Forced to flee. Empower to fly.
Our Foundation – 30 August 2025
WSAR (Women Support Afghan Refugees) was founded on 30 August 2025 with a clear vision: to strengthen women, amplify their voices, and create opportunities for growth, learning, and connection. The name WSAR, meaning “Wings” in Pashto, represents our belief that every woman carries the potential to rise, move forward, and shape her own path — with dignity, confidence, and independence. From day one, we had the honour of welcoming many women who brought their energy, their experiences, and their commitment to building a supportive community. Their engagement showed us how powerful it is when women come together, share knowledge, and help each other navigate new beginnings. Our foundation marks the start of a growing movement built on strength, resilience, and mutual empowerment — values that guide everything we do.
Saturday, 29 November 2025 event
On Saturday, 29 November 2025, our association WSAR experienced a wonderful afternoon. People from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Tibet, Switzerland, Pakistan and Afghanistan came together. They brought their traditional dishes and shared their stories, their joy and their hope. This event showed how important it is to give refugees a voice and a safe space where they can share their experiences, empower themselves and experience community. The participation of the women was especially moving: with their delicious food and their warmth, they showed how meaningful it is for refugees to be in a place where they feel they belong and where they are heard. A special thank-you goes to our guests from IWPG Switzerland for their inspiring words about peace through cultural exchange. Their message reminded us that encounters build bridges and give hope. 🕊 Heartfelt thanks to everyone who cooked, shared and listened. Together, we are creating a place of women’s empowerment, where refugee women are celebrated and people can once again feel hope. ✨ As an organisation “by refugees for refugees”, we are happy and grateful for this shared moment of empowerment. 💛😊✨
Feedback from participants during the discussion –Saturday, 29 November 2025 event
compliments about the program and the founder 😇
I met new people and felt connected and a sense of belonging. For the first time in a community organisation, I felt free, light and without stress. The food wasn’t just delicious – it was a journey through stories and cultures. I have wished for a women’s organisation like this for a long time… The fact that a refugee woman founded this association touched me deeply and motivated me. I’m seeing something like this for the first time. I wish for more encounters like this – they give me strength. She brings together people who would otherwise never have met. To be honest, I thought: “Oh, she looks so young! Maybe a very Young girl 🙃😄.” But then I saw how intelligent and strong she is. She inspires me so much with everything she does. I wish I could also found an organisation like this. She creates a space where every woman can suddenly breathe again without stress. We are happy and proud of her for everything she makes possible. … As an association, we value their kind words, their participation and their trust – they made this day special for all of us. 💛
WSAR Association Introduction & Development Session, 7 December 2025
On 7 December 2025, WSAR Association held an Introduction & Development Session at Bahnhofstrasse 67 in Aarau. Participants from different backgrounds joined to learn about the association’s work, share their needs, and discuss future plans. During the session, participants learned about the mission of WSAR, our active programs, and the needs expressed by the community. The atmosphere was open, respectful, and filled with genuine interest in shaping the association’s future together. A beautiful moment of the event was a strong request from the community to organise more events for all refugees — men and women — and grow together with the community. WSAR will do its best to respond to this demand and continue creating spaces where people support and empower each other. A key outcome of the session was the willingness of several participants to join WSAR as volunteers. Their support strengthens our ability to grow and offer more opportunities. With this new engagement, we are pleased to announce that additional German classes, an essential key to integration, will begin in January 2026. WSAR Association remains committed to strengthening refugee self-reliance by developing programs that are shaped directly by the community’s needs and active participation. We sincerely thank all participants for their trust, ideas, and motivation. Their dedication empowers our work and strengthens the association’s mission.