Silent Cry

Growing up in Afghanistan as a girl always meant facing a battle. From childhood, I was taught that if I wanted something, I had to fight for it. But how could I fight against something that was beyond my control?

When the Taliban closed the doors of the schools, I realized that this was a battle I couldn’t fight alone. Every day, I woke up with hope, only to find that the world around me was not the same.

For months, I lived in despair, until one day, I heard about the Women’s Empowerment Program. At first, I was unsure, but when I joined my first online class, I felt like I had been given a second chance.

This program showed me that no matter what happens, we, the Afghan girls, will always find a way to continue our education. Now, I stand alongside other Afghan girls and fight for the day when the doors of knowledge will open again for us.

Shamila Stangzi