Afghan Girls Deserve to Dream

When will the world wake up and act?

Girls from the district of Khawja Omari participate in classes being held outside at the all-girls school. Provincial Reconstruction Team-Ghazni visited the school that day to meet with school officials and discuss upcoming projects. (Joint Combat Camera Afghanistan Photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Webb)

Tonight, something made me sad. The Taliban said Afghan girls can’t go to medical colleges anymore. That was the only place left for girls to learn after they banned them from schools. My aunt Zuhal was studying to be a doctor, but now she has to stay home. She worked hard, and now all her dreams are being taken away. It feels like they don’t want Afghan girls to have any future at all!

When I heard about the ban, I couldn’t stop thinking about my aunt Zuhal. She’s smart and kind and always wanted to help sick people. She studied day and night to get into this medical institute, and now all that is gone. Instead of becoming a doctor, she has to sit at home. Her family is even discussing her marrying someone she doesn’t want to marry. How is that fair?

She had big plans, and now it’s like the Taliban has stolen them. It feels like the Taliban doesn’t want Afghan girls to be happy or even hope for something better.

First, they took away their schools. Then, they banned them from working and even going to parks. Now, they can’t study medicine. What’s next? Will they say girls aren’t allowed to breathe? They’re trying to make life as hard as possible for them.

What upsets me is that the whole world is just watching. Don’t they see what’s
happening? Don’t they care? Every time the Taliban makes a new rule against girls, I wonder why no one is stopping them. How many more of our rights will they take before the world finally says, “This has to stop!”

But you know what? I believe Afghan girls are stronger than the Taliban thinks. They might take away our schools, jobs, and dreams, but they can’t take away our hope. I know Afghan girls won’t give up. We will keep fighting for our right to learn, dream, and have a future.

Girls everywhere should be able to learn and follow their dreams. Afghan girls are no different. The Taliban might think they can silence us, but they’re wrong. We are brave and will keep speaking out until the world hears us. One day, Afghan girls will get the future they deserve. We’re not giving up, and I hope the world doesn’t give up on us, either.

With a broken heart,
Aqsa