Mariam Notten left Afghanistan for Berlin in 1967 after her A-levels at the age of 18. And has witnessed her childhood home suffer from over 30 years of war, poverty and unemployment.

Despite the distance, she continues to support Afghanistan with great passion. Her many projects tend to focus on supporting Afghan women, for example she has helped build 20 small bakeries and 45 projects to raise chickens. This helps women earn their own money and be more independent. She set up a scheme providing micro-credit so that women can buy their own animals and improve their income by selling dairy products.

Mariam’s most interesting person is also from Afghanistan. Her name is Jeanette Gaussi. She came here when she was five from Kabul to Germany when the Russians invaded Afghanistan.

‘As a young Afghani from second generation immigrants she is very interesting. She never had an easy life but she has made the best out of it. That’s why I think you should interview her.’