From silence to strength: How LEARN Afghan reminded me I still mattered

I grew up with a love for learning. Like many girls, I dreamed of going to school every day, sharpening my pencils, opening my books, and imagining a bright future. Education was more than a right. It was my joy, my power, and my path forward.

A Sudden Silence

But everything changed in August 2021.

That month, the Taliban returned to power and with their return came our silence — taking away our fundamental rights to education.

I was 14 years old and in grade 10. Every morning, I would walk for about half an hour with my older sister and my niece to get to school. Our daily walk was filled with dreams and laughter. Despite the tired feet or the cold wind, we loved school deeply. For me, it wasn’t just a place to learn, it was where I felt alive and full of hope.

Dreams Interrupted

My biggest dream was to finish school and study engineering. I imagined myself one day standing in front of a classroom at Herat University, teaching mathematics to future students.

At the same time, I also had a deep passion for writing. I wanted to become a journalist in Afghanistan — someone who would tell the truth and give a voice to the voiceless.

But everything disappeared overnight.

I remember the night they changed my life and that of girls across Afghanistan by announcing:

“Until further notice, all girls’ schools will be closed.”

The new regime banned girls over the age of 12 from attending school.

I could not hold back my tears. I cried quietly in the dark, hugging my school books like they were a part of me being taken away. The words “until further notice” stretched on for what felt like forever. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, then years.

It felt like someone had stolen my voice, my dreams, and locked them away. The world outside seemed to quickly move on, but I was stuck in a silence that felt endless — leaving me to question whether I would ever study again.

A New Beginning

Then, something beautiful happened.

I discovered LEARN Afghan in May 2024, which opened the door to education that I thought was closed forever. LEARN gave me access to resources, but more than that, it gave me a reason to hope again. It felt like someone had lit a candle in the darkness and reminded me that I still mattered.

Through LEARN I started studying English, math, technology, journalism, and science. Learning journalism has given me a voice — the opportunity to tell my story and the stories of other girls like me who are unable to. And the science classes have opened my mind to how the world works.

Every lesson makes me feel alive again, helping me rebuild the pieces of my life that had been taken away. The teachers are not just instructors — they are my light and strength. They have motivated me and helped me overcome fear.

Today, I can communicate in English, use a computer with confidence, and solve problems that once seemed impossible.

Rebuilding the Future

I feel stronger, smarter, and more alive than ever before. Most of all, I feel hopeful because every subject I study reminds me that I am capable, and that I have a future worth fighting for.

I now dream of becoming an engineer — a girl who builds. I want to rebuild my community, uplift other girls, and remind them that no one can take away our right to learn.

My story is just one, but I hope it becomes a voice for the many Afghan girls still waiting for a chance.

A Message of Gratitude and Hope

I cannot express my gratitude enough to the people who support LEARN. They have not only supported our education but also our confidence, our voices, and our future.

In every lesson I learn, I carry their kindness with me — and I dare to dream again.

They have helped girls like me survive, rise up again, turned our pain into purpose, and silence into song.

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From darkness, I found light.

From silence, I found strength.

And from LEARN, I found myself.

Every girl deserves the chance to learn, to dream, and to shine.

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