There were always stories of "people" in our house. My dad, a former street kid, had all these amazing stories of his childhood to tell. My mom was working with Afghan refugees and she used to tell us their life stories...I learned what it means to show concern for people and respect them. Growing up in Iran, the years of war and sanction, my childhood was ironically so colorful. My extraordinary parents showed me how imagination can save people. For the past three years I've been teaching all forms of art medium to children and young adults from the ages of 5 to 25 years old in Cambodia. I believe that art can change people's life and it is amazing to see how children share that belief with me.

The Influence of non-formal education through art and intellectual stimulation in the life of the children I work with is massive. I believe that teaching children concepts such as critical thinking, logical power and logical arguments will give them the ability to criticize their situation in society and the possible progress in their lives. Throughout the teaching sessions, I have examined the adjustments children made and the way they could apply some of their learning to real life. This has now led me to outstanding results and I am willing to open a community-based education center for them, a place they can practice to be independent thinkers...

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