Twice a refugee from Afghanistan, Nasrin Husseini is now on BBC list of 100 influential women

Nasrin Husseinispent her childhood in Iran,a refugee from the Taliban-held Afghanistan that prevented her from seeking an education in her home country.

She became determined not only to go to school but to help other refugees.

Now, arefugee advocateand researcher at the University of Guelph,Husseiniis amongan annual list of 100 exceptional women published by the BBC.

• Former Afghan refugee awarded $50K scholarship at University of Guelph

A childhood spent as a refugee

Though Husseini and her family spent much of her childhood in Iran, they returned to Afghanistan in 2004 after the fall of the Taliban. They arrived to find a changedcountry.

"Afghanistan, was a male dominated country inthose years after the Taliban," she told CBCRadio in a 2017 interview. "It was sort of stressfulto go out to streets, to walk alone."

She credits her father withhelping her and her sisters navigate those years, and for supporting her choice topursue an education. She was among the second class of women to graduate fromKabul University's veterinary medicine program and finished at the top of her class.

Sheenrolled at the University of Guelph soon after arriving in Toronto around 2010,this timeas a refugee to Canada. Husseini earned a masters of sciencein immunology and now works as a veterinary researcher forthe university.

As a volunteer, she works with the organization Canadian Hazara Humanitarian Services, a Brampton-based non-profit, whichassistsmembers of Afghanistan'sHazara ethnic group in settling in Canada, as well as with the Bookies Youth Program, which promotesliteracy and storytelling for Afghan children.

Afghan women half of 2021 list

The BBC says the 2021list highlights the bravery and achievements of Afghan women following the resurgence of the Taliban, who retook control of the countryin August.

Many appear on the list under pseudonyms, without photographs, or accompanied by drawings depicting themcovering their faces with their hands, something Husseini says was especially resonant toher as a fellow nominee.

"Those women who are working from inside of Afghanistan, they are the real heroes," she says. "That their photos are not there says a lot about the situation in Afghanistan right now ... it's absolutely an honour for me to be among those women."

Women from Afghanistan made up half of those recognized by the broadcaster this year.

Husseini says she hopes to continue supporting women inAfghanistan andAfghan refugees livingincountries like Pakistan, Iran and Indonesia. She hopes her inclusion on the list willhelp her to raise money for the charities she works with in Canada as well.

Soon, she says, she'd like write a book about her life,in the hope that other young girls mayfollow her lead.

A sense of responsibility

"I really want to write my own story, or biography, because I know that will be inspiring for other girls," she says. "I'm really hopeful that this recognition helps, that people read my story and learn about the people of Afghanistan."

She shares thisyear's BBC list withMalalaYousafzai, a celebrated girls' educationactivist and the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and with Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng, a Catholic nun who became a symbol of Myanmar's protest movementaftera photo of her kneeling infront of police in defence ofprotesters spread globallyon social media.

Husseini saysher inclusionon the list comeswith a heightened sense of responsibility.

"Itmakes the weight on my shoulders heavier, but at the same timeit motivates me and helps me to work more."