Freedom is a simple word, yet filled with deep meaning. It represents the right to breathe without fear, speak without censorship, and live without coercion. For most of the world, freedom is a basic human right, but in Afghanistan, especially for girls, it feels like a distant dream. Afghanistani girls grow up learning that silence is safer than speech, and “waiting” becomes part of their identity. This essay explores the harsh reality and unshakable hope of Afghanistani girls in their pursuit of freedom.
Since the return of the Taliban in 2021, life for Afghanistani girls has become increasingly restricted. More than 2.2 million girls have been barred from attending secondary and higher education. The dream of freedom has turned into a daily struggle, not for luxury or comfort, but for basic rights: the right to study, speak, and live as they wish. Each attempt at hope, a smile or a step toward school, is often met with violence, threats, and silence. In Afghanistan, freedom must be earned through courage, awareness, and resistance, not through weapons, but through unyielding spirit.
Despite the heavy limitations, Afghanistani girls continue to resist in silence. They read in secret, write their thoughts, and find strength in the smallest acts of defiance. These young women are the true heroes of Afghanistan. To wear what they want, to learn, to simply be these have become acts of bravery. Their voices may be suppressed, but their eyes speak volumes. Their dreams are alive, even behind locked school gates and burnt books. They are the poets, scientists, and teachers of tomorrow.
Even in suffering, the youth of Afghanistan hold onto hope. They dream of a future where they can say, “I am Afghan and I am free.” This hope is their most powerful possession: something no regime, no violence, no oppression can steal. Every unfulfilled dream is a seed for the future–the girls banned from schools today could be the change makers of tomorrow. Freedom for Afghanistani girls is not just political; it is deeply human. It means being allowed to dream, to choose, and to live without fear.
In conclusion, Freedom in Afghanistan is more than a demand, it is a necessity. A truly free Afghanistan will only exist when every girl can study without threat, when every voice is heard, and when fear no longer rules dreams. Until that day comes, Afghanistani girls will continue to resist with courage and hope. And one day, they will say without fear or censorship, “I am free.”
– Roqia
Letter received from our students participating in our Mentorship program. Name and text altered for protection of our students and for grammatical changes.
