Nassim was born in 1976 in Tehran, Iran. In 1987, she fled with her mom and her stepfather from the Iran/Iraq war. Their hope - to find: liberty, peace, luck and justice. Their goal was clear. They wanted to start a new life in the land of unlimited possibilities - the USA. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for them. They ended up in Switzerland. But instead of salvation, a long and arduous journey lay ahead for them.

They found themselves fighting against discrimination and bureaucracy. They were stymied at every turn by a system that seeks to marginalize refugees - including those who want to become productive, tax-paying members of society. Switzerland, a rich country, which presents itself to the outside world as accepting, democratic and tolerant, became a gilded cage for these two brave ladies...

With her book "LookinG for FreedoM", Nassim shares her asylum experiences and life as a foreigner in Switzerland in order to affect change for young refugees all over the world. To that end, she has started "LookinG for FreedoM Association". The goal of LFF is to give young refugees the freedom and prospects to create a financially independent and emotionally positive life.

Denying children proper access to education and opportunity is not only morally unsound but also counter-productive to society as a whole. Instead of encouraging young people to become productive members of society, discrimination and restrictions foster frustration and helplessness, resulting in more pressure being put on welfare systems, and in extreme cases to encouraging criminal activity.

Educational opportunities are few and far between for child refugees who stay in their adopted countries but want to continue with their education. Without any money, there is limited or no access to post-secondary education, whether it's private or state-sponsored. We believe that education should be available to all those who seek it. With education, young people can develop and unlock their potential. Instead of becoming a burden on the system, they can be encouraged to learn life skills and find employment. Our goal is to assist child refugees with their pursuit of education.

"LookinG for FreedoM" will give training and scholarships to refugees who otherwise would have little opportunity. It will allow people to have some control of their own lives. It will help give them dignity.

There are many charity programs that help people in the third world. However, it is easy to forget about the hundreds of thousands of refugees in the European countries. They also need support. Let's not forget about the plight of people in our own backyards.

The goal of LFF is to establish a voice for the displaced and disenfranchised. The time for change is now and I hope you will support us, because Education means independence and independence means liberty!

Detailed numbers from the world-wide statistics clarify the necessity and urgency for the support of such refugee fates. World-wide there are over 9,7 million refugees (at the end of 2003).

For further information please check out the website: www.lookingforfreedom.com

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