountant and Chartered financial analyst (CFA) finalist. He has worked for more than 8 years in national and international companies in Afghanistan and outside Afghanistan.

"World Is One Family!"

Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

Basically I am from Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a mountainous country which is located at the centre of Asia, it has 35 provinces, the largest one is Helmand which located the south-east of Kabul. Since 25 years a combat/fight between Afghan civilian and the terrorist group is going on, we still have security problems in Afghanistan. As of yesterday, there was a bomb blast close to my home where dozen of people were killed and many others were injured.

I am an ACCA (associated Certified Chartered Accountant) student but I really feel insecure in my country. I held my bachelor from India by the year 2019 where I was targeted many times by the insurgents' group in my town but fortunately, I was secure but still, I am feeling insecure in my country. I have to get another chance to go abroad. As of now, our economic status is not good to go abroad to study and feel secure but we rely on God. I don't know what will happen to us in the near future.

Q: What is your view of the Coronavirus crisis and the world as it is today? How do you define the concept of a better world especially given the hard lessons we have taken from this unprecedented crisis?

Coronavirus not only affected the economy of many countries but it directly effects on the political and social aspect of many countries across the world. The world needs to come together and help each other in these hazardous circumstances. It not only impacts the entire economy of the world but also security.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently and how do you think CoVid-19 will affect your country?

There are many challenges in our society. The following are the challenges we are facing daily.

• security problems: we can go outside after 6:00 PM due to terrorists and other insurgents group.

• education: we don't have proper mentors / professional teachers in our society.

• CoVid-19 is not a challenge at all it will gradually kill. However, those insurgents are killing us daily.

Q: As a young individual what are a few of the hurdles that you had to overcome up until today?

To have the chance to be educated. As it's a dream of each and every individual, during the hectic time in my country my parents got a loan from our relatives and persuade me to get my bachelor from India. My parents were warned many times by Taliban that they will kill me whenever I return back to my country but with the grace of God I returned and I even though I was targeted many times I 've been rescued.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

A mentor is someone who can understand you from the bottom of the heart. He/she not only put their hard work to realize your needs but they help you in each and every aspect of life and guide you to be very alert.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share?

Sure, during the hard time here in Afghanistan many times I was warned by Taliban, even my dad was warned by Taliban, to stop studying in private institute and there is no need to study foreign languages. I have accepted all those challenges and never gave up but instead, I learned English and French.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives!

USAID and other USA agencies are trying their best to help those underprivileged people in my country but they are only contributing more in the provinces rather than in the centre or capital of Afghanistan.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are made towards gender equality?

Education is the main challenge here in Afghanistan both for boys and girls but especially for girls are not allowed to enter the school and learn. Taliban have banned schools in many provinces of Afghanistan. Only in Kabul, which is the capital of Afghanistan, schools are opened for girls and boys, many provinces don't even have a school.

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that you love or you find interesting!

World is one family!

Q: Share with us a project that you would like to make happen for your country or a cause that you are passionate about?

I am very passionate to help men and women in my country in the field of education. Many youths have the dream of learning but we have limited possibilities and most of the places are closed down for girls. I would love to help those girls to learn and be educated but I am still craving to do my master's degree. Unfortunately, there is no availability for me as well.