I’m Sara Noori, an Afghan-Canadian and a Deptford resident. I’ve been given the opportunity to collaborate with Rachel Wang of Chocolate Films to make a short film about Elaha, an Afghan social worker living in London, as part of 1000 Londoners.

You can watch Elaha’s story here:

Like Elaha, I’m hoping to explore the issue of Afghans in the Diaspora, to inspire not only young Afghans but also young people around the world and to present a different picture of ordinary Afghans, contrary to what is currently shown on mainstream media. In making the film I was supported by documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur Rachel Wang of Chocolate Films, the video production company behind 1000 Londoners and a social enterprise – providing accessibility of filmmaking to children and youth.

I met Rachel through a mentorship program in collaboration with the Guild of Entrepreneurs and the University of Westminster, where I’m currently studying her MA in Digital and Interactive Storytelling LAB MA. If it wasn’t for this mentorship program and Rachel’s guidance, I would have never been able to put myself out there and have a platform to tell stories of Afghans in the Diaspora.