Laila Haidari is an Afghan advocate who has dedicated much of her career to combating drug addiction in Afghanistan. Haidari founded “Mother Camp,” Kabul’s only private drug rehabilitation treatment center. She personally funds the center through a popular Kabul cafe, where unmarried men and women are able to interact despite the Taliban’s presence. As a former child bride married at the age of 12, she has also committed herself to fighting against religious extremism and organizing public efforts to ensure women’s rights and freedoms are protected. Haidari has been profiled by The New York Times and The Guardian, and she was recently featured in the internationally acclaimed 2018 documentary Laila at the Bridge. She was listed as one of the BBC’s 100 Women of 2021.
