A Girl Who Loves Stories and a Mother Who Believes in Her

As a child, I always loved reading and writing. Over time, that passion led me to opportunities to contribute to magazines and create editorial projects of my own. Through these experiences, one thought stayed with me: one day, I would like to create a magazine of my own.

I eventually fulfilled that dream after completing my master’s studies. But the path was not always easy. The media industry can be challenging, and I quickly realized that fairness and kindness do not always guarantee the same in return. During difficult moments, I returned to something that had always grounded me: the support of family. And so, SAFAR became a project I created together with my mother.

It was a perfect combination: my passion for writing and storytelling and her deep knowledge of language and education. My mother founded her own English language school in Switzerland, ENGLISH CENTER BENGLEN, where she teaches students ranging from young children to older adults in their eighties. Some come to prepare for school exams or Cambridge B2 certificates; others come to improve their language skills before traveling or relocating abroad. Over the years, the school has grown to include French and German classes as well. Recently, she celebrated the tenth anniversary of the school at its current location – a building she acquired more than a decade ago – marking an important milestone in a journey defined by dedication and perseverance.

My mother’s story has always been an inspiration to me. As a young child, she fled Afghanistan with her family and moved to the United States. Later in life, after marriage, she relocated to Switzerland – a country whose language and culture were completely new to her. At a time when Switzerland had far fewer international communities and English speakers than it does today, and long before the advantages of social media, she built her life and career through determination, courage and resilience. Step by step, she created something lasting.

Watching that journey unfold shaped me more than I realized at the time. As a child, I may not have fully understood everything it took to build something from the ground up. Today, seeing the thriving community around her school – much of it built through word-of-mouth recommendations – I realize what an extraordinary example she has been. She continues to inspire me every day to pursue my own ambitions. I could not have asked for a better role model. While we have always enjoyed sharing experiences together – going on walks, participating in runs, attending events and traveling – working on SAFAR together, a project so close to my heart, is something even more meaningful. It is a project that reflects both of our journeys.

Since moving to the United Kingdom last summer to pursue my PhD in English at the University of St Andrews, SAFAR’S journey has also taken on a new dimension. While I continue developing the magazine from abroad, I can always rely on my mother to hold the fort in Switzerland and support SAFAR from there. While we both engage with the English language in different ways, our distinct approaches complement one another – a reflection of what SAFAR represents: two different paths leading to the same destination.

At its heart, SAFAR truly is built on a simple foundation: a girl who loves stories and a mother who believes in her. While I may have had the passion and ambition to pursue my ideas, it is her unwavering belief in me that has carried me forward – not only in my career and education, but in life itself. This article is an ode to my mother – and to the foundation on which SAFAR was built.

And just as SAFAR began with a simple story, it continues to grow though the journeys we share with readers around the world.