"A clear stance that builds connections"
June 10, 2016
Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi came to Germany from Afghanistan when she was a child and today she thinks of both countries as home. As a journalist she takes a close look at people and issues while creating connections between cultures.
What drives me…
If I can make just one person think, then it makes up for the stress and the sometimes exhausting work. What I love about my job is that I always meet new people who have new ideas –because for me people are always in the foreground.
Courage means to me...
For me courage is speaking your mind publically – even when it is not accepted by the majority.
Freedom means to me…
I think freedom means real tolerance, peaceful coexistence and the observation of human rights. I try to stand up for these values with my work.
Talking and interacting with users…
Social media is the lynchpin of my work. Everything is centered on social media – from research and making contacts to sharing and user feedback. I don’t know how I could do my job without it.
From Afghanistan to Germany…
I have learned that it is a privilege to study, work and go for a walk at night without fear – all of which are things that many people here don’t think twice about. I am very thankful to Germany for the opportunities that have been made possible for me here. At the same time, I know that Afghan culture provides me with love, warmth and rootedness that I often miss in Germany. I choose the best from both worlds. For my work, this gives me the chance to see the big picture because I can understand and bring both cultures together.
My special perspective…
I want people to know that there are also women like me out there. I myself came to Germany as a refugee. I also couldn’t speak a word of German when I started school. When people invest in others, it can do a great service for society as a whole. I want to express this outlook. Refugees can learn from us and we can learn from them.
Challenges facing journalism today…
Good journalism today must take a clear stance. It must remain as free as possible from outside influences and show both sides of the coin, but it cannot claim to operate with complete objectivity.
What I love about my work at DW…
I love the international atmosphere and that at DW I'm more than just a foreign employee for statistics. I am also proud to work for a broadcaster that takes its mandate very seriously!
My personal "hero"…
My mother, who is a great journalist and poet.
My favorite quote…
“Be like the flower that gives its scent to even the hand that crushes it." (Ali ibn Abi Talib ra)