Our classrooms have been taken away but Afghan girls are unstoppable

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efore the Taliban returned to power, life felt full of hope. Girls like me could go to school freely and go outside without fear.

Every morning, I would put on my school uniform proudly,  pack my books into my bag, and run to meet my friends. School was not just about reading and writing, it was about dreaming, about believing we could be anything we wanted to be.

But the Taliban changed this in 2021. Suddenly, girls were told they were not able to attend school after the age of 12, along with other restrictive measures. It felt like someone shut the doors to our dreams and opportunities in front of us – a door we had worked so hard to open. While we can still go outside sometimes, it no longer feels the same. When you have your future taken away, the world outside no longer feels welcoming.

Education is the foundation of a better life. It teaches us how to build, how to lead, and how to create change.

Before the ban, girls and boys alike were taught face-to-face with teachers who inspired us. Now, girls no longer have the same rights. We have had to turn desperately to studying online for the sake of our futures. Even though it’s different and challenging, it is still a blessing.

For me, LEARN Afghan became a light during this dark time. Without LEARN, many girls like me would have been forced to give up on education. Thanks to the online school, its teachers and Pashtana Durrani’s courage, we can still study. It has not just given girls books or classes,  but also hope. They have 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, dreaming aloud, I know that Afghanistan’s future is still alive in us. We lift each other up. We grow together. And that is powerful.

Many people around the world don’t really know about Afghanistan from our perspective. They hear about war, bombs, and sadness. But Afghanistan is also about kindness, about strength and about resilience – the 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 and the community that fights for the rights of others.

My dream is simple: I want to be a dentist one day. I want to give my family a better life. I want my younger siblings to have opportunities and to chase their dreams without fear. I hope my efforts inspire them and help build a better path for them. Education is the key to that future.

Not only am I pursuing my dreams for myself and my family, I’m doing this 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 fall, our hope rises higher.

We are Afghan girls.

We are unstoppable.