Nowruz Celebration with Vatandar Association on March 22nd, 2024

Nowruz, which means ‘new day,’ marks the beginning of Spring and the lunar year in the Persian calendar. People in Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Iran, Tajikistan, and certain other Asian countries celebrate Nowruz by performing dances, singing, going on picnics, and visiting family and friends. At Serve The City Paris, we strive to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate into French society by familiarizing them with French culture while also assisting them in introducing their own culture to the host country. To achieve this goal, we support refugee initiatives and programs.

Vatandar Association was established in 2022 by Farzana Mohammadi to aid refugees, particularly Afghans, to integrate into French society by assisting with administrative procedures, providing online informative programs, facilitating cultural exchanges, and organizing educational programs. Since December 2023, STCP has partnered with Vatandar Association to support its ongoing initiatives.

Vatandar Association celebrated Nowruz on Friday, March 22nd, 2024. The event was attended by over 300 participants, including Afghan families, French citizens, and others interested in cultural events. STCP assisted Vatandar Association in finding a venue for the event. Members of STCP leadership participated in the event, along with 10 STCP interns and SAVE members who volunteered. Additionally, STCP donated 20 tickets to beneficiaries from Afghanistan, Nigeria, Peru, Sudan, Guinea, Iran, Russia, Pakistan, and Colombia, allowing them to attend and enjoy the festivities. The event featured Afghan traditional Nowruz songs, dances, theater performances, a documentary on Afghanistan, and a dinner.

STCP is committed to supporting organizations, companies, and initiatives founded by refugees that work towards the integration of refugees into French society.

Safiullah