Afghanistan, with more than a million orphans, has been called the worst place to be a child. But one woman is trying to improve the lives of Afghan orphans and change the sobering statistics.

The 28-year-old had a turbulent childhood herself, living in refugee camps before returning to her country to found the Afghan Child Education and Care Organization, which creates safe and progressive orphanages.

(READ the story at CNN Heroes – Watch a video from the organization below)