Support an Afghan Refugee Filmmaker & Student.

I'm Fridoon Joinda, and I need your support to complete my studies.

My interest in film and technology goes back years to growing up in Afghanistan. I started university in Kabul, studying computer science, but film was my great love. It was a perfect fit for me – I come from a family devoted to the arts and to politics. I started producing videos, and soon I was working for a television station, learning many editing techniques I needed to deepen my skills.

That part of my life had an abrupt end when I was forced to leave my country in 2016 because of my previous political activities and because of the war. I left my family, my life, my dreams behind and began the dangerous journey to the west. I ended up in the notorious Moria camp in Lesvos for over a year.

Luckily I finally made it to Athens, where I was fortunate to receive a scholarship for refugees at Deree- the American College of Greece. This enabled me to continue my study of film and communication.

My passion for film continues- I have directed a few documentaries; the project I am most proud of is the first full-length documentary I worked on while I was on Lesvos Island: "Nice Lie." It examines the gaps between the European Union's Dedication to human rights and dignity for all people and the daily reality in camps. In 2018 my film "Moria 35" was honored by Borderline-Europe and Rosa Luxemburg Foundation; I was invited to Germany, where I was given a tour of 5 German cities to screen Moria 35 and to discuss my journalism work.

"Reality" and "Hope" are two films about the individual experience of being a refugee; the first of these treated the feelings of refugees in Moria camp while dealing with roughness against them. "Sonia" and "Ryan," told the stories of two LGBTQ+ refugees in Athens and their pride in themselves for who they are and all their difficulties.

Here you can find my films and more:

I recently had the experience of participating in the 7th European Migration Forum on Youth Inclusion – Key to Successful Migrant Integration, run by the EU Economic and Social Committee. I was one of more than 200 participants, but the only refugee. My participation included a presentation for the panel on the public attitudes toward migrants and refugees.

My scholarship has been generous enough to allow me to make progress toward my BA degree – it has covered not just tuition but also books and fees. I have, though, always held jobs to help me cover my living expenses – I have been lucky to find internships and short-term film assignments which allowed me to continue my studies. But having to work has put my graduation off longer than I had hoped.

I find myself, however, at a point now where I really need to focus on my studies and get my degree in the next year. I am so eager to begin my professional career, providing a voice for the voiceless and working to expand human rights. We are living in an intense time, facing many challenges, and I want to make my voice heard.

In addition to my own living expenses, I am also helping to support my family, all of them now refugees in India. I am asking for help in raising enough money to live on and support my family. I need 800 euros per month to make these expenses. I expect and hope to earn my degree in one year, so the total I am asking for is 9,600 euros.