Sonia Nassery Cole facts for kids
Sonia Nassery Cole, born in 1965, is an American human rights activist, filmmaker, and author. She was born in Afghanistan. She works to help people and tell important stories through movies and books.
Quick facts for kids
Sonia Nassery Cole
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| Born |
Sonia Nassery
1965 (age 59–60) Kabul, Afghanistan
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| Occupation | Filmmaker author human rights activist |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse(s) | Christoper H. Cole (divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
Her Early Life
Sonia Nassery Cole was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her father was a diplomat, which means he worked for his country's government in other nations. When she was fourteen, Sonia had to leave Afghanistan. This was during the Soviet invasion in 1979. She traveled to the United States to find safety, without her family.
When she was seventeen, Sonia wrote a long letter to President Ronald Reagan. She wrote about the problems in her home country. She asked him for help and hoped to meet him.
Helping Afghanistan
In 2002, Sonia started a group called the Afghanistan World Foundation. Through this group, she helped raise money for many important things in Afghanistan. For example, her efforts helped build a hospital for women and children in Kabul. She also helped provide medical care for people hurt by landmines.
Sonia focuses on making life better for women and children in Afghanistan. She works hard to improve their living conditions and opportunities. Famous people like singer Natalie Cole and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger joined her foundation's board.
Making Movies
Sonia Nassery Cole has been involved in making movies since 1994. In 2007, she directed a short film called The Bread Winner. Later, in 2010, her movie The Black Tulip was chosen. It was Afghanistan's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards.
The Black Tulip won "best picture" awards at several film festivals. These included the Boston Film Festival and the Beverly Hills Film Festival. The movie is about a family in Kabul who opens a restaurant after the Taliban government fell. It was shown at the Ariana Cinema Theater and even at a NATO base.
Her film I Am You came out in 2019. This movie is based on a true story. It follows the journey of three refugees from Afghanistan.
Becoming an Author
In 2013, Sonia received the Freedom to Write Award from PEN Center USA. This award honors writers who stand up for freedom of expression. She also wrote a book titled Will I Live Tomorrow?. This book was released in October 2013.
Her Life Today
Sonia Nassery Cole lives in New York City and Beverly Hills, California. She is divorced but still uses her former husband's last name. She has one son.
She has received several special awards for her work. These include a "Congressional Recognition" award in 2006. She also received the "Afghan American Sisterhood Award" and the "UN Women Together Award" in 2012.
