Learn about the importance of prioritizing the voices, stories, and experiences of refugees in the places we travel. Hira Aftab talks about growing up in a Pakistani immigrant home between the UK and Saudi Arabia. She reflects on the life changing impact of her first trip to Palestine, and how that inspired her to become a human rights activist. Hira then reflects on doing two Master’s degrees and working in the international humanitarian sector. She talks about her trip to Jordan, the impact of meeting with Palestinian refugees there, and how that inspired her to start “Our World Too” as a platform to center the voices and stories of refugees. She also talks about hosting the “More than a Statistic Podcast” and shares some of her most powerful interviews. Finally, she reflects on the lessons from her international humanitarian work and unpacks some of the neo-colonial dynamics in the space.
Episode #317: Centering the Voices of Refugees and Founding “Our World Too” with Hira Aftab
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Hira Aftab
Hira Aftab is the Founder of Our World Too, a global storytelling platform dedicated to re-humanizing the narrative surrounding refugees and displaced communities around the world. She is also a communications expert in the humanitarian and international development sector and has experience working in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UK on projects relating to refugee support and access to justice. Hira holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and a second Master’s Degree in Humanitarianism, Conflict and Development. She is also the host of the More Than a Statistic Podcast, and she is the co-founder of The Hybrid Tours – a travel company dedicated to combining recreation and human rights for those interested in leaving a positive mark as a tourist.
What You'll Learn
- Stories and reflections on a life changing trip to Palestine
- The importance of paying attention to refugee experiences as we travel
- The neo-colonial dynamics to be aware of in the humanitarian sector
Links From the Episode
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CHECK OUT THE UPCOMING TRIPS WITH THE HYBRID TOURS
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LISTEN TO HIRA’S “MORE THAN A STATISTIC” PODCAST
MUSICAL ARTISTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN PALESTINE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN PAKISTAN MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN PAKISTAN MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
PLACES IN SYRIA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
- Matt: Washington D.C.
- Hira: Nottingham, U.K.
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Bangladesh
- England
- Hiroshima
- India
- Japan
- Jordan
- Korea
- Pakistan
- Paris
- Saudi Arabia
- Scotland
- Southeast Asia
- Syria
- Thailand
- United Kingdom
CONTACT AND FOLLOW HIRA
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[0:43]Introducing Hira Aftab
[2:08] Hira’s Family History in Pakistan
[4:56] Hira’s Parents Experience Growing up in Pakistan and Immigrating to the UK
[6:06] Hira’s Experience Growing up in the UK and Saudi Arabia
[8:05] Living in a primarily white area of Scotland during the September 11th Attacks
[10:23] Moving Back to Saudi Arabia as a Teenager
[13:55] Going to University in the UK
[14:40] Reflections on traveling Through Asia
[18:28] Traveling to Palestine and Becoming a Human Rights Activist
[25:47] Doing Two Master’s Degrees
[27:20] Traveling to Jordan and Meeting with Refugees
[30:36] Founding “Our World Too”
[32:00] The “More than a Statistic” Podcast
[33:50] Hira’s Critiques of the Humanitarian Sector
