'I'm coming from a country where women and girls don't have any rights, but here, I have the right to lead an organisation and that is a really big thing for me.'
Ten months ago, Fatima Sarwari and her family moved from a country where women have no rights and where music is banned, to the UNESCO City of Music.
"We got lost and we couldn't find our way back to the hotel, as the city just felt really big. But we liked the city, we like the people we've been seeing, they all have a smile on their face and Belfast was really welcoming and overwhelming for us. Since she arrived in Belfast, Fatima has been meeting with other groups, and has been sharing her story at events where guests have included Michelle O'Neill and the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tina Black.
"One of our aims is helping people that are here, giving them more information and referring them to other organisations who can help, as well as promoting Afghan culture. "As a female from Afghanistan, I'm feeling proud of myself," she said. "I'm not wearing a hijab. From the beginning, I had to fight for everything, for my basic rights. Even sometimes with my family, I had to convince them of certain things I wanted to do.
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