In the midst of restrictions, fear, and uncertainty, Afghan women have learned to hide their pain behind a quiet smile. This smile is not always a sign of joy—it is a form of resilience, a way to keep hope alive in a reality that often feels suffocating. Behind closed doors, in whispered conversations, in the […]
Category: Stories
The Basement Classroom
Nahid’s Story: Lessons that Shine in the Dark When the Taliban closed girls’ schools, I, Nahid, felt as if they had stolen my future. The days I should have spent with my friends in a classroom suddenly turned into endless days of staying at home. But one day, I heard the news that our neighborhood’s […]
The Bicycle that Carried Freedom
Maryam’s Story: The Pedals That Stopped Halfway I, Maryam, always thought a bicycle was more than just a way to get from one place to another — it was a small ticket to freedom. Before the Taliban returned, I used to ride alongside my brother through the dusty alleys of our neighborhood. The wind in […]
A House with Closed Windows
Laila’s Story of a Street That No Longer Knows Her Before the Taliban came, I, Laila, was an employee in a government office. My salary wasn’t much, but I felt like I was part of my community and contributing to building the future. Every morning, I would put on my work clothes with excitement, joke […]
Shadows of the Silent School
Sahar’s Story of the Last Bell That Never Rang When the Taliban returned to Kabul, the first news that shook my heart was the closure of the girls’ school where I used to teach. I, Sahar, had spent eight years of my life within those four walls — a place that was not just my […]
