My Teaching Journey

I will never stop fighting for Afghan women

Again, it's me, Helai Khurshid. In this text, I will elaborate on my teaching journey and how hard it is for me to continue. Everything started with all the violence for women in my country.

I had been learning English since I was 12, and despite financial problems, security threats, and many other restrictions, I never stopped learning and pursuing my interests.  I studied the basics of English for approximately one year until I became familiar with the basic rules and could speak English as much as possible.

Then, I started a language class, which enabled me to enhance my English skills. I was halfway through my course when everything completely changed.

For a while, I was bewildered, but I realized that I couldn't accept such a situation, which was like a prison for us. Then, my teaching journey started; I saw that the current regime doesn't let our brave women be educated. I started thinking about how I could help my country's courageous women and how can I make a change.

(Source: Reality of Life in Afghanistan)

Fortunately, I realized that education is the most powerful weapon to change a community, a country, or even a global scale. So, I started teaching our neighbor's daughter and kept my English studies online by watching videos on YouTube and studying grammar books in-house.

Perhaps it was a small start, but it could make me feel that at least I can help in any way. I was teaching English to all our neighbor's children. There were more than ten girls; I was thrilled with that, and an opportunity knocked on my door. One of my English teachers informed me that he is working in a private educational center that is highly active and hidden from the Taliban, and he asked me if I could start teaching there. I got my permission by urging my parents a lot. They were afraid of the threats from the Taliban, but my steadfastness and enthusiasm could solve everything.

First, I received one month of training to begin teaching, and in addition to the training, I started a TOEFL preparation class. Happily, the office gave me two classes. The first month was beginner classes, but now I am so proud because I never stopped improving and boosting my English skills.

Luckily, I will have been teaching for seven months by next week. Teaching is not this easy for me; I have many harmful and bitter memories. As I mentioned before, I am teaching in an educational center that is working secretly and hidden from the Taliban, so more than three times, I was teaching that the Taliban came, shouted, insulted us, and dislodged us.

The first time they came, they kicked my glass door and yelled at me; they all were making fun of us. One of them said, women studying? Go and wash your dishes. Then they all started laughing; I was trembling from fear, then they forced us to leave, then I came home hopeless, sad, and worried, but again, after one week, our course reopened, and I continued teaching. This event happened many times, but I couldn't stop myself. 

I stay consistent for my country's women, and I will fight against this violence till the end!

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Helai Khurshid is a teenage girl living in Afghanistan.