Gitana Productions Names Afghan immigrant as 2009 Extraordinary Ordinary Person of the Year
April 20, 2009
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| Aziza Seddiqui, Gitana Production's 2009 Extraordinary Ordinary Person of the Year |
ST. LOUIS, MO – Aziza Seddiqui, 28, of St. Louis has been named Gitana Productions’ 2009 “Deeds Beyond Race: Extraordinary Ordinary Person of the Year.” This is the ninth year for the award, which this year focuses on an ordinary citizen who has bridged the gap between Afghan refugees and immigrants and the broader St. Louis community.
Since immigrating to the St. Louis area in 2007, Seddiqui has worked with St. Louis-based Bi-Lingual International Assistant Services (BIAS), an organization that aids immigrants and refugees in connecting with services to learn English, establish a life in the area and prepare for naturalization tests.
“Aziza makes herself available 24/7 to help her community and clients, providing an amazing service for individuals in St. Louis. She is a source of trust and vital information, particularly for Afghani women refugees,” said Cecilia Nadal, executive producer of Gitana Productions. “Aziza draws on her own experiences as an Afghan immigrant and her abilities to make her clients feel welcomed and to help them work through trauma.”
“The majority of Afghan women refugees have never attended school and are illiterate. We are impressed that Aziza used her education to help those less fortunate than herself in a self-sacrificing way,” said Nadal. “For Afghan women to obtain an education and become literate in English is imperative but very difficult. Aziza makes sure opportunities are available to them and that they are successful.”
Seddiqui will be honored during the opening night performance of the upcoming play “My Heart is Always Shaking: Afghan Women Refugees in St. Louis,” on May 22, 2009 at St. Louis University Theatre. The play is an original production, written by Lee Patton Chiles that follows two women and their families as they escape the Taliban and arrive in St. Louis. The story follows their first year in America, as they struggle to leave behind an oppressive society and maintain their identity in a free one.
The majority of Seddiqui’s work with BIAS includes helping Afghan, Nepali, Pakistani and other foreign individuals find assistance to prepare for naturalization. In the past year, Seddiqui has tutored 35 individuals. Twenty-seven of them have attained citizenship.
Seddiqui understands the challenges that refugee and immigrant women must face. “Most of the refugee or immigrant women are from warring countries. Their biggest problem is education,” she said. “They had no opportunity to get an education during war time, which makes their lives more difficult when they come to developed countries like the United States. They often face great depression and anxiety problems as well.”
Julie Ostropolsky is the president and CEO of BIAS and nominated Aziza for the award.
“For the Afghan immigrants we serve, Aziza is the link between Afghanistan and St. Louis,” Ostropolski said. “She bridges the cultural gap and gives a voice to Afghan women who may not be able to speak for themselves, whether that is because they don’t speak the language, have a physical disability or are bound by cultural norms.”
Seddiqui also helps obtain homecare for elderly refugees and medical services for those who require it.
“The Afghan women trust her,” said Ostropolski. “They often request that she be their interpreter even when others are available. She goes out of her way to assist them, accompanies them to doctor appointments and has helped some through domestic violence or other abuse situations.”
Seddiqui came to the United States from Afghanistan in 2007 to accept a Medal of Honor from President George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, as part of the International Woman of Courage Award she received in recognition of her work in women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Seven months pregnant and fearing her life would be endangered if she returned to Afghanistan, Seddiqui settled in St. Louis, the same city her grandmother had come to in 2000. Seddiqui holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, has a background in human rights and is fluent in five languages. She is currently working on a book regarding her experiences and women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Gitana event bridges the gap
“My Heart Keeps Shaking” is the highlight of Gitana’s 2009 “Faces of Love” series, which focuses on a different culture each year. Last year’s play, “Complacency of Silence: Darfur,” was Gitana’s first dramatic production and received five Kevin Kline Awards nominations.
This year’s story is one of courage, humor, sorrow and resilience that will give the audience a new perspective on the lives of women in Afghanistan.
“My Heart is Always Shaking” runs May 22 through June 7 at St. Louis University Theatre, 3733 West Pine Mall, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for students with a valid ID and $8 for children 10 and under. Group discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.
The Regional Arts Commission, the Missouri Arts Council, The National Endowment for the Arts and the Boeing Employees Charitable Trust have provided funding to support the “Faces of Love From Iran and Afghanistan” events.
Gitana Productions, Inc. is a not-for-profit arts and education organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural awareness and collaboration by bringing international music, dance and drama to the St. Louis community. Gitana is funded by the Missouri Arts Council, Regional Arts Commission, the Monsanto Fund and the Boeing Employee’s Charitable Trust. Gitana events present a rarely seen diversity of international and local artists exhibiting an array of traditional and innovative artistic expressions. Gitana Production’s first theatrical production was nominated for five Kevin Kline Awards. For more information, visit www.gitana-inc.org or call Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556.
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Media Contact: Maggie Rhynes
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