Husna Basiri began volunteering at Annandale High School to support Afghan students who had recently arrived as refugees after the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan in 2021. Before coming to the US in 2020, Husna learned English through private lessons. Her high school lacks a full-time translator, and so Husna volunteers as a Persian (Dari) interpreter when students meet with their counselors.

In these conferences, she noticed that the new students were concerned about adapting to the school environment due to the language barrier and cultural differences. She noted their common questions, and started offering meetings during which she gave presentations about navigating the school system. At these gatherings, Husna introduced new students to other Afghan and Muslim students which enable them to find their community within the school. These meetings grew into a formal club, called Dunya. The club organizes field trips and college visits, and advocates for the needs of refugees with local media stations.

In addition to her activities with the Dunya Club, Husna has served as a Student Equity Ambassador Leader (SEAL), becoming Co-President of SEALS in her senior year. In this role, she established a Mental Health Committee within the organization.

Husna has worked tirelessly through club activities and her own initiative to increase awareness and promote understanding of important issues such as equality, equity, religious freedom, and diversity. Her most recent accomplishment was advocating for, and securing, a space for Muslim students to hold Friday prayers. “It always makes me content,” she says, “to see members of the Muslim community coming together and having the right and opportunity to practice their religion.”  Husna’s advocacy also extends to those who don’t share her religion, and she has helped establish a prayer and meditation room within the school which is open to students of all religions.

Through understanding the needs of her classmates, her advocacy, and her ability to bring students of many backgrounds together in a common interest, Husna’s goal is to create a community of respect and interdependence among the students of Annandale High School.