“At Eid, sharing is done through food. It is a way to show love, appreciation and affection. So, having a cake that everyone enjoys at the same time is a wonderful blessing,” she said.

One of Narges Andar’s Eid themed cakes. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

‘Sad and disheartening’

“For new generations, it means they will not be able to live their dream of becoming a doctor or lawyer.”

Narges Andar supports efforts to educate girls online in Afghanistan. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

It is one reason Andar supports online education for girls in Afghanistan.

By the late 1980s, Russian forces had withdrawn from Afghanistan, but the country’s conflict continued to rage.

Narges Andar (left) as a child in Afghanistan with her brother and sister. Source: Supplied / Narges Andar

“I remember as a child seeing the skies light up and thinking it was fireworks. But the loud bangs were not fireworks but something more scary. It was shelling,” Andar said.

The data from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees suggests that by the end of 2025, over 139.3 million people are expected to be forcibly displaced or become stateless worldwide.

Dr Parisa Glass is the co-founder of the University of NSW’s Justice Inclusion Access initiative that works to create an inclusive support ecosystem for women from forced migration backgrounds. Source: SBS / Sandra Fulloon

‘It felt like the gates of hell opened’

“We don’t want that to happen, so this is about justice for women wherever they may be.”

Dr Parisa Glass is also a refugee from Iran, having fled her homeland as a teenager. She participated in a recent JEINA panel discussion for International Women’s Day. Source: Supplied / UNSW JEINA

Glass is also a refugee from Iran, who fled her homeland as a teenager.

“Coming to Australia, I didn’t have any networks. We had a lot of financial problems as new arrivals and I had to make my own way and also support my family as well,” she said.

“UNSW has a massive mentoring network. We want women to take advantage of that and hope that industry will partner with us to build even bigger networks in future.”

Narges Andar said the world needs a lot more love and kindness at the moment. Source: SBS / Spencer Austad

For the first time in decades, three major religions — Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá’í faith — observed their sacred fasting periods simultaneously.

“And the world needs a lot more love and kindness at the moment.”