The 8th of March is International Women’s Day, a day to honor women’s struggles and achievements all over the world, but unfortunately, in our country Afghanistan, this day is a symbol of struggle for women and girls. It is a long and challenging struggle that continues with every day. Especially in the context of educational restrictions and oppressions that are inflicted on them.
I want to write about the current situation of women and girls in Afghanistan because we do not have independence, we are deprived of education, we don’t have security, even the way we girls and women dress depends on the order of the Taliban government.
One of the most important and painful challenges that we face is educational limitations. After the Taliban came to power in 2021, many girls’ schools and universities were closed across the country and girls’ access to secondary and higher education was greatly reduced. This decision caused more than two million girls across Afghanistan to be denied the right of education. Since the Taliban entered our country, I was busy studying mining engineering in the sixth semester of Bamyan University and my classmates were from different provinces of Afghanistan. Now, the right of education has become an unattainable dream for many girls.
In addition, many Afghanistani girls have turned to clandestine home or online schools. However, these options are not widely accessible. Even many non-governmental organizations under the leadership of women have been closed, including the education sector and legal and social restrictions on women. Strict dress laws and travel restrictions require women to have a male guardian when traveling. Oppression and discrimination against us in Afghanistan is widely rooted in the society. From domestic violence to sexual assaults and forced marriages, we Afghanistani girls and women are constantly facing all kinds of oppression. We cannot enjoy our right to make decisions about our lives as beings, we are considered weak and dependent.
Despite these problems, Afghanistani girls and women continue to fight for our rights and never give up, and I want to say to all Afghanistani girls to hope, continue to seek knowledge in every possible way and support each other. When I couldn’t go to university, it was depressing for me and it had a bad effect on my mind, but I never gave up. This opportunity that we can come in this class and be able to improve our knowledge convinced me to continue this mission. I have a special thanks to our sponsors for this golden opportunity.
To sum up, I want to say that in Afghanistan there are many restrictions and limitations on the girls and women, unfortunately most of our people are struggling with many adversities and poverty, even I know some girls in my neighborhood that they have many goals which can achieve through studying but they do not have money to continue their education. Even I, myself all day and night, am thinking about what I should do if I lose my concentration. Now I am one ASDD’s students and I am happy that I can study my English under support of ASDD. International Women’s Day should be a day of celebration, but we cannot celebrate. It is a big sorrow for me and many Afghanistani girls. That is why I am writing heart words on the 8th of March.
– ‘Raha’
Letter received from our students participating in our Mentorship program. Name and text altered for protection of our students and for grammatical changes.
