How memory, trauma and advocacy shape our identities | Zarlasht Sarmast | TEDxBard College

Key Concepts

Civic engagement, humanitarian impact, storytelling, forced displacement, resilience, trauma-informed approach, empathy, community support, international humanitarian law, microgrants, photojournalism, refugee experience, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), evacuation, asylum.

Early Life and Introduction to Civic Engagement

Arash Sarmast ("Zar") begins by introducing his background, highlighting his work at Bard Center for Civic Engagement and Bard NYC. He shares his personal story, starting with his birth in Afghanistan and the loss of his father to cancer when he was 18. His mother, Aziza, encouraged him and his siblings to stay busy with positive activities as a coping mechanism. This led to his early involvement with the National Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA), where he hosted a TV show called "Crime Scenes Afghanistan." The show focused on telling the stories of young offenders in juvenile centers, aiming to provide learning lessons and deter other young people from making similar mistakes that could lead to severe consequences.

Work with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

While working at RTA, Zar applied for and surprisingly secured a position as a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) despite being in high school. This role exposed him to international humanitarian law and the devastating impact of war and conflict on Afghan communities. He was particularly struck by the extent of human cruelty driven by political and ideological differences and the neglect of civilian war victims. Witnessing this, he decided to use his skills in photography and storytelling to raise awareness.

Recovering Forgotten Conflicts: A Photojournalism Project

Zar initiated a project called "Recovering Forgotten Conflicts," where he photographed and documented the stories of war-affected civilians. He organized a photo exhibition where, instead of selling the photos directly, he facilitated connections between potential buyers and the subjects of the photos, encouraging them to provide direct support such as artificial limbs or rebuilding damaged homes. The "price" of each photo was the support provided to the individual in the picture.

Education and the Get Engaged Conference

Despite initially deciding against higher education, Zar eventually pursued a scholarship at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). He created the AUCA Movie Club to integrate into the community and improve his language skills. A pivotal moment was his participation in the Get Engaged Conference, where he presented his "Recovering Forgotten Conflicts" project and received a microgrant. This funding allowed him to conduct photography workshops in Afghanistan, training young people to document and support war victims, expanding the reach of his project with the help of photographers like Pulitzer Prize winner Masuda Husseini.

Graduate Studies and the Afghan Evacuation

Zar continued his education with a master's degree in International Relations and Security at the OSCE Academy in Central Asia. He then joined Bard Center for Civic Engagement as a program coordinator for the Global Engagement Fellows program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to Afghanistan but was later asked to return to Beske for offline classes. Shortly after, the withdrawal of US military forces and the Taliban takeover occurred. Zar became part of an evacuation team that worked to safely evacuate over 370 students from Afghanistan to Pakistan and then to other countries. This involved immense pressure, working around the clock while also writing his MA thesis, dealing with his family in Afghanistan, and contracting COVID-19.

Archiving Stories of Resilience and Addressing Trauma

Following the evacuation, Zar recognized the need to archive the stories of the evacuated students. He collaborated with Dr. Jonathan Becker to create a photo story book highlighting their resilience and the efforts of the evacuation team. He also began to experience the personal impact of the traumatic events and sought counseling and therapy. This led him to pursue another master's degree in applied psychology, focusing his research on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its impact on memory among Afghan students at AUCA. He developed recommendations for institutions working with marginalized and displaced students, emphasizing the importance of compassion, kindness, and empathy.

Transition to Bard College and Continued Work

In October 2023, Zar's asylum case for coming to the United States was approved, and he transitioned his position at the Center for Civic Engagement from AUCA to Bard Annandale. He discovered that students from Russia and Ukraine were also experiencing similar displacement issues. He created a second photo story book documenting their stories, along with those of faculty and staff who supported them.

Concluding Takeaways

Zar concludes with several key takeaways:

1. Use your skills: Identify ways to use your skills to support people impacted by global political situations and create an action plan, regardless of its size.
2. Embrace challenges: Every decision and challenge contributes to a larger journey; use your network and resources to solve them.
3. Practice compassion: Approach displaced communities and refugees with extreme compassion, kindness, and empathy.
4. Build connections: Make connections, build bridges, and stay connected, as mutual support and kindness are crucial.

Synthesis/Conclusion

Arash Sarmast's story is a powerful testament to the impact of civic engagement, resilience, and the importance of using one's skills to support marginalized communities. From his early work in Afghan media to his involvement in international humanitarian efforts and his dedication to supporting displaced students, Zar's journey highlights the transformative power of storytelling, empathy, and community building. His emphasis on trauma-informed approaches and the need for compassion underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by refugees and displaced individuals. His story serves as an inspiration to leverage personal skills and resources to create positive change in the world.