Silent Cry

Life has never been easy for an Afghan girl, but for me, education has always been my greatest dream and challenge. From the moment I can remember, I loved reading books and learning. School was always a place of hope, and I was proud of my achievements as I was always ranked first in my class. My future seemed bright, and every day at school brought me closer to that future.

But one day, everything changed. When the Taliban closed the doors of the schools, it felt as if my world had come crashing down. I could not believe that I would no longer be able to attend school, study with my friends, and build a future for myself. But despite the school closures, my friends and I refused to give up. For months, we secretly continued our education, hiding our books in shopping bags and sneaking through back alleys to get to our secret study places.

One day, as I was returning from one of our secret study sessions, I was followed. By the time I reached home, I realized that we had been discovered. My family was scared and told me that I should no longer go to study. That night, I secretly cried. I felt as though once again, the voices of Afghan girls had been silenced.

For months, I lived in depression and despair, until I came across the Women’s Empowerment Program. This program became a light of hope in my life. I was able to continue my education, learn new skills, and fight for the future I deserve. The program was not just an educational opportunity, it was a chance for me to reclaim my life.

Anita Jami