Author: Alia Hogben
(Speech given at the Afghan Women’s Organization where Alia was one fo six women recognized)
Thank you for this wonderful honour.
I stand before you as ONE of the women of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, as this honour includes all the women who work tirelessly to make life better for Canadian Muslim families across the country. I am but one along with Fauzya Talib, Fowzia Duale-Virtue, Mariam Ghiacy, Nuzhat Jafri, Najet Hassan, Nina Karachi-Khaled, Nafeesa Sheikh, Shaheen Ashraf, Razia Jaffer and Sahar Zaidi.
The honour extends across the country to include the chapters’ women in Brampton/Mississauga, Calgary, Edmonton, London, Montreal, Niagara Region, Ottawa, PEI, Regina, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Waterloo/Wellington.
They cannot all stand in front of you, but I hope you can feel their presence beside me.
We cannot achieve changes without our collaboration with many superb organizations and individuals.
You, as Canadian Muslim women, have been assisting women and their families for at least 20 years, under the leadership of Adeena Niazi. I know Adeena and your board, over the years, have increased their role in providing essential direct services all across the Toronto area and beyond not only for Afghan families but also for others in need.
Some of us have been awarded the Order of Canada, and I know that both the Afghan Women’s Organization and the Canadian Council of Muslim Women believe in the motto –Desiderantes melioram patriam- we desire a better country.
I know we will work together, as we have done since the beginning, and we look forward to years of continuing our wonderful, warm relationship to better the lives of all families, inshaAllah.
Thank you.
