Pashtana, 15, reflects on how LEARN’s AFGHAN Girls’ School — a virtual education programme — rekindled her love for learning and propelled her one step closer to her dream of becoming a dentist.
Many people around the world don't really know Afghanistan. They hear about war, bombs, and sadness. But Afghanistan is also about kindness, about strength, about dreams that refuse to die. Our country is beautiful, not because it's easy to live here, but because of the people who never give up.
Before the Taliban returned, life felt full of hope. We could go to school freely. We could go outside without fear. Every morning, I would pack my books, wear my school uniform proudly, and run to meet my friends. School wasn’t just about reading and writing; it was about dreaming, about believing we could be anything we wanted to be.
Learning with other Afghan girls online fills my heart with pride. When I see my classmates smiling, answering questions and dreaming aloud, I know that Afghanistan’s future is still alive.
But after the Taliban came, everything changed. Suddenly, girls were told we couldn't go to school anymore. It felt like someone shut a door in front of us — a door we had worked so hard to open. We can still go outside sometimes, but when your dreams are taken away, the world outside doesn't feel the same.
Education is the foundation of a better life. It teaches us how to build, how to lead, how to make change. Before the ban, we learned face-to-face with teachers who inspired us. Now, we study online — and even though it's different, it's still a blessing.
LEARN AFGHAN Girls' School became a light during this dark time. Without them, many girls like me would have been forced to give up on education. They didn't just give us books or classes; they gave us hope. They reminded us that we are not forgotten.
Learning with other Afghan girls online fills my heart with pride. When I see my classmates smiling, answering questions and dreaming aloud, I know that Afghanistan’s future is still alive. We lift each other up. We grow together. And that is powerful.
My dream is simple: I want to give my family a better life. I want my siblings to have opportunities to chase their dreams without fear. As the oldest sibling, I feel it's my responsibility to build a path for them. Education is the key to that future.
I dream of becoming a dentist one day. Not just for myself, but for my family, and for my country. I want to heal people, to bring smiles back. And no matter what happens, I won't stop chasing that dream.
Even if the classroom is taken away, the dream lives on. Even if the walls are tall, our hopes rise higher. We are Afghan girls. We are unstoppable.