Amina from Afghanistan:

A Lawyer Determined to Empower Migrant Women

Amina arrived in her host country as a highly educated lawyer with dreams of using her legal expertise to help migrant women. However, due to language barriers, she could not immediately practice law. Despite this, Amina has found ways to contribute to her community through volunteer work and connecting with other migrants, all while working towards her goal of becoming a self-employed legal consultant.

Amina comes from Afghanistan. She has a bachelor’s degree in law and worked in the field of women’s rights in her home country. She grew up in a large, close family with grandparents, cousins and many close relatives. She was the first person in her family to go to university, which is an important part of her story. Amina fled the war with her husband and two young children. In the host country, she is trying to build a safe and stable everyday life for her family.
Amina cannot simply continue her former legal work in the host country. The legal system is different from the one she knows, and her local language skills are still limited. This is frustrating for her, because she has legal knowledge and professional experience, but she cannot use them directly in the same way as before. At the same time, she tries to stay patient and courageous. She is learning the language, finding her way through everyday administrative procedures and slowly becoming familiar with the legal system and support services for migrant women.
Amina joined a sewing group in a local community centre, where she met other women and found support. She misses her friends and the familiar female support she had in Afghanistan. The sewing group gives her a place to talk, exchange experiences and feel connected to other women. She also takes part in school activities for her children, which helps her connect with the local community. Amina currently volunteers at a food distribution point. There, she supports the work of the organisation and also informally helps other migrant women with practical questions, forms and administrative difficulties.
Amina wants to improve her language skills and learn more about the legal system in the host country. She would like to take part in training or further education that helps her understand local rules, administrative procedures, women’s rights and available support services. Her goal is to use her legal background to support migrant women, especially women in difficult life situations. In the long term, she would like to become self-employed as a legal adviser or community adviser for migrant women.