Razia Jan, Afghan native and formerly of Duxbury, MA Named CNN Hero

CNN Announces that Razia Jan, Mass. resident and Founder of girls’ school in Afghanistan Has Been Chosen for a 2012 CNN Hero Award

Boston August 3, 2012- CNN announced today that Razia Jan formerly of Duxbury, Mass. has been named a 2012 CNN Hero for her work in building a school for girls in Afghanistan and for her passion and triumph in committing her life to create a bond between Afghanistan and America.  Jan founded the Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and children in Afghanistan through community-based education. Through Jan’s efforts, the foundation built, opened and currently manages the Zabuli Education Center in the village of Deh’Subz, outside of Kabul , that provides free education for girls. 

CNN Heroes is a year-long initiative that honors everyday people like Razia for their selfless, creative efforts to help others. Click here to see the CNN Heroes segment on Razia.

“We opened a school for girls in Afghanistan to help break the cycle of poverty through access to an education in a very poor area,” says Razia. “By providing these girls with an education, at no cost to them, we are giving them a ray of hope to protect them from the vicious cycle of poverty, malnutrition, and hunger.”

Razia Jan was among 10,000 nominations received from 100 countries in the CNN Heroes campaign that is now in its sixth year.  Each week, a CNN Hero is profiled on the global networks of CNN and on CNN.com. In September, the Top 10 CNN Heroes will be announced and from the Top 10, viewers will select the CNN Hero of the Year via online voting. That person will be revealed during the live broadcast of “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” airing Sunday, December 2, from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

"Razia never does anything for the recognition, she does what she does because she cares about people, about America, about her home land - Afghanistan and the world.  Razia didn't just become an activist she has been doing work like this for many decades,” said Patti Quigley, executive director of Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation.  “It is time for us to stand up and cheer for her, give her energy to continue.  I nominated Razia for this award so I could share my good friend with the world - and now the world is lucky enough to call Razia a good friend."

Follow Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation on Facebook and Twitter

About Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation

Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation (www.raziasrayofhope.org) is a nonprofit organization that funds the Zabuli Education Center, a girls’ school in the Afghan village of Deh’Subz. Razia’s Ray of Hope was founded by Razia Jan on the belief that education is the key to a positive change for current and future generations. The foundation strives to provide opportunity for women in children and provide them with resources to work towards brighter futures.

About CNN Worldwide

CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most trusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media. For more information, visit www.CNNPressroom.com.

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