It’s been just over 1,000 days since the Taliban closed secondary schools for Afghan girls, denying their right to education. 26-year-old Heela Yoon, Communications and Engagement Officer in the Careers+Placements team at Leeds Trinity University, shares her lived experience as part of Refugee Week (Monday 17 – Sunday 23 June) and World Refugee Day (Thursday 20 June).

Originally from Afghanistan, Heela Yoon, now resides in Leeds in West Yorkshire. She has two Bachelor’s degrees, one in International Relations and Affairs from Kabul University and the second in Business, Finance and Finance Management from the American University of Afghanistan. She also has a Masters degree in International Business, Trade and Commerce from Leeds Beckett University, and was also a Research Fellow in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution at the University of San Diego.

Heela left her homeland in 2019 to study in America and then the UK. She was unable to return home due to the Taliban regime enforcing strict and extremist rules and laws on the community, especially on women and girls. This resulted in her receiving refugee status in the UK.  

At a young age, whilst living and studying in Afghanistan, Heela witnessed and survived several traumatic experiences including violence against women and girls, a school shooting, and intense conflict. Her parents are also survivors of civil war.

Heela’s lived experiences have shaped her views and future. She has given herself a mission of using her voice to help others especially women and girls when it comes to education and healing international trauma.

In her current role as Communications and Engagement Officer at Leeds Trinity University, Heela works with students and new graduates to inspire and empower them to make the most of the opportunities available to them through their studies, bringing her own experiences to encourage positive outcomes.

Heela Yoon said: "I think it’s important for me to encourage UK students to take up the opportunities offered to them. I never had the same opportunities and if I did, I would grab them with both hands. Education is an important aspect in life. We don’t stop learning in life and we can turn negatives into a positive and keep on achieving, influencing and making a better place for others. When setting up my own business I had to teach myself communications, marketing, research methods, website design and building, and more.

“Being a refugee is traumatic in the sense that you leave behind everything you know and love due to no fault of your own. We don’t choose where we are born. When starting afresh, sadly, refugees are systematically advised to start at the bottom, to find entry level roles where they are usually overqualified. However, refugees have no choice but to keep moving forward, to deal with the trauma and just get on with things and be resilient to survive and have a future.”

Emily Timson, Director of Graduate Outcomes and Enterprise at Leeds Trinity University, said: “Heela’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the transformative impact of education. Her dedication to advocating for girls' education and supporting refugees serves as an inspiration to us all. As Communications and Engagement Officer at Leeds Trinity, Heela uses her experiences to empower and encourage our students by providing inspiring stories and insights into the wide range of opportunities available to them. We are proud to have her as part of our team, witnessing first-hand how she uses her experiences to empower others and foster positive change.”

Before moving to Leeds, Heela spent 18 months living in New York where she worked with the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders and the United Nations. Heela has worked with Oxfam, Amnesty International UK and International Rescue Committee. She also worked in Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Philippines to train young women as future leaders and on localising peacebuilding efforts, and has provided classes for refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, South Sudan, Syria and Egypt about integrating into the UK.

The young first-generation refugee started her own company, Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace Organization (AYAPO), through which Heela works with religious and community stakeholders to advocate for girls' education, prevent violent extremisms, and raise awareness about climate change through Islamic teaching and peace dialogues.

In this role, Heela has met with the UK Members of Parliament including the Foreign Secretary to discuss women and girls' education and rights and providing scholarships for refugees. She is currently a member of the Youth Educational Council for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as well as their External Gender Challenge Board.

Heela Yoon has also been recognised by the UN for her humanitarian work. In 2023 she was invited to Buckingham Palace to meet the King and Queen.

In addition to sharing Heela’s story, Leeds Trinity University is marking Refugee Week 2024 with a photography exhibition on its Main Campus in Horsforth and solidarity walk in the local community.