Pakistani-born woman has won France’s prestigious award called National Order of Merit. Asma Ashraf, a Pakistani-French social worker, has been awarded with the prestigious French award for her services to French society in the fields of education and social welfare.
Asma Ashraf is the only woman from Pakistan who has been awarded this medal. The award, which is the second national order after the Legion of Honour, is only bestowed upon to those who have rendered distinguished services in government, civil, military and private activities for at least 10 years.
Asma, who is 44 years old now, was born in the city of Karachi in 1974. She moved to Paris with her parents in 1977 when she was only three years old. Today, Asma is the director & founder of Femme Relais Médiatrice İnterculturelle de Champigny (FRMİC) in France, which provides counselling and solutions to intercultural women.
After receiving the National Order of Merit, Asma said that the medal has honored her many years of service for which she is grateful.
“I see this honourable recognition as a testament of the values I stand for and I hope to encourage others to carry forward this legacy. I have a lot of projects in mind and I am looking forward to being able to deliver them,” Asma said.
According to Asma, her organisation responds to the needs of people in situations of exclusion and in difficulty in the neighbourhood, break the isolation by developing social ties, establish solidarity, improve good neighbourly relations, and restore people’s confidence.
“We aim to increase civic involvement and create social ties,” Asma explained.
Asma has studied Business Management and is also the Director and Founder of “Pi” (Potential Incubator); an organisation to develop and unlock the professional and business potential of young people. Her sister Saima Ashraf is a Labour Party councillor for the Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
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