KIDSOFKABULLIVINGBRAVELYTHROUGHANEVER-ENDINGWAR
DEBORAHELLIS
GROUNDWOODBOOKS/HOUSEOFANANSIPRESSTORONTOBERKELEY
Textcopyright©2012byDeborahEllisPublishedinCanadaandtheUSAin2012byGroundwoodBooks
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Ellis,DeborahKidsofKabul:livingbravelythroughanever-endingwar/DeborahEllis.eISBN978-1-55498203-51.Children—Afghanistan—Juvenileliterature.2.Childrenandwar—Afghanistan—Juvenileliterature.3.AfghanWar,2001-—Children—Juvenileliterature.I.Title.HQ792.A3E552012j305.235092’2581C2011-906638-6
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Tothenextgenerationofsurvivors
Introduction
Iamafeminist,whichmeansIbelievethatwomenareofequalvaluetomen.IamfromCanada,acountrynotwithoutitsstrugglesbutwherewomenandgirlsarenotlimited—intheory—bythefactthattheyarefemale.WhenIheardabouttheTalibantakeoverofAfghanistanin1996,andthecrimestheyperpetratedagainstwomenandgirls,Idecidedtogetinvolved.ThisstartedmeonajourneythathastakenmefromAfghanrefugee
communitiesinCanadatothemuddytentcampsinPakistanandthedecrepitSovietworkers’holidayhotelsoutsideMoscowthat,tenyearsago,servedasencampmentsforAfghanandotherrefugees.Itisajourneythathasspawnedfourbooks:anadultbook(WomenoftheAfghanWar)andthreenovelsaboutchildrenundertheTaliban,thelastonepublishedin2003.AndnowI’vegoneback.Afghanistanhasbeenatwarfordecades.Ithasbeenusedbytheworld’sgreat
powersintheirstrugglesagainsteachother.OnesuchstruggleproducedtheTalibangovernment,which,atanearlierstageofthewar,hadbeensupportedbytheUnitedStates.Amongotherthings,theTalibanregimewasbrutallyrepressivetowardwomen.TheTalibanalsoharboredal-Qaeda,theterroristswhowereresponsiblefortheSeptember11thattacksontheUnitedStatesin2001.ThewarthatfollowedinitiallyoverthrewtheTalibangovernmentbuthascontinuedforthepastelevenyears.ThereallosersaretheAfghanpeople,especiallythewomenandchildren.
Theirdailylivesarestillthreatenedbysuicidebombings,armedconflictandotherformsofviolence,andevenKabul,thecapitalcity,isnotsecure.TensofthousandsofAfghanshavediedsince9/11—many,manymorethandiedinthetwintowers.Peoplehavebeeninjured,maimed,displacedandterrorized.Peoplearehungry,peoplearefleeing,andfamiliesareseparatedfromtheirhomesandfromeachother.Refugeeswholefttheirhomesaslongastwentyyearsagoliveininformalcampswheretheyhavenoservicesotherthanthoseofferedbyone
ortwoNGOs.ThismeanstherearestillmillionsofinternallyandexternallydisplacedAfghanslivinginmiserableconditionswithoutwater,plumbingorelectricity.Thebillionsandbillionsofdollarsspentonthewar,whichmighthavebeenspentoneducation,healthcare,housingandrebuildingacivilsociety,havebeenspentonweapons.Sohasanythingbeengained?Forsomeyoungpeoplelifehasimproved,andtheyaregrabbingholdofevery
opportunitywithbothhands.ThoughmorethanhalfthechildreninAfghanistanstillhavenoaccesstoschooling,thosewhodostudyhard.Whentheyareallowedtoplaysports,theyplayhard.TheluckyoneswhohavemoneyandwholiveinKabulandafewothercitiesarereachingouttoeachotherandtotheworld,usingsocialmediaandnewtechnologies.Someinstitutionsarebringingthemintocontactwithmusicandart.Andtheyarefindingwaystotaketheirconsiderableenergiesandtalentsintopubliclifetomovetheircountryforward.TheinterviewsinthisbookwereconductedovertheweeksIwasinKabul
earlyin2011.ManyoftheyoungpeoplespokeonlyAfghanlanguages,sotheirwordsweretranslatedintoEnglishformebyaninterpreter—thesameinterpreterformanyoftheinterviews.
Children’splaygroundinaparkjustnorthofKabul.
AlthoughIusuallytravelalone,thistimeItraveledwithJaniceEisenhauerandLaurynOatesfromCanadianWomenforWomeninAfghanistan.ManyoftheplacesIvisitedwereinvolvedwithprojectsfundedbyWomenforWomen.Duetothesecuritysituation,IdidnottravelbeyondKabul.Itispossibletoreadtheinterviewsinthisbookandcomeawayfeelinghopeful
aboutthefutureofthesekidsandthefutureoftheircountry.Itisgoodtobehopeful,andifthefuturecouldbeinthehandsofthisgenerationofyoungpeople,withtheireagerness,opennessanddetermination,thenAfghanistancouldindeedbeagardenagain.Sadly,theoldwayofdoingthings—thewayofcorruptionandkillingand
suspicionandvenalinternationalinterests—seemstobegainingtheupperhand.ButthereisnoquestionthatwemustreachoutandsupporttheseyoungpeopleandtheAfghanorganizationsthatworkwiththem.Onlythroughworkatthegrassrootslevelcanthepatientday-to-dayofrebuildingtakeplace.Wehavetostandtogethertomoveforward.Anythingwecandotoconnect
withAfghanpeople,toappreciatewhattheyhavebeenthroughandwhattheyarecapableof,andtoassistthemingettingtheeducationtheyneedtorebuildtheirowncountrywillbeastepawayfrommadnessandpain,andasteptowardthesunshine.
DeborahEllis2012
Faranoz,14
DuringtheTalibanregime,schoolsforgirlswereclosed,andwomenwereforbiddenfromattendinguniversity.Extremepovertycoupledwithdecadesofwarandchaoshaveleftthecountrywithhighratesofilliteracy.AccordingtotheUnitedNationsHumanDevelopmentReportof2008,only28percentofAfghanadultscanreadandwrite.Thatnumberdropsto13percentforwomen.SincethefalloftheTaliban,theinternationalcommunityhaspartneredwiththepeople
ofAfghanistantoraiseliteracylevelsandencourageeducationforall.Itisanuphillstruggle—oneundertakenattimeswithenthusiasmandattimeswithsuspicion.Inadditiontoregularschools,literacyclasseshavebeenintroducedintonon-traditionalspacestomakethemasaccessibleandacceptableaspossible.AsmallhouseinarundownareaofKabulisagatheringpointforwidowsandtheir
daughters.Thewomenhaveallexperiencedtraumabroughtonbythewarandrelatedviolence.Afterreceivingcounselingforafewmonths,theytakepartinliteracyclasses.Eachstepforwardgivesthemmorepowerovertheirownlives.Thewomencrowdintoalow-ceilingedroomwithwallsdecoratedwiththehandicrafts
theyhavemade.Theysitontoshaksalongthewalls,andwhenthosearefilled,theymoveintoanyavailablespaceonthefloor.Asmallwoodstovetakesthechilloutofthewinterair.Faranozcomesherewithhermother.Shehassevensistersandthreebrothers.
EveryonesaysIhavetoomuchintelligence.Theylaughwhentheysayit,soitisajoke,buttheyareright.Iamverysmart.Ayearago,Icouldnotreadanythingatall,butnowIcanreadallsortsof
things—books,poems,everything.Icanwrite,too.ThisprovesIamsmart.IliveinapoorareaofKabul.Myfatherdiedthirteenyearsago.Nooneinthis
roomhasafatherorhusband.Themendiedinthewarorfromsicknessortheyweremurdered.Husbandsandfathersdieforallsortsofreasons.Somegetshot.Sometimesthereareroadaccidents.SomefathersgotoIranortoPakistantolookforworkanddon’tcomeback.Mymotherhasnojob,soweareverypoor.Myoldestbrotherisinchargeof
us.HeistheonewhosaidIshouldnotgotoschool,sothatiswhyIspentsomanyyearsnotknowinghowtoread.Idon’tknowwhyhesaidnoschoolforme.Doeshehavetogiveareason?Maybehedoesn’tthinkIamsmartenoughforschool.MaybeheisafraidIwouldendupsmarterthanhim,andthenhowwouldhebeabletotellmewhattodo?Thewomeninthisclasshaveallbeen
throughbadtimesinthewar.IwasverysmallwhenthewarendedbutIheareveryonetalkaboutit.Ourlessonsaresupposedtolastoneandahalfhours,buttheyoftengolonger
becausethewomenwanttotalkabouttheirproblems.Butthatwasmoreinthebeginning.Astheybecomebetteratreadingtheywanttotalkmoreaboutreadingandlessaboutthethingsthatmakethemsad.Thismeetingroomisreallyjustaroominawoman’shouse.Thewomanused
tobemarriedtoamanwhobelongedtotheTaliban.Hewasaverybadman.Hebeatherandmadeherbewithothermen,averydisrespectfulthing.Butshewasverybrave.ShewenttotheSupremeCourtandgotadivorce.Idon’tknowwhenthiswas.Sometimeafterthewar.Thisisherbrother’shouse.Sheliveshereandheletsherhavethisroomforustomeet.Ourteacherisalawyeraswellasateacher.Shehastoldusabouthowshe
defendedwomenwhowerebeingbeatenortreatedbadly.Shesaysimportantpeoplehaveofferedherimportantjobs,butshepreferstobehereinthisroomwithus,becauseweareimportant,too.Thefirstdayofclasses,manywomenwerecryingbecausetheirlivesareso
hardandnooneeverasksthemaboutthat.Theydon’tgettojustcomeandsitandtalkwithotherwomen.Theyareexpectedtojustlivetheirlivesandbequiet.Buttheteacherherestartedtoaskthemandthat’swhentheystartedtocry.Somewouldnottalkatallatfirst.EvenIwastooafraidtoshaketheteacher’shandoreventolookather.IwasafraidthatshewouldseethatIwasnotsmart.ButnowIknowIamsmart,soIamnotafraidanymore.Afterayearoflearningtoread,wearealldifferentpeople.Wecanstandup
straightandreadoutthewordswehavewritteninloudclearvoices.Welaughmorethanwecry.EventhoughIamyoung,Iknowmanythings.Sometimestheolderwomen
forgetI’mintheroom,andtheytalkasifI’mnothere.Ihearallabouttheirlives,abouttheirchildrenwhodiedortheirhusbandswhohitthem.Iknowthatsomewomendidnottelltheirfamiliestheywerecominghere.
Theysaidtheyweregoingtothemarketortoaclinic,ortheyonlycametoclasswhennoonewasathometostopthem.Onlyaftermanymonthshadpasseddidtheytellthem,andbythentheycouldreadsomethings,sotheirfamiliessaid,“Youareusingyourtimewell,youarelearningsomething,youarehappier,okay,youcancontinuetogo.”
Thecourtyardofahomewhereliteracyclassesareheld.
Thebookswemostliketoreadareaboutlaw,theconstitutionandaboutreligion.Throughthesebookswelearnthatwehaverights.Andifourfamiliesdisagree,wecanpointtothebookandsay,“Here!Itiswrittendown!Thelawmustberespected!”Religiondoesnotgivementherighttobeatus,andnowwecanproveit.Someofthestoriesarefunnynow,becauseweknowbetter,buttheyweren’t
funnywhentheyhappened.Onewomansaysshegotaprescriptionfromthedoctorandshegotitmixedupwithotherpapers,andwhatshetooktothepharmacywasnottheprescription,itwastheelectricbill!Womentalkabouthowtheyusedtobelikeblind,butreadinghasmadethemabletosee.Iusedtothink,ifonlyIcouldread,thenIwouldbehappy.ButnowIjustwant
more!IwanttoreadaboutpoetsandAfghanhistoryandscienceandaboutplacesoutsideAfghanistan.Manyofuswriteourownstories,andwedecoratethebordersofthepageswithdrawingsofflowersanddesigns,becausethatistheAfghantradition.
Mybrotherletsmecomeherebecauseit’snotreallyaschool.Morejustaplacewherewomengettogethertolearn.Mymotherwasthefirsttocome,andwhenhesawthatshefeltbetterandseemedhappier,hesaid,okay,itwouldnotbebadifIcamewithher.Thereareonlywomenhere,sohethinksIwon’tgetintotroubleandmakehimlookbad.IhopeheletsmegotoaproperschoolonedaybecauseIliketobearound
booksandIwouldliketobeadoctoroneday.IthinkIwouldbeagooddoctor.WhatelsecanIdowithsomuchintelligence!
Liza,16
AtraditionofIslamicart—orartcreatedintheIslamicworld,regardlessofthereligionofthecreator—involvescreatingasenseofbalanceandharmony.Onepartofthetraditionistofocusonpatternsratherthanrepresentationsoflivingcreatures.ThemagnificenttileworkonmosquesandpublicspacesthroughouttheMiddleEastisatestamenttothegrandeurofthisstyleofwork.Othertraditions,suchastheoneledbythegreatAfghanminiaturistofthesixteenth
century,Kamalal-DinBihzad,createdspectacularilluminatedbooksofillustratedpoetryandlegends,withpeopleandeventheProphetMuhammadrepresentedinfull-facedrawings.ThefirstnationalAfghanschooloffineartswasestablishedin1921,withotherschools
comingalongasthedecadespassedandleaderschanged.WhentheTalibantookpower,artwasoneofthemanyformsofself-expressiontheycrushed.TheyevendestroyedmanyofAfghanistan’sartisticandculturaltreasures,suchasthegiantBuddhasofBamiyan(magnificentgiantstatuescarvedintothesideofacliffanddeliberatelydynamitedbytheTalibanin2001).Mostformsofartwereagainstthelaw.InoneofthemanyattemptstorescueandrebuildtheculturallifeofAfghanistan,a
women’sartcenterwasestablishedbytheCentreforContemporaryArtsAfghanistan(CCAA).Since2006ithastrainedhundredsofyoungAfghanwomeninpainting,photographyandfilmmaking.Afterlivinginatimewhentheirvoicesweresilenced,havingabilityintheartsallowswomenandgirlslikeLizatoexpressthemselvesinnewanddaringways.
Ilivewithmymotherandonesister.Myfatherdiedfromanuntreatedillnesssometimeago.Whenhegotill,therewasnodoctorandnomedicine.Wecouldseehewassickandsuffering,andwedidwhatwecouldtotrytokeephimwarmandcomfortable,butthepainwasbadandwewatchedhimdie.Wewereallhelpless.ToloseafatherinAfghanistanisadangerousthingbecauseitisveryhardfor
awomantoearnenoughmoneyonherowntosupportherselfandherchildren.Shehastorelyonsomeonetohelpher—anuncle,abrother—andthatmakesherlikeabeggar.Formyfamilyithasbeenveryhard.Iwassevenwhenmyfatherdied.Heused
toworkinashopsellingcarpets.Iremembervisitinghimtheretotakehimsomelunch.ItwasthetimeoftheTaliban,somymothercouldnotgooutsidewithanysafety.TheTalibanwouldbeatheriftheysawher.ItwasalittlesaferformebecauseIwasalittlechild,andtheyusuallyignoredverylittlechildren.TheshopwasneartowherewelivedandIwouldrunthereandback.IranbecauseIwasafraidofthem.ButIwasgladtogetout.Exceptfortakingthelunch,wejustsatinside.Noschool,noplaying.Nothing.
Thedayswerelongandwewouldarguejustforsomethingtodo.Whenyouarelockedupwithsomeone,everythingtheydocanquicklybecomeannoying,becauseyoucan’tgetawayfromit.Everydayisthesame.BeforetheTalibanfelltherewasalotoffightingandshooting.Itwasterrible.
Butthenitstoppedandthingsarebetternow.Iamabouttostartgradeten.Istudyveryhardinschool.Weareonschoolbreaknowforthewinter.InsteadofgoingtoregularschoolclassesIcomehereeverydaytoworkonlearningart.AftertheTaliban,myfamilywasreallyhopeful.Peoplewouldcometovisit
andI’dhearthemtalk.“Thedarkperiodisover,”they’dsay.“Wecanallbreatheagain.”Butit’snotreallylikethat.Wecandosomethings,butweneverknowwhoiswatchingandwhowilltrytostopuswithviolenceorbysayingbadthings.Itrynottothinkaboutit.Iprefertothinkaboutart.
Asculptureinthecourtyardofthewomen’sartcenter.
Iamjustbeginningtolearnaboutit.I’vebeenlearningaboutcolorsandshapesandhowtouselightandshadow.WhenIlookaroundatsomeoftheworkdonebywomenwhohavestudiedforawhile,Ithink,“Howcantheydothat?”ThenIthinkthatonedayanewstudentwillaskthesamethingaboutmywork,becauseIwillbesogoodatit.Manygirlspainttheirmemoriesortheirthoughtsabouttheirmemories.How
dotheyfeelwhentheyrememberthisthing?That’swhattheypaint.Sowhenyouseetheirpainting,yougettheirfeeling.Theolderartistspaintsadder,darkerpicturesthantheyoungerartistslikeme.
Ofcourse,wearestilllearningtechniqueandhavealongwaytogoinourstudies,butIthinkwearelookingmoretothefuturethantothepast.Ihaveheardmanysadstories,andIknowtherearemanymore,toomanymore.Iwanttothinkabouthappierthingsandputmymindandmyarttomakingworkthatwillgivepeopleagoodfeelinginsteadofadarkfeeling.Weallhavethingsinsideusthatneedtocomeout.Itcanbedangeroustospeak,ormaybeyouare
tooshytospeak.Butyoucandrawyourfeelings,inprivate,andletthemout.Wehavealllostthingsbecauseofthewar.Losingthingsandpeopleisnormal
forAfghans.Wehavehadenoughofthat.Itistimetoplanforgooddaysandbeforeyoucandothat,youhavetofillyourheadwiththoughtsthatarehopeful.ThatiswhyIliketopainttheocean.Ihaveneverseentheoceanforreal.One
dayIwill,whenItraveltheworldasafamousartist.Ipaintitbecausewhenyoulookattheocean,nothinggetsinyourway.Therearenoobstacles.Youcanseeforever.ThisiswhatwewantforAfghanistan—nomoreobstacles!
Aman,16
Povertyandchildlaborgotogether.Warcreatespoverty.Warcreatessituationswherefamiliesaresodesperateforfoodandshelterthatchildrenmustworktoprovidethesenecessities,especiallyiftheirparentshavebeenkilledormaimedbytheconflict.Waralsodestroysschools,andwhenschoolsaredestroyed,opportunitiesforawayoutofbone-grindingpovertyaredestroyed.InAfghanistan,childrenareengagedinallsortsofwork,fromwater-carryingtosheep-
herdingtocarpet-weavingandworkinginshops.Themoneytheyearngoestobasicnecessitieslikebread,andahardday’sworknetsthembarelyenoughtokeepstarvationatbay.Andiftheydon’twork,theydon’teat.Amanisoneoftheluckyones.Helandedataschoolthateducateschildworkersand
othersfromverypoorfamilies.Theschoolisdownachopped-up,muddyalleyinaslumdistrictofthecity.Itissurroundedbyhighwalls.ItlooksshabbycomparedtoschoolsinNorthAmerica,butinsideitisasafehaven,apowerhouseofyoungmindsreachingforsomethingbetter.
IlostfifteenmembersofmyfamilytotheTaliban,includingmyparents.WewerelivinginKabul.Notinarichneighborhood.Lotsofpoorfamilies.TheTalibancameandsaidtomyfather,“Whatisyourname?”Hetoldthemandthentheykilledhim.Thentheykilledmymother.Thentheykeptonkillinguntilfifteenmembersofmyfamilyweredead.Iamaliveandmylittlesisterandmygrandfatherarealive.Mygrandfatherisdisabledandlivesaverypoorlife.SoIlivehereatthisschoolwithmysister.IamnowingradenineandIamatthetopofmyclass.Iwanttobeadoctor,
ofcourse.ThisisthedreamofmanyAfghansbecausewehaveseensomuchdeathandsuffering.IdidnotbeginschoolatthecorrecttimeinmylifebecauseIhadtowork.
WhenIwasyoungIwasashepherdandlookedaftersheepthatbelongedtosomeoneelse.Myjobwastokeepthesheeptogetherinthestreetandtakethemfromonegarbagedumptoanothersotheycouldrubtheirnosesthroughtheplasticbagsandthingspeoplethrewaway.Thatwashowtheywouldeat.TheyhadtoeatgarbagebecausewehavenograssinKabulexceptintheparksandtheywerefarawayfromwhereIlivedandtheydon’tallowsheep.Everythingelseisdustandrock.
Acomputerroomataschoolforimpoverishedandworkingchildren.
Itisn’tahardjob,lookingaftersheep,butIwasverysmallatthetime.Itseemedhardtomethen.Thesheepwerebiggerthanme!IwasalwaysafraidtheywouldnotgowhereItoldthemtogo.IfIlostone,itwouldhavegoneverybad.Itdoesn’tmatterwhetherIlikeditornot.ItwasmyjobandIhadtodoit.IfIwasn’tabletogotoschoolthatmightstillbemylife,takingsheepfrom
onegarbageplacetoanother.SoIstudyhardandIworkhard.Ihavenofreetime.Everyhourisbusy.Ihelpteachtheyoungerboyshere.Mostofthemalsohavejobs.Thisoneisa
mechanic,thisonegoesthroughgarbage,thisonehelpsoutinashop.Theyworkinthemorning.Thentheycomehereforafreelunchandstayforclasses.Manyoftheboyshereearnmoneytosupporttheirwholefamilies,sotheyhavetowork.Iftheydon’twork,nooneeats.Thefreemealtheygethereattheschoolforlunchmakestheirfamilyfeelbetteraboutthemspendingtheafternoonatclassesinsteadofatmorework.WhenImissmyfamily,somuchthatmychesthurtsandeverythinghurts,Itry
tocalmmyselfbythinkingofmyfuture,becauseIthinkitcouldbeagoodfutureifnoonecomesinandstartskillingagain.LookatwhatI’velearnedinjustafewyears!WhenIfirstcamehereIwasafraidallthetime.Ihadtoomanydark,sadthingsinmyhead.Ithoughttherewouldneverberoomthereforanythingelse.ThenIlearnedhowtoreadandwriteandeventouseacomputer.SonowIhavemanygoodthingstothinkabout.Idon’tknowwhytheTalibankilledmyfamily.Myfamilywereinnocent.
Theywerenotimportant,fancypeople.Theywerenobody’senemies.TheTalibankilledmyfamilyjusttoshowtheirpower.Theydidalotofthat,killingwholefamilies.Youcanseeitwhenyougointoagraveyard.Biggroupsoffamilymembersallburiedonthesameday.Liketheyareonapicnic.Onlytheyaredead.
Karima,14
Womenneedeconomicpower.Economicpowermeanshavingownershipoverenoughmoneytocreatetheirownlives,tolivewithoutbeingdependentonmenforfood,shelterandtheothernecessitiesoflife.Thisistrueforwomeneverywhere.InNorthAmericatherearelawstoprotecttherightsofwomenand,justasimportant,
therearestrongsocialcustomstobackthoselawsup.WhenCanadianandAmericanwomenarebeatenbytheirmalepartners,therearesheltersforthemtogotowiththeirchildren,andthepolicecanarrestthemenforassault.Thesystemdoesn’talwaysworkthewayitissupposedto,andeachyearwomenarestillmurderedbytheirmalepartners.Buttheidealwestriveforisthatnoonehastherighttomakeanyoneelseliveinastateoffear.AndsincewomeninNorthAmericahavetherighttoearntheirownmoney—anddecidehowtospendit—theycanlearntomakethetypesofchoicesthatwillhelpthemavoidorgetawayfromabusivemen.InAfghanistansocialcustomsmakeitverydifficultforwomentohaveindependent
economicpower,andwithoutthat,theymustdependonmenfortheirsurvival.Veryoftenthisturnsoutfine,asthevastmajorityofAfghanmen—likemenanywhere—arekindandstrivetodotherightthing.Butwhenawomanisforcedtobedependentonan
abusiveman,herchoicesareoftenlimited.Shecansufferthroughitandhopethingsgetbetter,shecancommitsuicide,shecanescapethehomeandhopesheisnotfoundandkilledfor“dishonoring”herfamily,orshecankilltheabuserandbeexecutedorspendtherestofherlifeinprison.Karimaandhermotherfacethissituationeverydayoftheirlives.
Myfatherhasbeendeadfortenyears.Hediedofabrainattack.Mymotherwashesclothesforpeopleintheneighborhood,andtheygiveheralittlemoney.Itisnotenoughtoliveon.Weliveinapoorareaandtheneighborscan’tpayalot.Ihavethreesistersandonebrother.Mybrotherissevenandtheyoungest.We
livewithmymother’sbrother,myuncle.Hehasjustasmallhouse—oneroomwesharewithhisfamily.Therearetoomanyofusinthatsmallspace,butwhereelsecanwego?Therearenotenoughmatsforusalltosleepon,somyfamilysleepsonthe
floor.Thereisarugbutitisthin,andthefloorisacoldandhardplacetosleep.Thehousehasnoelectricity.Noneofthehousesintheareado.Whenitbecomesdarkoutsideitbecomesdarkinside.Ihavenowaytodomyhomework.Myunclehasoillampsandcandles,butwhenItrytouseonetostudyhesays,
“Whyareyousittingtherewithbooks?WhydoyoujustsitwhileIhavetoworktofeedyou?Youshouldnotbegoingtoschool.Yourjobistogetahusband,nottositaroundwithbooks,usingupthecandles.”Iamlucky,though,becausemymotherstandsuptohimonthismatter.She
tellsmetogotoschool,tostudyhardandmakeagoodfutureforus.Mymotherneverhadthechancetogotoschool.Shecannotreadorwrite.She
hasnoexperienceofthesethings.Butsheknowshowhardherlifeis,andshethinksthateducationmightbethewaytoaneasierlife.Mygreatambitionistoonedayworkinabank.Itisajobthatawomancando
whereshewillhavegoodresponsibilityandwherepeoplewilltreatherwithrespect.Icrysometimesbecausemyuncleisverycrueltomymotherandbrotherand
me.Hehitsus.Hesaysinsultingthingstousbecausehedoesnotwanttohaveusaround,butwehavenowhereelsetogo.WhenIgetmyjobatthebankIwillmakeagoodsalaryandtakeusalltoliveinanotherplace,farawayfrommyuncle.Butthatisstillmanyyearsfromnow.Wedon’tknowwhatwillmakehimangry.Ifwedid,thenwewouldn’tdoit.I
thinkheisjustangrywhenwebreathe,andwecan’tdoanythingaboutthat.Mybrotherisaboyandcanrunoutside,butmysistersandIcan’tjustleavethehousewhenwewantto.It’snotsafeforusoutside,either.Myunclekeepsthreateningtofindmeahusband.Iknowthatwillbemyfate,
thatonedayhewillmarrymeofftosomeoneandIwon’tbeabletodisobey.ButIhopeIgettolivepartofmylifeformyself.SoIcometoschoolalotbecauseschoolisanicerplacethanhome.AfterI
finishregularclassesIstayatschoolforspecialcourses,likeEnglish,tailoringandcomputers.Allclassesarefreeatmyschool,aslongasyoudoyourwork.Youcannotjustcomeandnotworkbecausesomeoneelsewouldmakebetteruseofyourspace.WhenIdogohomeIspendmostofmytimetakingcareofmylittlebrother
andhelpingmymotherwashclothes.Myfavoritefoodisspaghetti.Sometimeswehaveithereatschoolforlunch.Ihaveonegoodfriend,agirlinmyclass.Shehasahardlife,similartomine,soweunderstandeachotherverywell.Webothworkhardinschool.Wehopeonedaytohavealife.
Sharifa,14
Oneofthelegaciesofdecades-longwarinAfghanistanhasbeenthebombing,land-miningandburningoforchardsandfarmlands.Afghanistanusedtogrowenoughfoodtofeeditself.Warchangedthat.Farmerscamebackfromwarorexiletofindthattheirlandcouldnotbeused.Butthey
stillhadfamiliestofeed.Sotheyturnedtoacropthatcangrowinrocky,drysoil—opiumpoppies.Opiumpoppiesproduceagummysubstancethatistherawmaterialforheroin,an
illegal,addictivedrug.Theopiumitselfcanbesmoked.Itisapainkiller,producingaheavystonedfeelinginthosewhosmokeit.Afghanistannowproducesmorethan90percentoftheworld’sheroin.Itisusedby
addictsinRussia,EuropeandNorthAmerica.Thetradeiscontrolledbywarlordsandothercriminals—andtheTaliban—whohavenointerestinhumanrightsorthewell-beingofchildren.Themoneytheygetfromsellingheroinbuysthemmoregunsandmorepower.Thepoppyfarmersaregenerallypoorfamiliesgrowingpoppiesonsmallplotsofland
thatwillnotsupportanyothercrops.Theyoftenhavetoborrowmoneytobuytheseed.If
theirpoppycropisdestroyedbyforeigntroopstopreventtheheroinfrombeingsoldintheirhomecountries,thefarmerscannotrepaythedebt.Sotheymaygiveinpaymenttheonlythingtheyhave—adaughter.Thesegirlswhoareforcedintomarriage—aformofrapeandslavery—arecalledOpiumBrides.Farmerswhodon’tpaytheirdebthavealsobeentorturedandkilled.Heroinisabadbusiness.Intheabsenceofpropermedicine,opiumisusedtogetridofpain,includingthepainof
hunger.Parentsgiveittobabieswhohaveearachesandtochildrenwhosebelliesareempty.Foradults,smokingopiumeasesthepainoflonghoursofback-breakingwork,anditblocksoutthememoriesoftraumafromthewar.ThenumberofopiumaddictsinAfghanistanisestimatedat1.5million.Inacountryof
thirtymillionpeople,thatworksouttooneofthehighestratesofaddictionofanycountryintheworld.Treatmentoptionsareveryfew.Anyonewhohaslivedwithorknownanaddictknowsthekindofchaosandhavocthey
createaroundthem.Sharifahasanaddictedfather.
Mybrotherisoneyearyoungerthanme.Welivewithourmother.Ihearfromothergirlshowtheirfamilymemberssometimesargue,butwedon’thavethatproblem.Thethreeofushavetopulltogetherifwearetomanage,andeventhenitisveryhard.Sowehavenoenergytowasteinarguments.Whatwouldbethepoint?Ourliveswouldstillbehard,nomatterwhowontheargument.Mymotherwashesclothesforneighborsandalsodoescookingjobswhenshe
can,notasaformalcookbutasahelper.Mybrotherdoesoddjobstohelpout,whateverhecan,carryingthingsorhelpingsomeoneoutintheirshops.Hegetspaidverylittle.Heworkshard,butpeoplethinkheisyoungsotheydon’tneedtopayhimmuch.IwishtherewasajobIcoulddotoearnmoney,butforAfghangirlsitisvery
difficult.Myfatherisstillalive,Ithink,buthedoesnotlivewithus.AsfarasIknow,
heisinKarachistayingwithrelatives,butIcan’tbesure.Heisaddictedtoopium.Hehasbeenaddictedfortenyears.Heusedtobea
shopkeeper.Hekeptupthisjobevenwhilehewasaddicted,butthenhishealthbecametoobad.Hetookmoreandmoreopiumandhestoppedworking.Itwashardtolivewithhim.Ourhousealwayssmelledofopiumsmoke.My
clothes,too,wouldholdthesmell.WhenIwenttoschoolotherchildrenwouldcallmenamesbecauseofthesmellonmyclothes.Itriedtokeepcleanbuttherewasnoplacetohangclothesawayfromthesmoke.
Myfatherhadmanymoodswhenhelivedwithus,allbadexceptwhenhehadsmokedalotofopium.Thenhejustlayontheflooranddidn’tbotherus.Hehadalotofbadmemoriesfromthewar,mymothersaid,andwasinpainalotofthetimefrominjuriesthathadnopropertreatment.Opiumtookawayhispainandhismemories.Whenhedidn’thaveopium,hewouldsmokehashish.Whenhecouldnotget
thesethings,thenhewouldbeinaverybadmood.Hewouldyellandsaybadthingsforhoursandhours,meanandinsultingthings.Wealllivedinoneroomandtherewasnowaytogetawayfromtheinsultingthingshesaid.Andtherewasnowaytomakehimfeelbetter.Finally,itgotsobadmymotheraskedhisrelativesinPakistantotakehimin.I
don’tknowhowshecameupwiththemoneyorhowshegothimtogo.Buthewentawayandnowitisjustthethreeofus.Itrytorememberthatmyhouseisnotme.Whereweliveitisvery,verybad.
Wehavenocleansheets,nobeds.Wesleeponthefloor.Wetrytokeepitcleanbutthereismudwhenitrainsanddustwhenthereisnorain.Wehavenoelectricity,justalittleoillampthatwelighttodoourhomework,
butwemustworkquicklyandnotwastetheoil.Iliketohavefun,andatschoolthatcanhappensometimeswithmyfriends
andclassmates.Weallworkhard,butwecan’tbeseriousallthetime!Wearenotoldyet!Ihavedecidednottobemarried.Iwanttobeadoctor,andIdon’twanta
husbandthatIhavetotakecareof.Iwanttodogoodworkandmakeabetterlifeformeandmyfamily.
Sadaf,12
OneofthegreatIslamictraditionsisthedisciplineofmemorizingtheentireQur’an,theIslamicholybook.Thistraditionmayspringfromthedayswhenbooksandliteracywerelesswidespreadthantheyarenow.MemorizingandrecitingtheQur’anwasawaytopassonthewordsfromonepersontoanother.Apersonwhohasaccomplishedthisphenomenaltaskiscalledahafiz.Itisarevered
title,oneworthyofrespect.TheQur’anismorethan86,000wordslong,andittakes,onaverage,threetofouryearstomemorizethewholething.Anyonewhohastriedtomemorizeapoemforschoolwillunderstandtheconcentrationanddedicationsuchatasktakes!Thechildrenwhoaccomplishthisaresaidtobeanextraspecialblessingtotheirparents.BecomingahafizisagoalofSadaf’s.
Ilivewithmymotherandthreesisters.Myfatherwaskilledinarocketattackafewyearsago.Wewereinourvillage,whichhasthenameofKolach.Itwasanordinary
place,notaspecialplace.Myfatherlikedtoprayoutside.Helikedbeingundertheskyinsteadofunder
aroof.Sohewasoutsideofthehouse,kneelingonhisprayermat,sayinghisprayers.Andarocketcamedownandkilledhim.Therocketblewmywholehouseapart.Therewasnothingleftofit.Maybe
scrapsofthings.Nothingwecoulduse.Nothingofvalue.Iwasinmygrandfather’shouseatthetime,withmymotherandsisters.My
grandfather’shousewasrightbesidemyhouse,sowhentherockethitmyhouse,wefeltitatGrandfather’s.Itwasvery,verybad,sobadthatyoucannotevenimagineit,likeanightmare.
Butworsethananightmare.Whenyouarenexttoarocketexploding,youseeit,youfeelthegroundshake,youhearthenoiselikeabiganimalroaring,andyousmellit,too,thefire,thedust.Ididnotwanttobelievethatmyfatherhadbeenkilled.Iwantedtodig
throughtheyard,througheverythingthatwasbroken,toseeifwecouldfindhim.Butmygrandfathertookmeaway.Itwouldnothavehelped.Ofcoursehewasdead.Idon’tknowwhofiredtherocket.MaybeitwastheTaliban.Maybeitwasthe
foreignsoldiers.Youthinktheywouldtellme?YouthinktheTalibanwouldcometomeandsay,“Oh,wekilledyourfatherbutwedidn’tmeanto.Therocketwentthewrongway.”No,theydon’tdothat.Nobodyexplainsanything.Myfatherwasagoodman,akindman.Helikedhisdaughterstobesmartand
tolearnthings.Hewasproudwhenwelearnedhowtoread.Aftertheexplosionmyuncletookusawaytoanothervillagetolivewithhim.
Heismymother’sbrother.Welivedwithhimforafewyears.Mygrandfatherwastoopoorforustostaywithhim.NowwearehereinKabul,tryingtomakeanewlife.Mytwooldersistersaremarriednow,andtheyshareeverythingwithmy
motherandme.Whentheygetsomefood,wegetsomefood.Mymotherisjobless.Shegetsabitofmoneyfromherbrother,butnotalot.Heisalaboreranddoesnotmakealotofmoney.ThethingImostliketodoisstudytheQur’an.Myfatherwaskilledwhilehe
waspraying,andIthinkthatmakeshisdeathholyinsomeway.Iliketothinkso,anyway.BystudyingtheQur’anIfeelthatheisnotsofarawayfromme.ItismydreamtoonedaymemorizealloftheQur’an.Itwasthewishofmy
fatherthatallhisgirlsbeabletodothis.Iwanttobecomeahafiz,whichiswhat
peoplewillcallmewhenIhavememorizedthewholeBookofAllah.Itwillbeabigjob.TheQur’anhas114surahs[chapters]andoversix
thousandverses.ButothershavedoneitandIwillbeabletodoit.ThenthemessageoftheProphetwillbeinsideme,andI’llalwayshaveit,evenifalltheQur’ansdisappear.AndwhenIhaveaproblem,IcanknowwhatpartoftheHolyQur’anwillhelpmesolveit.Ihaven’tstartedtomemorizeityet.Iamstilllearningtoreadit,andImakea
lotofmistakes.WhenIstopmakingmistakes,thenIwillstarttomemorize.ThereisatelevisionshowonAfghanTVcalledQur’anStar,forthosewho
memorizetheQur’an,akindofcompetition.Iwanttogoonthisprogramanddowell.ThatisonegoodwayIcanhelpmyfamily.Thelastwinnerwasasixteen-year-oldgirl.Shewon150,000afghanis($3,000US).Myfamilywillbehelpedalotwiththatmuchmoney.Mymothersaysthatwhenitisherturntodie,itwillbemyresponsibilityto
recitetheprayersoverherbody.Shesaysthatprayingoverherwillbemoreimportantthancryingoverher,soIshouldpracticetheprayersandhavethemeasyinmymindtogettowhenthetimecomes.IhearthatKabulisanicecity,withparksandgardensandbigshopsandeven
azoo,butIhaven’tseenanyofthat.AllIhaveseenisthisarea,anditisn’tverynice.Itdoesn’treallymatter,though,ifyouliveinanuglyplace.Ifyouhavebeautifulthoughtsinyourheadthenit’slikeyouarelivinginbeauty.InthefutureIwanttobeateacherandteachbothEnglishandIslamicstudies.
PeoplewhoknowEnglisharemorerespected,andifIamascholarofIslamicstudies,IcanhelpspreadthenewsoftheQur’an.Warcomeswhenthereisnounity,whenpeoplelookoutforthemselves
insteadofeachother.Butthroughdiscussionwecansolveallourproblems,createunityandavoidwar.
Mustala,13
LifeexpectancyforpeopleinAfghanistanis,onaverage,forty-fouryears.InCanadaandtheUnitedStatesitisabouteighty.Poornutrition,lackofaccesstohealthcareandcleanwater,exposuretotheelements,poverty-relatedillnessessuchastuberculosis,pluswarandrelatedviolencealltaketheirtoll.TwentypercentofallchildrenborninAfghanistandiebeforetheyreachtheirfifthbirthday.ManypeoplehavefledAfghanistanbecauseofthewar.Othershaveleftinsearchofjobs
orabetterlifeelsewhere.InCanadaandtheUnitedStates,wehaveaneconomicsafetynet.Peopleoversixty-five
receiveapension.Peoplewhoareoutofworkareofteneligibleforunemploymentinsurance.Forthosewhoaretooilltowork,thereisanothertypeofassistance.Wehavethesethingsbecausethepeoplewhocamebeforeusworkedreallyhardtomakethemhappen.Wehavealsoneversufferedthehorribledestructionofprolongedwaronourland.Warcreatespoverty.IncountrieslikeAfghanistan,wheretherehasbeenprolongedwar,
thereisnoeconomicsafetynet.Peoplegohungry.AccordingtoUNICEF,nearly40percentofchildrenundertheageoffiveareundernourished,andoverhalfofallchildrenunderfivearesmallerthantheywouldbeiftheyhadenoughtoeat.Mustala’sfamilyhasbeensplitapartbywar.
Ilivewithmygrandfatherandgrandmother.Wearereallypoor.Mygrandparentsdon’twork.Wehavenomoneyforsoap,soIamoftendirtyandwearingdirtyclothes.Iwouldliketobebetterdressed,sowhenpeopleseemecomingtheywillthink,“Oh,thisboyisimportant,lookathisclothes.Hemustbesomebodyspecial.”NoonewillthinkthatofmeifIdon’thaveniceclothes.MyfatherleftwhenIwasquitesmall.HewenttoIrantofindworkandalso
becausesomepeopleherewantedtokillhim.Mymothergotanotherhusbandandleftussoshecouldbewithhim.Ithinkshehasotherchildrennow.
ClassroomsandplaygroundatMustala’sschool.
Igetfreefoodatschool,whichisoftentheonlytimeIeat,andsometimesmy
grandparentsdon’teatatall.WhenIcan,Iputfoodinmypocketsatlunchtimetotakebacktomygrandparents,butitisathingthatmakesmenervoustodo.Idon’twanttogetintrouble.So,sometimesifIamhungryfortwopiecesofnan,Itaketwo,butIdon’teatthem.Ihidetheminmyjackettotakehome.That’snotstealing,isit?Thiswholeschoolisfilledwithkidswhohaveahardlifebutwhoarereally
smart,althoughnotallareassmartasmeorasgoodatplayingfootballasme!Manyhavelostoneparentortwoparentsinthewarorfromsomeillness.Ihavenotlostmyparents.Theyarebothalive.Theyarejustnotwithme.IwishmyfatherwouldcomebackfromIran,evenforaday.Hewouldsee
whatasmart,goodboyI’vebecome,andhewouldkeepmewithhim.Idon’tcarewhere.IcouldgobacktoIranwithhimorwecouldstayhere.Orwecouldgosomeplaceelse.Iwouldbefinewithanydecision.Sometimesmymothersendsmygrandparentsalittlebitofmoneytohelpout.
ThiswayIknowshehasn’tforgottenaboutme.Hernewhusbandwouldnotwantmetolivewithhim,soIdon’tthinkaboutthatordreamaboutthat.WhenIgettobeaman,maybeIcantakecareofmymotherandshewon’thavetolivewithhimanymore.Butthat’salongwayoff.Iwasyoungwhenmyfatherleft,maybefiveorsix.Sometimes,whenI’m
playingfootballwithmyfriends,amanwillstopandwatchusorwillwalkbyreallyslowly,andIthink,“Maybethat’smyfather.”Iplayextrawellthen,sothathe’lltakemeawaywithhim.Hewon’twantasonwhoisnogoodatfootball.Itgetsverydarkinourhouseatnight,andsometimesIgetafraid.Whenyou
hearthingsinthedarkandyoucan’tseewhattheyare,anybodywouldbeafraid.Itdoesn’tmeanI’mnotbrave.Butifsomeoneshootsagunorthereisyellingoracatscreams,itcangetscary.WhenIgetscaredItrytothinkoffootballorIpracticemyEnglish.IthinkAfghanistancouldbeagreatcountry,especiallyifIwasthepresident.
I’dhelpallthepoorpeopleandmakesuretheyhavefoodandelectriclight.Iwouldmakealawthateverybodyhastogotoschool.Evenadults,becausetherearealotofadultswhohaveneverbeentoschool,andIthinkthatmakesthemhavebadtempers.Iftheyseemegoingtoschool,theyyellatmethatIshouldbeworking.SoIwouldmakethemtogoschool,too,sothatthey’dstopbotheringme.WeneedtostudytomakeagoodcountryoutofAfghanistan.Rightnowwe
areabackwatercountry.AtschoolIhavelearnedtherearebetterwaystodothingsthanallthiswar,war,warallthetime.It’stheyounggenerationthatwillchangethat.Mygeneration.Me.
Ajmal,11
InthewesternpartofKabulisaholidayspotcalledQarghaLake.IthasguesthousesthatarerentedbyKabul’seliteduringthesummer,abeachwithdonkeyridesforkids,apicnicarea,arestaurantandevenanoldamusementpark.NearbyisthegolfcoursethatwasbuiltbyKingHabibullahin1911,occupiedbySoviettanksduringthe1980s,andthenplantedwithlandminesbytheTaliban.WhentheTalibanleft,itbecameaplacewherepeopleweretrainedinhowtoremovelandmines,andnowgolfisplayedthereagain.Ajmalandhisyoungersister,Spegmai,trytogetmoneyfromQargha’sfewvisitorsona
coldwinterday.
Mysisteristen.Weliveinaneighborhoodalittlewaysfromhere.Ittakesusawhiletowalkhere.Idon’tknowhowlong.Idon’tcarryaclock.Awhile.BothmysisterandIgotoschool,butwedon’tgoeveryday.Sometimesthe
schoolisclosed.Sometimesitisopenandwegobuttheteacherdoesn’tshowup,soweleaveagain.Sometimesthereisnofoodormoneyinourhousesowe
havetogoouttoworkinsteadofgoingtoschool.Ourmotherisdead.Idon’tknowhowshedied.Shewassick,Ithink,andwe
hadnomedicine.Soshedied.Ourfatherisalsosick,butheisnotdead.Hissicknessisinhislegs.Whenhe
isfeelingwellhelooksthroughgarbagetofindsomethingwecaneatoruse.Hetaughtushowtodothat,andsowedoitwhenweareout.Youhavetopayattention.Youcan’tjustgowalkandthinkofotherthings.
Youhavetoseeeverythingandthinkaboutifwhatyouseeisuseful.Ifoundaplasticbagonthebeachthismorningandputitinmypocket.Aplasticbagisuseful.Todayitiscoldandthelakeisfrozen.Notmanypeoplearehere,sowedon’t
makemuchmoney.Whentherearealotofcarswestandinthestreetandbangontheirwindows.Ourworkistoaskpeopleformoney,andwhentheygiveusmoneyweburn
somecoalandthesmoketakesawaytheevilspirits.Wemakemaybe35afghanisaday(about75cents)whenpeoplearekind.
QarghaLakeholidayspot.
MysisterlikesthisworkmorethanIdo.Sheisbetteratrunningthanme,andsheisprettyandspeakswell,sopeoplearenicertoher.Idonotrunwell.Mylegshaveakindofsicknesslikemyfather’s,andyou
canseeIdonotspeakwell.Sopeoplelaughatmeandcallmenames.Ifpeopledon’twanttogiveusmoney,that’sokay.Theydon’thaveto.Weare
small.Whatcanwedotothemiftheydon’tgive?Butwhydotheyhavetobemean?Whydotheyhavetocallusdogsandsaybadwords?That’swhatIdonotlikeaboutthisjob.MysisterlikeswritingthebestinschoolandIlikereadingthebest.Iwould
liketobecomesomethinginthefuture.Idon’tknowwhat,justsomebodyofimportance.MaybeI’llbecomeateacher.WhenI’mateacherIwillshowupforworkeverydaysomystudentsdon’twastetimesittinginanemptyclassroomwithnothingtolearn.
Amullah,15
CricketwasmadepopularbyAfghanswhohadspenttimeasrefugeesinPakistan,wherecricketisplayedandfollowedwithgreatenthusiasm.WhentheTalibancametopowerin1996,theybannedthegame.Theyallowed
Afghanistan’snationalcricketteamtoplayagainin2000,butspectatorswerenotallowedtocheerorclap.Alltheycoulddotoshowtheirenthusiasmwassay“AllahuAkbar,”whichmeansGodIsGreat.AndthegameshadtobescheduledaroundtheexecutionsandtorturethattheTalibancarriedoutinthatsamestadium.Amullahandhisfriendsaretakingadvantageofafreedaytoworkontheircricketgame
intheschoolyard.
Myfatherisafarmer,orheusedtobe.WehadtoleaveourlandwhenIwassmallbecauseofthewar.Therewasshooting,bombing,peoplebeingkilledfornoreason.Idon’tremembermuchaboutthattimebecauseIwasverysmall,butmyolderbrothershavetoldme.Itgotsobadthatwecouldn’tstaythere.We
movedaroundalot,fromplacetoplace,tryingtofindsomewheresafe.WeendedupinKabul.Myfathernowworksasashopkeeperinsomeoneelse’sshop.Idon’tremembermuchabouttheTalibantime.LikeIsaid,Iwasreallysmall.
Mybrotherssaidthatforthem,theworstthingwasthattheycouldn’tplaysports.TheTalibanwouldn’tletthem.Theywouldn’tletanybodyplay.ButpeoplewouldlistentogamesfromIndiaandPakistanonradiostheykeptsecret.Howcouldtheysay,“Nomorefootball,nomorecricket”?Thosearethebest
thingsinlife!It’sagoodthingIwassmall.Iftheycamebackintothegovernmentwiththoserules,Iwouldgomad.Iremembermybrotherstryingtoplayfootballandcricketinourhouse,butwehadaverysmallhouse,andourmotherdidnotlikethemplayingballinside.Myschoolisonholidaytoday,butweallcameheretopracticebecausewe
haveabigcricketmatchcomingupsoonagainstanotherschool,andofcoursewewanttowin!
CricketpracticeatAmullah’sschool.
Allofus,yes,weliketoplay,butwealsowanttodogoodthingsforAfghanistan,likebeteachers,doctors,engineers—allofthebestkindbecausethereissomuchtodo.Iwanttofinishmyschoolinghere,thengoontostudyagriculture.Myfather
talksabouthislittlefarm,howmuchhelovedit,andIwouldliketogetthatbackforhim.Probablynotthesamefarm.That’sallgoneinthewar,butanotherpieceofland,abetterpiece.ThenIwouldtakehimandmymotheroutofKabultoaplacethatiscleanerandquieter,andtheycanhavesomepeace.Ithinkitisgoodtostudyagriculturebecausetherearenewwaysofdoing
everything.Allthetime,peoplearecomingupwithnewideas.Somemaynotbegood,butsomemaybeverygood.SoI’lllearnallIcan,thenbecomeagoodfarmer.Maybeevenarichone!Butfirstweneedbettersecurity.Everyoneistiredofbeingafraid.Hereinthe
schoolyardeveryoneisplayinghardandwe’rehavingfun,butwecanneverreallyforgetaboutthesecurity.Weseehelicopterseverydayandmilitarycarsandtrucks,andthingsstillgetblownup.Butifallthatcanstop,thenAfghanistanwillbegreat,becausethereareso
manyofuswhowantittobegreat,itcan’tbeanythingelse.
Shabona,14
YearsofwarandrepressionhaveleftAfghanistanlackingmanybasicthingsthatothercountriestakeforgranted.Acountrywithoutafullyfunctioningeducationsystem,forinstance,cannothopetomoveforward.AfterthefalloftheTaliban,Afghanistanneededeverything—schoolbuildings,books,chalk,pensandteachers.Trainedteacherswereinshortsupply.TheSoviets,thewarlordsduringthecivilwarandtheTalibanalltargetedteachersbecauseteachershavesuchpowertoencourageindependentthought—andindependentthoughtistheenemyofdespots.TeachertrainingisapriorityformanyorganizationsworkingtohelprebuildAfghanistan
—especiallytrainingwomen,sincemanyfamiliesdon’twanttheirdaughterstobetaughtbymaleteachers.AtalargeweddinghallinKabul,teachersfromallovertheareahavegatheredtolearn
newteachingmethodsfromeachother.Shabonaandherclassmatesaretakingpart.
WearefromahighschoolaboutanhourfromthecityofKabul.Wehavecomeheretodaytosingfortheteacherswhoarepartofthisteacher-training
conference.WesangtheAfghannationalanthemthismorningandwe’llsingsomethingelsethisafternoon.Ilikethenationalanthem.ItlistsallthetribesinAfghanistan,andit’sabout
howeveryoneshouldworktogether,eventhoughtheydon’t.Thenwehadtositandlistentotheteachers.Someofthemtalkedtoomuch,
butsomewereinteresting.Someteacherssatupfrontinrowsandpretendedtobestudentswhileother
teacherstookturnspretendingtoteachmathorscienceandothersubjectsinnewwaystomakeitabetterexperienceforthestudents.Someoftheirideaswouldworkbetterthanothers,inmyopinion.Ithinkit’sbettertohaveaconversationwithyourstudents,notjusttalkallthetime,becausethatcanmakeusdriftoff,especiallyifwe’rehungry.Ourschoolisagoodschool,butthereisnosafeplaceforustorunaround
outside.Wearegirlsbutwewanttomove,too!Itwouldbenicetohavesomegreenspacethatissafesowecouldrunaroundwithoutbeingstaredatoryelledat.Ilikemosttostudyscience.Atmyschoolwecanstudygeometry,math,
chemistryandbiology.It’sallfrombooksandsheetsofpaperandnotesontheblackboard.Wehavetwomicroscopesbuttheyareveryoldandbroken.Therearesomanygirlswhowanttocometoourschool.Wehavealmost
2,500girls!Wehavetogotoschoolinshifts.I’monthemorningshift.I’dliketogotoschoolalldaybutwehavetomakeroomfortheothers.IwasreallyyoungwhentheTalibanwereinpower,soIdon’tremembera
wholelot.Ourteacherremembers.Whenevershethinkswearenotstudyinghardenough,shetellsusaboutthattime.Shehadtoleaveschoolandwasstuckathomemostofthetime.Heraunthadalittleschoolforgirlsinherhome.Notaschool,justastudygroup,really,butithadtobeverysecret.Ourteacherwouldputherschoolbooksinabasket,thencoverthemupwithfruitsotheTalibanwouldn’tfindoutthatshewasstudying.TheTalibanwereignorant.Theydidn’tknowthatmenandwomenareequals.
ItsayssointheQur’an.TheTalibanbroketheirownrulesallthetime,too.Ourteacher’sbrotherwas
arrestedbythemthreetimes.Hehadalittleshop,asecretshopthatsoldsatellitedishesfortelevisions.Thesewereagainstthelaw,sotheTalibanwouldarresthim.Butthentheywouldsay,“Youcangofreeifyougivemeasatellitedish.”OurteachersaysitwashardforhertogobacktoschoolaftertheTaliban
becauseherbrainwasn’tusedtoworking.Shesaysifstudyinghardbecomesahabitwithus,thenwe’llbeabletocontinuethehabitifweareeverforcedoutofschoolagain.Wejokearound,butwearealsoseriousstudents.Wewanttobedoctorsor
journalistsormembersofparliamentorteachers.Wewillhavetogettherethroughhardworkbecausenoneofourfamilieshavemoney.Justinthisgroupwehavegirlswhosefathersdiedinthewar,whohavehadfamilymembersinjuredorhomesthatwereblownup.IwaslivinginanareasouthofKabul.Therewasalotofwarthere,evenafter
theTalibanwerekickedoutofpower.Wehadlotsofrockets,lotsofshooting,lotsofexplosions.Itwasveryscary.Iremembernotwantingtoleavemymother’sside.ShewouldevenjustgointothenextroomandI’dscreambecauseIwasafraidIwouldneverseeheragain.WewereabouttogotoKabulwhereitwassupposedtobesafer.Really,we
werereadytogo,abouttogetintothecar,whenarockethitthecaranditexploded.Sowewerestuckuntilwecouldfindanothercartotakeus.Forfun,myfriendsandItryoneachother’smakeupandtryouteachother’s
cellphones.Wewouldreallylikeaplacetoexerciseandplaysports,butwehavenothinglikethat.Wedoitinasmallway,inside,butitwouldbegreattobeabletojustrunandrunandrun.Willtherebeanotherwar?Wehopenot!Afghanistanhashadtoomuchwar.If
warhastohappen,letithappensomewhereelse.DoyouhavewarinCanada?Maybeitisyourturn,then.
Abdul,14,andNoorina,15
ScoutinghasalongtraditioninAfghanistan,asitdoesinmanycountries.In1978itwasbannedbytheCommunists,whowantedtosetuptheirownyouthorganizations.ItstayedbannedduringthecivilwarandtheTalibanregime.In2003itwasstartedupagainwiththehelpofinternationaldonors,andnowitissponsoredbytheministryofeducation.AfghanScoutsperformavarietyofpublicservices,fromcleaningmosquestoassistingfirefighters.AbdulandNoorinaareveryproudofwhattheyareaccomplishingintheirScouttroop.
Abdul—EveryoneinthisScouttroophaslostatleastoneparent.Wehavecomefrommanydifferentprovinces—Laghman,Kandahar,Daikundi,Lowgar,Badakhshan—allover.WeliveinaspecialplacecalledMaristoonontheedgeofKabul.MaristoonmeanscommunityinDari.Thepeoplewholivehereallhavesome
specialstruggles.Theyareorphansortheyaredisabled,andeveryoneisvery
poor.Butevenwithallthat,wecandomanythings.Myownfatherisdead.Mymotherisblind.I’mnotsurehowshebecame
blind.Ithinkitwasinthewar.Thewarkilledmyfather.Mymotherwon’ttellmemuchaboutit.
Noorina—MyfatherusedtoworkattheAfghanEmbassyinMoscow,underadifferenttime.Ourwholelifehasbeenbackandforthfromwartowar.WhenthingsweredangerousforusinAfghanistan,wewenttoQuettainPakistanandlivedinarefugeecamp.ThenwhenKarzaibecamepresident,myfatherthoughtAfghanistanwouldbesafesowewenthome.Butitwasnotgood.Itwasstilldangerous.SowewentbacktoPakistan.
MyfathersetupalittleshopinPakistan.Justalittleplacesellinggroceriesandlittlethings.Onedayhewentouttotheshopveryearly,withoutevenhavingbreakfast.SomymotherandIdecidedtotakehimbreakfast.Wegotsomefoodtogetherbutwhenwegottotheshop,therewasnoshop!Arockethadhitit.Thewholethingblewup.Butmyfatherwasn’tkilledintheexplosion.Someoneshothim.Somaybehegotoutoftheshopwhenheheardtherocketcomingandthought,“Oh,good,I’msafe.”Thensomeonecamealongandshothim.Idon’tknowifthat’showithappenedornot.Ijustimagineitlikethat.Itwasn’tsafeforusinPakistan.SowecamebacktoAfghanistan.Ihopeit
willbesafethistime.
Abdul—Weallhavestorieslikethat.Nazifa’sfatherwaskidnappedbytheTalibanandthenkilledthreedayslater.Naramullah’sfatherwasshot.Azizlostbothofhisparentsinthewar.Helivedwithhisuncle,adoctorwhotreatedpeopleintherefugeecampsaroundKandahar.Hisunclediedofaheartattack.Lotsofstories.It’snormalforus.
WebelongtoScoutsbecauseitisawaytoimproveourselvesandimproveourcommunity.ItispartoftheScoutpromise:
OnmyhonorIpromisetoAllahthatIwilldomybestTodomydutytoAllah,andmycountryAfghanistan
TohelpotherpeopleatalltimesAndtoobeytheScoutlaw.
WelearnalotinScouts.Seekingknowledgeisourwholemission.Welearnhowtorespectelders,howtokeeptheenvironmentclean,howtopreventfires.Weliveinagreenarea—well,itwillbegreenwhenthespringcomes.Welearnhowtotakecareoftreesandland.Afghanistanhasbeenthroughalot.Alotofthecountryhasbeendestroyed,butwecanmakeitbeautifulagain.IhavebothgoodandbadmemoriesoftheTaliban.Mostlytheywereverybad,
butsometimestheywouldbringfoodtofamilieswhoneededit.Theyhelpedmyfamilyinthisway,sothisisagoodmemory.Weseealotofforeigntroops.Scoutingisanormalthinginmanypartsofthe
world.ItwasstartedbyaBritishmanin1907.WhentheforeigntroopshearaboutourScouttrooptheywanttocomeandvisitus.JustlastweeksomeforeignsoldierscameandtookusonahikeintothehillsbehindMaristoon.ThatwasagooddayalthoughnotforourScoutleader.Shehadahardtimekeepingup!ThereareboysandgirlstogetherinthisScouttroop.Menandwomenwill
havetoworktogethertorebuildthecountry,sowelearnheretobeleaders.Goodleaders.Leadersthatpeoplewilltrust.Afghanistanneedsthat.
Fareeba,12
Inwealthycountries,peoplewithmentalillnesshavearoughtime,evenwhentheyaresupportedwithresources,pensions,medicationandtherapy.Inpoorcountries,peoplewithmentalillnessareoftenatthebottomofthepile.Warcreatestrauma,andtraumacanleadtomentalillness.In2010,theAfghan
governmentestimatedthattwo-thirdsoftheAfghanpeoplesufferfrompsychologicalproblemssuchasdepression,severeanxietyandpost-traumaticstressdisorder.Treatmentoptionsarelimited,withfewerthanfiftypsychologistsandpsychiatristsinthewholecountry.Withoutgoodmedicalalternatives,peoplesometimesturntotraditionandsuperstition.
Theseincludedroppingofftheirlovedoneatashrine.There,patientsaresuspectedofbeingpossessedbydemons,ordjinns.Thepatientsarefedonlybreadandwaterandarekeptinchainsinsmallcementrooms.Theystaythiswayforfortydays,whichissupposedtodriveawaythedemon.TheWorldHealthOrganizationhasstartedaChainFreeInitiativetotrytoprovidemedicationsthatmightbemorebeneficialthansuperstition.
Fareebaistwelveyearsold—maybe.ShecomesfromMazar-e-Sharif—maybe.Shewasfoundwanderinginthestreetsandwasbroughttothementalhospitalbystrangers—alsomaybe.Fareebalivesbehindthehighstonewallsofthewomen’smentalhospital.She
wasdroppedoffatthemetalgatebytwopeoplewhomayhavebeenherparentsbutdeniedkinship.Thereisahugestigmaagainstpeoplewithmentalillnessin
Afghanistan,asthereiseverywhereelse.Behindthewallsofthewomen’smentalhospital,thereissunshine.The
womenpatientsareallowedtoroamthegroundsfreelyduringtheday.Thewallskeepthemsafefromoutsiderswhomightwanttohurtthem.Recentlyavolunteerfromanothercountryhelpedthepatientsplantgardens
andtaughtthemtocarefortheplants.Eventhoughitiswinternowandnothingisgrowing,twowomenaredigginginthedirtbecausethatisanactivitytheyenjoy.Otherssitandenjoythesunontheirfaces.Othersfollowmearoundandstareincuriosityatsuchafunny-lookingvisitor.Fareebacannotspeak.Shemightbeabletoifshehadatherapisttoworkwith
her,butthereisnoone.Judgingfromherhandgesturesandthewayshebehaves,Fareebamayhaveautism,butthereisnowaytohaveherproperlydiagnosed,andnooneistrainedtogiveherthespecializedtherapysherequires.Thereisnonextstepforher,noplaceforhertoprogressto.Sheisjusthere,perhapsfortherestofherlife.Inmanyways,Fareebaislucky.Sheisinaplacewheresheandtheother
patients—alladultwomen—arekeptclean.Shehasabedtosleepinwithablanket(unlessshemakestoomuchnoiseatnight;thensheisputintotheroomwiththebigcages,lockedawayfromtheothers).Sheisfedeveryday,andshecangooutintotheyardatherownwhim.Thestaffarecompassionateandcompetent.Nooneisbeingmeantoher.Butshehasneverbeentoschool,neverseenaspeechtherapist,neverbeen
giventoysandtasksthatmighthelphermoveforward.Herfutureismoreofthepresent.Thisisherlife.
Shyah,14
AsdifferentAfghangovernmentspersecutedpeoplewitheducation,trainedprofessionalslikedoctorsandnursesfledthecountrytosavetheirlives.UndertheTaliban,womencouldnotbetreatedbymaledoctors,andfemaledoctorswerenotallowedtowork.Peoplewhobecameinjuredoftenstayedinjured.Abrokenlegthatisnotrepaireddoesnotmendonitsown.Physicalinjuriesthatarenot
properlytreatedcanleadtolong-termdifficulties.SOLAisanorganizationthattriestorepairsomeofthedamagethatwarandthe
resultingpovertyhavecaused.ItarrangesrehabilitativesurgeryintheUnitedStatesforkidslikeShyah,whoaregivenahomeandaneducationsothatwhentheirbodiesarerepaired,theyarebetterequippedtomakesomethingoftheirlives.
IamfromShamoli,inParwanProvince.Ihavebeenatthisschoolfortwoyears,withoutmyfamily.Mymotherisdead.ShediedsoonafterIwasborn.Myfatherremarried,andhisnewwifedidnottakecareofmeverywell.Ican’tsayshedidn’tlikeme.Iwasababy.Ihadnopersonalitytolikeordislike.Maybeshedidn’tlikebabies.Whateveritwas,shedidn’ttakegoodcareofme.Iwassixmonthsoldwhenmylegswentallwrong.Someoneinmyfamilyput
meuponahighstackofmattressesandpillows.ItwasveryhighandIfelloff.Mylegsgotbrokenandtwisted,buttherewasnotreatment,nohospitalsorclinics,sotheydidnotheal.Withmylegsinbadshape,IguessIwasevenhardertocareforandevenmore
ofaproblemformystepmother,somyfatherdidthebestthingheknewwhattodoforme.Heputmeinanorphanage.That’swhereIgrewup.Itwasokaythere.Itwasn’tahugeorphanage,justamediumone,andIthink
that’sbetterthanareallybigone.Youcouldgetlostintoomanykids.WhenIgotoldenoughIwenttoschoolfortwohoursinthemorning,thenhadlunch,thenIwenttothemosqueintheafternoonforreligiousstudies.Itwasmylife.ItwaswhatIknew.Twoyearsagosomepeoplecametotheorphanagelookingforkidslikeme
whoneededhelp,andsoIcametothisschool.Thisisparthome,whereIlive,partschoolandpartwaitingroom.Allthekids
herearewaitingtogotoothercountriesformedicaltreatment,ortheyhavebeenacceptedintoforeignuniversitiesandtheyarewaitingfortheirvisastocome
through.IhavebeentotheUnitedStatesonceforsurgery,andI’mwaitingtogoagain
foranotheroperationonmylegs.IwassenttoCharlotte,NorthCarolina.Iwasveryhappythere.Thepeopleinthehospitalwereverykindtome—sokindthatIwasn’tevenafraid.WhenIcameoutofthehospitalIstayedwithanAmericanfamilytogetmy
strengthback.Theyweregreat.Theyhadtwosonsandweallplayedtogether.Itdidn’tmatterthattheywereAmericanandIwasAfghan.Weplayedboardgames,computergames,videogames,wewentintothecitytoswimorseeamovie.Ilikeditalot.WhenIwasyoungerIwasnotinterestedinstudying.Mymotherwasdeadand
whenmyfathercametoseeme,hedidn’tencourageme.Heneverwenttoschool.Idon’tthinkhethoughtIcouldeverdoanything,thatmylegswerebadandthatwouldbemywholelife.Iwouldgrowuptobethemanwithbadlegs.ButsincecomingtoSOLA,allthathaschangedforme.Studyingisavery
importantactivityhere.Allthekidsareexpectedtotakeitseriously.Iamtheyoungeststudenthere.Alltheotherkidsthinktheycancheckuponme.“Haveyoudoneyourhomework?”“Don’tyouhaveatesttostudyfor?”Thereisnochancenottostudy!SonowIamaverygoodstudent.MyfavoritethingstostudyareEnglishandtheQur’an.Therearetwokindsofstudentswholivehere.Somearelikeme,waitingtogo
formedicaltreatment.Najibismyfriend.HeisfromHelmandProvince.Heisalittleolderthanme.
Onelectiondaytwoyearsagohetookhislittlebrotherintotownonabicycle.Arocketcame.Therewasanexplosionandatinypieceofshrapnelwentintohiseye.Therocketkilledhislittlebrother.Najibhadoneoperationbutheneedsanother.Itisallarrangedforhimtogoto
theUnitedStatesbutnowheiswaitingforthevisa.WhenhewasinHelmand,heworkedforamechanicandthoughthewould
alwaysworkforamechanic.Now,aftermeetingmorepeopleandlearningmorethings,hewantstobeaneyedoctor.Hegetsgreatgradesinscienceslikebiologyandchemistry.Theotherstudentshavebeengrantedscholarshipstoforeignuniversities.They
arewaitingforvisas,too.Thevisaofficerswhoworkattheembassyaresometimesnothelpful.Onegirlwasallsettogoawaytocollege,butduringhervisainterviewtheofficertoldher,“Howcanyougotocollegewhenyouhaven’t
beentohighschool?”ButinAfghanistan,schoolisnotregular.Shehasbeentutoredandpassedtheuniversityentranceexam.Butthevisaofficerdidnotunderstandthatanddeniedhervisa.Anothergirlwastold,“Youalreadyhaveahighschooleducation,youdon’tneedmorethanthat.”Andhervisawasdenied.Butmaybeeveryone’svisaswillcomethroughsoon,andthenwe’llgoonto
thenextstepforourfutures.Wearenotreallyfamilyinthisschoolbutwefeellikefamily.WearefromalloverAfghanistan,butit’slikeweareallbrothersandsisters.Family.
Zuhal,13
TheKabulWomen’sGardenisaspecialplace.Inasocietywherewomenarenotallowedtowanderfreely,togooutsidetostretchtheirlegswhentheyfeellikesomefreshair—becauseeitherthelawspreventitorcustomsmakeitverydifficult—thegardengivesthemaplacetowalk,unharassedbymen.TheeightacresweredonatedbyKingZahirShahinthe1940s.Notsurprisingly,the
Talibanclosedthegardenwhentheytookover.TheyfilleditwithgarbageandchangeditsnamefromWomen’sGardentoSpringGarden.Onlymenwentthere,toattendtheroosterfightsthattookplaceinthemiddleoftherubble.AfterthefalloftheTaliban,Afghanwomen,supportedbyinternationaldonations,
reclaimedthegarden,evendoingmuchofthemanuallaborrequiredtomakeitbeautifulagain—ararethinginAfghanistan,wheretheideaofwomenworkinginthetradeshasnotreallytakenhold.Forty-fivetruckloadsoftrashwerecarriedaway,fivethousandrosebusheswereplantedandallsortsoftreeswereadded.TheWomen’sGardenreopenedonNovember3,2010.Itisalittlespotofparadiseinthe
middleofanoisy,busycity.Therearepathways,fountains,gazebosandchildren’splaygrounds.Womencanexerciseinthefitnesscenterandonthebasketballcourt,enjoy
lunchattherestaurantandstudyatthecomputerlabortakejobtraining.Theycantakeataekwondoclass,shopatthesmallboutiques,orjustsitandhavequietforafewminutes.Thegardenalsohasamosque,builtandmaintainedbywomen,wherewomencan
receivereligiousinstructionfromotherwomen.Itisasafeplace.Thegardenhashighwallsarounditandonegateguardedbyamale
armedguard.Aftervisitorspassthroughthegate,oneofthefemaleintelligenceofficerschecksinbagsandunderburqastomakesureasuicidebomberorassassinhasn’tslippedthrough.Zuhalandherfriendhavecometothegardentoplay.
Mymotherworksathome,takingcareofus.Myfatherhasajobwiththegovernment.Iamverygoodatschool.I’mingradeeightandIgetlotsofpraisefrommy
teachersbecauseIworkhardandlearnfast.MyfavoritesubjecttostudyisEnglishbecauseifyouknowEnglish,youcangetagoodjob.Buttodayisadaywhentherearenoclasses.Ihavecomeherewithmyfriend
totheWomen’sGarden.Mymothercamewithus,butshehasgoneinsidetoaliteracyclassandwehavestayedoutsidetoplay.Ilikeitherebecauseonlygirlsareallowed.It’saplacewhereIcanrelax.Thegardenhasahighwallarounditthatkeepsoutthenoiseanddirtofthe
city.WhenIamonthissideofthewall,Icanpretendthewholeworldisprettyandsafe.Thesecurityhereisverygood.Thereisaguardoutfrontandyouhavetobea
womanoragirltogetpasthim.Thenthereareotherguards,women,insidethegatewhosearcheveryone’sbagtomakesurenooneisbringingabombintothegarden.Idon’tknowwhyanyonewouldwanttoblowupagarden,butpeopledostrangethings.Oncethat’sover,youcanjustcomeintothegardenandfeelfree.Outsidethewallsthereisalotofnoisefromallthecarsandtrucksontheroad.
Thereisalotofdustanddirtanditishardtobreathe.Hereinthegarden,thingsaredifferent.Thewallsblockoutthenoise.Iknow
thatdustandnoisetravel,buttheydon’tseemtocomeinhere.Thegardenisclean.Theairiseasiertobreathe.
ArainydayintheWomen’sGarden.
Idon’tfeelfreeoutsidethegarden.Neitherdoesmyfriend.It’sbecauseofmenthatwedon’tfeelfree.Wefeeltheyarewatchingusandjudgingus.Theyhaven’tsaidanythingdirectlytomeortriedtobotherme,butmymothertellsmetobecarefularoundthem,andnottorelaxoutthere.SherememberslivingundertheTaliban,whenallmenwerecrueltowomen,notjusttheTaliban.ShesaidtheTalibantoldmenthatwomenwerebadandalotofmenbelievedthem,andtheywouldtreatwomenbadlyeveniftheyweren’tpartoftheTaliban.Itrytotellherthatthingshavechanged,butshealwayssays,“Thingshaven’tchangedthatmuch!”Sowe’recarefulwhenweareoutintheworld,butbehindthesewalls,inthis
garden,wedon’thavetobecareful.Wecanplayandlaughandthereisnoonetofrownatus.SometimesmyfriendandIliketoplayontheswings,likewe’redoingtoday.
Sometimeswerunaroundonallthepathwaysuntilwearebreathingreallyhardandwecanfeelourheartspounding.Sometimeswefeellikebeingquietandwe
justsitonabench.Thereareshopsasyoujustcomeintothegarden.Didyouseethem?Theyselldressesandthingsforhairandforbabies.Sometimeswelookintheshopsorbuyatreatfromtheteahouse.Outsidethewallstherearealotofsoldiersinthestreets.Youseethemon
tanksorarmytrucksandtheycarrybigmachineguns.Someareforeignsoldiers,someareAfghan.Iamnotafraidofthem.It’swhatIhavealwaysseen,eversinceIcanremember.Theydon’tbothermebecauseIdon’tmaketroubleforanyone.Idon’tknowwhatIwantforthefuture.That’salongwayoff!IguessIwant
goodsecurityandanicelifeandagoodeducation.Butrightnow,Ijustwanttoswingwithmyfriend.
Parwais,17
Becauseofitslocation,Afghanistanhasbeenatthecrossroadsformanyarmiesandcivilizations.CoinshavebeenfoundtherefromancientGreeceandPersia,artifactsfromMongoliaandstatuesfromancientBuddhistsocieties.TheNationalMuseumofAfghanistanusedtoholdthemostcompleterecordofCentral
Asianhistoryanywhereintheworld,datingallthewaybacktoprehistorictimes.Butit,too,fellvictimtothewar.WhentheSovietsoccupiedAfghanistan,Kabulwasrelativelysafefrombombing.Alotof
Sovietswerestationedthere,andtheyprotectedthecitytoprotectthemselves.WhentheSovietsleft,civilwarbrokeoutasthedifferentgroupsthathadbeenfightingtheSovietsturnedtheirgunsoneachother—eachwantedtobethebossofAfghanistan.Bombsstartedfallingonthecapitalcity.Themuseumwasbombedin1993,destroyingthetopfloorandleavingitopentolooters,
whosoldthetreasurestoprivatecollectorsallaroundtheworld.Althoughattemptsweremadetosecuretherestofthecollectionbyboltingthedoorsandbrickingupthewindows,thelootingcontinued.Mostofthecollectiondisappeared.Then,inMarch2001,theTalibandecidedtodestroymanystatuesandartobjects,
includingthefewthathadmanagedtosurviveinthemuseum.SincethefalloftheTaliban,alotofefforthasgoneintorebuildingthemuseumand
bringingbackasmuchofthecollectionaspossible.Acountry’shistory—andthethingsthattellofitshistory—remindsitspeoplethattheirpresentisbuiltonsomething,and
thattheyarebuildingtowardthefuture.ParwaisisoriginallyfromBagram,northofKabul.HenowworksattheNationalMuseum
asacleaner.
WeleftBagramduringtheTaliban.Theywereveryhardtothepeoplethere,verybad.Somuchwar,guns,shooting,killing.Theykilledmyfather.Theyburnedsomanyhousesandshops.Idon’tknowwhytheydidthesethings.Justbecausetheycould.Noonecouldstopthem.Myolderbrothertookchargeofthefamilyaftermyfatherwaskilled.He
askedaroundaboutwhereitmightbesaferanddecidedtobringusalltoKabulsothatwemighthavesomekindoflife.Ihaveneverattendedschool.Nooneinmyfamilyhas.It’sjustnotsomething
wehavehadthechancetodo.Idon’tknowifIwouldwanttogoornot.Idon’tknowwhatitmeanstogo.EventhoughIneverwenttoschool,Iamstillabletohaveagoodjob.Iwork
attheKabulmuseum.Itismyjobtocleanthefloorsandthestaircasesandanythingelsethathastobecleaned.Itisaverygoodjobbecauseitisinside,soeveniftheweatherisbad,Iamwarmanddry.Theworkisnothardandthemuseumisquiet.Somepeoplespendalltheirtimeliftingheavythingsorcarryingthingsthroughtraffic,andtheirbackhurtsandtheygetdirtyandthereisalwaysnoise.Sothisisaverygoodjob.Mycousinhadthisjobbeforeme.Whenheleftitforanotherjob,hesuggested
thatItakeoverfromhim.Themuseumbossessaidyes,andnowIworkhardsotheywillkeepmeon.ThebestthingaboutthisjobisthatIgettolookatalltheexhibits.Wehavea
lotofveryoldobjectshereinthismuseum.Mostgotbrokenorevendestroyedinthewar.Somethingswerestolen.Someofthethingsthatwerelostwerefoundagainbuttheywerebroken,andifyoulookatthemcloselyyoucanseewheretheywereputbacktogether.Thedisplayshavecardsnexttothemthatexplainwhattheyare.Ican’tread
thecards—that’sonethingIwouldliketogotoschooltolearn—butthepeoplewhoworkhereexplainthingstomeandIhearthemtalkingtoeachother.Ilearnfromlistening,anditisveryinteresting.Ididn’tknowAfghanistanwassoold.IguessIneverthoughtaboutituntilI
startedworkinghere.Whocanspendtimethinkingaboutthingslikethatonaregularday?Thereistoomuchworktodo.Buthere,Igettothinkaboutitall
thetime.SomanypeoplelivedherebeforeIdid,andtheirliveswerealittlebitlikemineandtheywerealsodifferent.Ihavetwofavoritethingsinthismuseum.Oneisastatueofabirdthathasan
oilburnerinside.Iliketolookatitandthinkaboutwhomadeit.Whydidhethinktodosuchathing?Whatmadehimthinkitwasagoodidea?Didthemakeruseithimselfordidhegiveittosomeoneelsetouse?Mymostfavoritethingisalargebowlmadeoutofclay.Itisveryoldandthe
colorsonitarenotfancybutIthinktheyarebeautiful.WhenIlookatitIimagineitfulloffood,andafamilyissittingaroundithavingamealtogether.Maybethefamilythatusedithundredsofyearsagowasnotverydifferentfrommyfamily.ThesearethekindsofthingsIliketothinkaboutwhenIamdoingmy
cleaning.ThefutureofAfghanistan?Ihopeeveryonegetsachancetostudy.Someofus,
likeme,didnotgetthatchance,butIthinkitwouldbebetterifeveryonewenttoschool.ThereisalotIdon’tknow,andthecountrywillbestrongerifitisrunandhelpedbypeoplewhoknowthings.Thefutureforme?Well,IjusthopeIcanworkhereatthemuseumforalong,
longtime.
Palwasha,16
DuringthereignoftheTaliban,thesoccerstadiumwasatorturechamber.EveryFridaytheywouldforcespectatorsintotheseatstowatchprisonersbeingpunished.Peoplewerebeaten.Theyhadarmscutoff.Somewereshotinthebackoftheheadorhadtheirheadscutoff.Otherswerestrunguponthegallows.Terriblethingshappenedinthatstadium.TodayitisaplacewheretheAfghanWomen’sNationalFootballTeamhastheiroffices.
Palwashaisamemberofthatteam.Sometimestheypracticeintheoldsoccerstadium.TodaytheyarepracticingonafieldattheheadquartersofNATOinKabul.
Ilovefootball.Iplayonthenationalwomen’sfootballteamandIamalsotrainedasareferee.Iplaydefense.Ilovetorun.WhenI’mnotplayingfootball,I’mattendingcomputerscienceclassesatthe
university.IwenttoPakistanduringtheTalibantime.Myuncletookme.Wewerethere
formanyyears.Iwasabletogotoschoolandtoplayfootball,sowhenIcame
backtoAfghanistanIhadnotlosttoomuchtime.MyparentsstayedbackinAfghanistan,soIdidn’tseethemforyears.Imissedthemterribly,andtheymissedme.Buttheywantedmetokeepupwithmystudies,andtheyknewIlovedtoplaysports.That’swhytheysentmeawaytoanothercountryforsolong.TheTalibanwereagainstallthingsforwomenandgirls.Noschool,nosports,
nomusic,nojobs.Nothing,likewewerenotevenhuman.SomeofthatfeelingisstillaroundinAfghanistan.Somepeoplethinkthatgirlsshouldnotplaysports,althoughtheboysIknowdonotthinkthat.Iftheydid,Idon’tthinktheywoulddaresaysotome!ItisstillhardtobeagirlinAfghanistan.Thelawsarereallygood,butnot
everyonepaysattentiontothelaw.Asgirlswecannotjustgooutforawalkonourown.Wecannotdowhatwewanttodothewaygirlsinothercountriescan.Itisnotsafe.Sogirlsarenotfree.Someofthegirlswhoplayontheteamhavetoarguewiththeirfamiliestoletthemplay—notbecausetheirfamiliesdon’tthinkgirlsshouldplay,buttheyareworriedabouttheirsafety.
PracticedayfortheAfghanWomen’sNationalFootballTeam.
SomeAfghanpeoplehaveclosedminds.Theythinkwomenshouldonlydocertainjobs,thatwomenshouldnotrunaroundbecauseitisimmodest.Thesearealloldideas.Ithinktheywilldisappearoneday,butitwilltakesometime.Wearenotpaidtobeontheteam,andmanyofthegirlshavefamilieswith
verylittlemoney.Itishardforthemtoaffordthetransportationtocometopractice,especiallysincealotofthemlivefaraway,acrossthecity.Wehavenoregular,safeplacetopractice.Todayweareplayingonafieldat
ISAF(InternationalSecurityAssistanceForce)headquarters.TheareaissurroundedbytanksandsoldiersfromAmericaandotherplaces.Thefieldisn’tarealfootballfield.It’sroughandhardtorunon,andatleastonceeverytimewepractice,amilitaryhelicopterlandsonthefield.Sometimeswehavetopracticeonthemen’sbasketballcourt.Themenhavea
regularfieldtopracticeon.Wewouldliketohaveasafeplace,too.Sometimesweplayonthebigfieldatthestadium,thesamestadiumthe
Talibanusedforalltheterriblethingstheydid—theshootings,cuttingoffpeople’shands,theexecutionsandtorture.Whenweplaythere,whenwerunfastandplayhardandwhenpeople—womenandmen—cheeruson,itislikewearegettingsomejusticeforallthosewomenwhowerehurt.Weplayforthemasmuchasourselves.Weareaverygoodteamandwehavebeeninvitedtoplayagainstotherteams
inothercountries.IhaveplayedinGermany,bothinBerlinandinFrankfurt.I’veplayedinJordan,inPakistanandinBangladesh.ButtherearepowerfulgroupsinAfghanistanwhoarealwayslookingfor
thingstouseagainstus.TheyarepartoftheoldwayofthinkingIwastellingyouabout.Thatthinkingwillend,butitisstillaround.SoIdon’tknowifwewillmakeittoCanadaornot.MyhopeforAfghanistanisthatallgirlswillbeabletoplayfootball,
basketball,volleyball,track,orwhateverothersporttheyenjoy.Wearefreewhenweareplayingsports,andgirlsneedtobefree.MyhopeformyselfistobecomethebestrefereeinAfghanistan.Wehavetobebraveandstrongandstandupforourrights,andnotletanyone
takeusdown.
Noorahu,16
Afghanistanisoneofthemostheavilyland-minedcountriesonEarth.Alandmineisacheapweapon.Itcanbeeasilyputintheground,andwhoeverwalksonitwilllosealimbortheireyesortheirlife.ManyofthearmiesthathavetrampledonAfghanistansincethe1970shaveputdownlandmines.Buttheydidn’tpickthemupagain.Theminesstayedinthegroundandkeptonkillinglongafterthewarwasdeclaredoverandthearmieswenthome.TheAfghanLandmineSurvivors’Organization(ALSO)supportsvictimsoflandmines
througheducation,rehabilitationandjobtraining.Animportantaspectoftheirworkisstrugglingagainstthestigmafacedbypeoplewithdisabilities.Parents,notknowingwhattodo,willsometimesneglecttheirdisabledchildren,andthecityisnotaccessible,sodisabledpeoplehaveahardtimegettingaround.OneofthewaysALSOfightsagainstthestigmaistorunacommunitycenterinavery
poorneighborhoodthatholdsclassesandbringstogetherstudentsofallages,withandwithoutdisabilities.Thecenterisinasmallrundownbuildingashortwaydownanalleyoffabusystreet.It
isoneroomwithtornplasterwalls,dividedupintoclassroomsbyboardsandsheetsof
plastic.Theclassroomsarecrowdedwithkidssittingonthefloorandlookingupatchalkboards.Noorahuisastudentatthiscenter.Hislegsweredamagedbyalandmine.
Someofthechildrenatthiscenterarelikeme.Theyhavebadlegsornolegsorahandmissingorsomethingwronglikethat.Otherstudentshaveeverythingtheyaresupposedtohave.Wearealltreatedthesame.Whenateacheristalkingyoucan’ttelliftheyaretalkingtoadisabledkidoraregularkid.Sonoonefeelsdifferent.ThisisthefirsttimeI’vegonetoclasses.Ithasbeentoohardtogotoschool
beforethis.Beforethiscommunitycenteropenedup,thenearestschoolwasveryfaraway.Itishardformetowalkwithmylegsdamaged.Ihavecrutchestohelpme,but
itisstillhardandithurts.Thereisnomoneyinmyfamilyformetotaketaxistoschool,soIhaven’tbeenabletogotoaregularschool.Myfatherdoesn’tworkeveryday.Heisacook,andhehelpspreparemealsfor
weddingparties.Whenthereisnowedding,hedoesnotwork,sothereisverylittlemoneyinourhouse.Sometimeswhenhecooksforawedding,thereisfoodleftover,andthefamilywhohashiredhimletshimtakesomefoodhometous.Weeatverywellonthosenightsbecausemyfatherisaverygoodcook.Outsideofthiscenter,peoplesaynegativethingstomebecauseofmy
disability.Theycallmenames.Theysaythingsthatmakemefeelnotgoodaboutmyself.Whentherearealotofyoungerboysandtheymakefunofme,itisveryhardformetogetawayfromthem.Theycanrunandjumparoundmeandtrytoknockmedown,andwhenIfall,theyjustlaugh.Ican’tgetawayfromthemwhentheycomeatmebecausemylegsaredamaged.Mylegswon’tmovefast.It’snotjustsmallchildrenwhoactbadthisway.Sometimesgrownmensay
badthingstome,likeIambadluckandIammovingtooslow.Notalladultsarelikethis.ManyarekindandtheyhelpmeupifIfall.Butsomearenotnice.Inthisplace,everyoneisnicetome.Evenkidswhoarenotdisabled.They
treatmelikeIamnormal.Ourteacherwashurtbyalandminewhenshewasachild.Shewasthirteen
whenithappened.Herfamilyhadjustfinishedameal,andshehadtodothedishes.Shewalkedtothebackofthehousewherethedishwashingareawasandshesteppedonalandmine.Somearmyhadputlandminesinherhouse.She
steppedonalandmine,andthenextthingsheknewshewaswakingupinthehospitalandherlegwasgone.Sheisagoodteacher.Whensheteachesuswedon’tseethatshehasaleg
missing.Ifshecanbecomeateacherwithnoleg,maybeIcandosomethingimportant,too.HereIhavefriends,andIneverhadfriendsbefore.MygoodfriendisMosan.
HisfatherwaskilledbytheTaliban.Hismothermakescarpetsathome,andhethoughthiswholelifewouldbemakingcarpets,too.Thenhestartedlessonshere,andnowhehasbiggerdreams.Webothwanttobeartists,whichwecandowhetherwehavelegsornot.This
centerisbigonart.Manykidsliketodraw,andtheteachersputourbestworkuponthewallstoencourageus.Iliketodrawnature.MostlywhatIhaveseeninmylifehasnotbeenpretty.
WeliveinaverypoorareaofKabul.Itisnotbeautiful.ButIhaveseenphotosatthiscenterofbeautifulnaturalplacesintheworld.AndevenintheuglypartsofKabul,flowersbloom.Youjusthavetotakethetimetolookforthem.
Angela,17
Oneofthewayspeoplefromdifferentnationsgetbeyondthinkingofothernationalitiesinstereotypesisbymeetingeachotherandgettingtoknoweachotherasindividuals.TheYouthExchangeandStudyProgram(YES)wassetupin2004bytheUSState
DepartmenttogiveAfghankidsthechanceforafirst-classeducationandtogettoknowAmericansasordinarypeople,beyondthesoldierstheyseeinAfghanistan.AngelaspentayearintheUnitedStatesgoingtohighschoolaspartoftheYES
program.SheisnowsuchanaccomplishedEnglishspeakerthatshehasbeenhiredseveraltimestodoshort-termtranslationjobsforforeigners,includingmyself!Meanwhile,theYESprogramwassuspendedin2011aftermanyofthestudentsfledthe
UnitedStatestobecomerefugeesinCanadaratherthanreturntoAfghanistan
IamoriginallyfromavillageinBamiyan.Myparentsarestillthere.IwasveryyoungwhentheTalibanwereinpower.ThewarinBamiyanwas
reallybad.TheTalibanwerefightinganarmycalledHezbe-Watan,anarmyofHazarapeople.TheTalibanhatedHazarapeople.Theykilledsomanypeoplein
Bamiyan.Iftheysawmenorboysonthestreet,theywouldjustshootthemdead,rightinthestreet.Myfamilywasindangerlikeeverybodyelseinthecountry.Themen,
especially,wereindanger.Weallwentupintothemountainswithmyuncleandhisfamily.Firstwetriedhidingthemeninabasementroom,butwewereafraidthattheTalibanwouldnotbelieveusiftheycameandwetoldthemthemenwerealldead.Plus,womenalonecouldnotgooutoftheirhomesandwewererunningoutoffood.Sothatcouldnotlast.Sowewentupintothemountains.Remember,Iwasveryyoung.Iwasnottoobotheredbythetriptothe
mountainsbecausemymotherwaswithmeandIknewshewouldtakecareofme.Iknewthatthejourneywashard.Weleftinahurry,whentheTalibanwerepatrollinganotherneighborhood,sotherewasnotimetopackwhatweneeded.Andwedidn’thavemuchanyway.Nowater,almostnofood.Itwasverycoldanduncomfortable.Wehadnohouseinthemountains,notent.Wejustsleptontherocksandtriedtostayoutofthewind.Iwasyoung,sotheyprotectedmeasmuchastheycould,butIknewthatwewereinabadcondition.Idon’tknowhowlongwestayedinthemountains.Weeks,Ithink.Weranout
offoodveryearly.Irememberbeingcoldandhungryandboredandscared.Mybrotheranduncletriedtoreturntothevillagetogetusfoodandblankets,buttheTalibanwereallovertheplace.Therewasalotofkillinggoingon.Sotheyreturnedtothemountainswithemptyhands.Wewereallsocoldandsohungrythatitwasdecidedthatthewomenand
childrenwouldreturnhomeandthemenandteenagedboyswouldstayinthemountains.Thewomenwouldtrytogetfoodtothemen.Irememberthejourneybackdownthemountains.Itwasnotgood.Wewerehomeforthreedays.Itwasbad.Mybrotherlovedbooks.Hewasagoodstudentandhadalotofbooks.The
Talibanwereagainstbooksandtheywouldarrestpeoplewhohadthem.Sothefirstthingmymotherdidwhenwegotbackhomewassheburnedallmybrother’sbooksandthenshethrewtheashesawayfarfromourhouse.Wehadacassetteplayer,too,andsomemusiccassettes.Weburiedtheseintheyardbecausetheywerealsoagainstthelaw.Myfatherwasworriedaboutusandcamedownthemountaintocheckonus.
TheTalibanarrestedhim.TheTalibanreallyhatedtheHazaras,buttheyalsodidn’tlikeTajiks.My
motherisTajikbutshelooksPashtun,thetribeoftheTaliban,andshespeaks
theirlanguage.Soshedidaverybravething.Shetookmylittlebrother—becausewomencouldnotbeoutsidewithouta
man,andevenalittleboyqualifiedasaman—andshewenttotheTaliban’scompound.Shewentrightuptothemandsaid,“Iwantmyhusbandoutofjail!Whyareyoudoingthistous?Wearepoorpeople.Ifwehadanymoney,wewouldhaverunaway!”Byamiracle,theyreleasedmyfather.Assoonashewasout,westarted
walking.WelefteverythingbehindinBamiyanandjustwalked,fordaysanddays.WeendedupinKabul.TheTalibanwereinKabul,ofcourse,soIdon’tknow
whymyparentsthoughtitwouldbesafer.Maybetheythoughtwecouldhidebetterinabigcity.Wewentintoalittleroomandstayedthereforalong,longtime.Iforgotallaboutmyschool.Theworldbecameverysmall.ButthentheTalibanfellandIwasabletogobacktoschool.Ireallywanted
myeducation!TheyputmeintothefifthgradeeventhoughIcouldbarelywritemyname.I
studiedreallyhardandafterayearIcouldreadandwriteproperly.Ikeptonworkinghard,andingradesevenIstartedtolearnEnglish.Ihad
somebooksandItaughtmyselfforawhileuntilmyschoolgotateacherwhocouldhelpme.Then,ingradeeleven,Igotacceptedintoaprogramthatwouldpaytoletme
gotohighschoolintheUnitedStatesforayear.Iwasveryexcited.IhadseenpicturesoftheUnitedStates,ofbusycitieswith
lotsofshopsanddifferentthingstodo.ButwhenIgotofftheplane,IwasinIowa,andallIcouldseewasfarmland!Thatwasabitofashock.IstayedwithahostfamilyinIowa.InthebeginningIwasscaredofeveryone.
MyEnglishwasnotgood,andIhadheardterriblethingsaboutAmericans.IhadbeentoldthattheyhatedMuslimsandlikedtoshooteachotheranddidnotbehavelikehumanbeings.ButafteracoupleofweeksIlearnedthatwhatI’dbeentoldwasnotthereality.IttookmeaboutthreemonthstogetusedtotheIowaaccentandthepeople,
andthenIwasfineandcomfortable.Ievenattendedchurch—notbecauseIwasforcedtobutbecauseIwantedto.Afterall,JesusisveryrespectedbyMuslims.OnSaturdaynightsthischurchhadayouthBiblestudy,andIwentandmetsomefriendsthere.TheBibleandtheQur’anareverysimilar.Iwasgladtolearnmoreaboutthe
BibleandIwasabletoanswertheAmericankids’questionsaboutIslam.Sowelearnedfromeachother.FortherestofmytimeintheUS,Iwasjustanormalstudent.Iwashappy.ThemostspecialthingabouttheUSisthesecurity.HereinKabulwhenIgoto
thestoresIdon’tfeelcomfortable,butintheUSIcouldgotothemallallbymyselfandnoonepaidanyattentiontome.Noonesaid,“Youshouldnotbeoutonyourown.”ThebestthingabouttheUnitedStatesisthatnoonecareswhatyoudo,soyou
candowhatyouwant.AftermyyearintheUnitedStatesIcamebacktoAfghanistanandenrolledat
theAmericanUniversityinKabul.NowIhavebeenacceptedtoaprogramthatwillpayformetoattendfouryearsofuniversityintheUnitedStates.IhaveappliedtoBrowninRhodeIslandandtoauniversityinVirginia.WhenIgotacceptedtostudyintheUSforayearofhighschool,mymother
wasveryhappy.Shenevergottogotoschool,andshelovesmetohaveeveryopportunity.Myfatheranduncleswerenothappy.Myoneunclesaidtome,“IfyougototheUS,youwillnolongerbemyniece.WhatwillpeoplesayaboutmeifIallowmyniecetogototheUS?Ifyouwereaboy,maybe.Butyouareagirl,andIdonotallowit.”Iremainedcalmandrespectful,butIwenttotheUSwithoutsayinggoodbye
tohim.Hedoesn’ttalktomeanymore,andweusedtobeclose,sothatmakesmesad.Myfatherishappyformenow.Atfirsthewasworriedaboutmysafety,
becauseofallwehadheardabouttheAmericans,butnowheishappy.Heisnotfriendlywithmethewaymymotheris,butIknowhehasagoodfeelingformeandisproudofme.I’dliketostudyinternationalrelationsandeconomics,thencomebackto
Afghanistantoservemycountry.OnedayIwouldliketobecomeanambassador.AndIwanttofindwaystohelpotherAfghanwomen.Womeninmycountryaretheoneswhosufferalot.Womenlikeme,whohave
beengivengoodchances,shouldhelpotherwomenandgirls.Iamveryexcitedtoseewhat’sgoingtohappennext.
Nilab,15
Untilrecently,womenprisonerswerehousedindeplorableconditionsinPul-e-Charkhiprison,abeastofaplacewithalonghistoryoftortureandatrocities.Theirchildrenwereputintothecellswiththem.Acoupleofyearsago,theItaliangovernmentbuiltanewprisonforwomen—onewith
betterlivingconditionsandthatofferedafewactivitiessuchashandicraftsandliteracy.It’sbetter,butit’sstillaprison—notagoodplaceforthechildrenwholivetherewiththeirmothers.In2009,ahomeopenedupforthechildrenofprisoners.Childrenlivethere,gotoschool,
takecomputerandothercourses.Theyreceivecounselingtohelpthemdealwiththethingstheyhaveseeninprisonandintheirlives,andtheyaretakenonoutingsaroundthecity.Nilabknowstoowellwhatitisliketobeinprison.Shespentalotoftimethere,even
thoughshecommittednocrime.
Ihavebeeninthishomeforoneandahalfyears.Beforethat,Ilivedwithmy
motherinprison.Itwasverybad,livingintheprison.Itisaplacewherepeoplegotobe
punished,soitisnotaniceplace.Allthewomentherehavesomeproblems,andtheseproblemsmeantheydon’talwaysgetalong.Everyone’slifeistoohard.Therearefights,therearearguments,therearepeopleyelling.Iwasverysmall,veryyoung,anditwasverybadforme.Iwasscaredevery
day.Ilivedwithmymotherinonesmallroom,acell.Wewerenotlockedin,but
shewantedustostayinthatroom,anditwasn’treallysafetowanderaround.Therewasamatforherbutnomatforme.Shewastheoneinprison.Iwasjustanadd-on,sonothingwasgiventome.Mymothergotfood,butIgotnofood.Mymothersharedherportionoffoodwithme,soneitherofushadenoughtoeat.Thefoodwasnotbad—notgoodlikeatthishome,butokay.Therejustwasn’tenoughofit,andwewerehungryallthetime.Thosemotherswithmorethanonechildwouldhaveaverybadtime.Therewasnothingtodoallday.Noschool,noplacetoplay.Justsitinthecell
withmymother.Shecriedeveryday.Shewasunhappyaboutbeinginprisonandworriedaboutme,andaboutmybrotherandsister,whowerelivingwithmygrandmother.Everyday,shewouldcry.ItwasaburdenonmebecauseIcouldnotcheerherup.Shehadproblemswithherhealth,too.Herteethhurtandherboneshurtand
shecouldnotsleepverywell.Igotpainsinmyhead.Beforemymotherwasarrested,Ihadbeentoschoolforafewyears.Iknewa
fewthings,likereadingandsomearithmetic.Itriedtokeepstudyinginprison,butitwasnotgood.Nogoodlighttoseeby.Lotsofnoise.Andmymothercryingallthetime.Theguardshadaverybadattitudetotheprisonersandthechildren.Idon’t
knowwhytheyweresomean.Littlechildrenmakealotofnoise—that’swhattheydo—andtheguardswouldbeatthechildrenformakingnoise.Mycousinkidnappedababy.Whenthepolicearrestedmycousin,mymother
waswithher,andtheyarrestedher,too.Shedidnotdothekidnapping,buttheyputhertotrialandshegotasentenceofsixyears.Iwaswithherintheprisonformanymonthsandthenthecommanderofthe
prisoncametomymother’scell.Hesaidtoher,“Yourdaughteristoooldtobehere.Ifshewasasmallchild,okay,shecouldstaywithyou,butsheisgrowingupandshouldgosomewhereelse.”
Thatmademymotherupsetbecauseshehadnowheretosendme.Mygrandparentsarepooranditwashardforthemtotakecareofmyyoungerbrotherandsister.Andmyfatherhascommittedsuicide.Hisfamilyblamedmymotherforthis,butIdon’tthinkthatwasright.Ihaveverybadmemoriesofmyfather’ssuicide.Idon’tliketotalkaboutit.Thecommanderoftheprisontoldheraboutthishouse,andtheheadofthis
housecametotheprisontomeetus.Mymotherwasn’tsure,butshehadnochoice,really.TheprisonsaidIcouldn’tstaythereanylonger.AndsoIcamehere.AndIamveryhappy.Itisabighouse,asyoucansee.Ithasahighwallarounditandguardsatthe
gatesowefeelsafe.Thereisabigyardandgarden.Inthebasementthereisabig,brightplayroomforthesmallestkids.Ihelpoutdowntherealotbecausethelittleonesarefunnyanditiseasytomakethemhappy.Wehavedormroomswherewesleepinbunkbeds,aloungewithaTVset—
althoughwedon’twatchmuchTVsincewehavesomuchstudyingtodo.Thereisabitofalibrary,too.Iliketositthereandreadwhentheweatheriswarmenough.Thelibraryistoocoldinthewinter.Onthefirstfloor,justasyoucomein,thereareclassrooms.Wehavecomputer
classesandEnglishclassesandteacherswhohelpuswithourhomework.WhenIfirstgothereIcouldn’tgotoaregularschoolbecauseIhadhardly
beentoschool.IwasfarbehindwhereIwassupposedtobe.PlusIwastooupsettoreallystudy.Theteachershereencouragedme,soIstartedtoworkreallyhardandfoundthatIcoulddoit!Icanlearnandgetgoodgrades,andnowIamatthetopofmyclass.ButIamnotspecialhereforthat.Noneofthekidshadmuchschoolwhenthey
camehere,buttheteachersexpecteveryonetodowellandtheyshowushowtoworkhard.Weencourageeachotherandhelpeachother.TherearekidsherethatIknewwhenIwasintheprison.Theyaremuch
happierhere.I’vebeenherelongenoughnowtoseehowithappens.Whenkidsfirstcome
herefromtheprisonalltheyknowhowtodoisfight.Theyareafraidandtheydon’tevenknowhowtoplay.Theyhavetolearneverything—howtogetclean,howtoshare,howtoeatwithouttryingtograballthefood,howtosleepatnightwithoutnightmares,howtoplaywithtoys.Somechildrendonottalkatallwhentheyfirstcomehere.Theyaretooafraidtotalk.It’shard,buttheylearn,andeverydaytheybecomehappier.Theteachersarekindtous.Likemothers.
Nowmylittlebrotherandsisterarehere,too.Theyarealsodoingverywellinschool,andI’mhappythatwearetogether.Thefoodisreallygoodhere.Allofuslikeallthefood.Thereisnothingwe
don’tlike.Inmyfuture,Iplantobealawyerandhelpwomenwhoareintroublewiththe
law.Womenarenotservedwellbymen.Womenhavetobeabletosolvetheirownproblemsandnotdependonmen,becausemenwillnothelpthem.InprisonImetmanywomenwhohadkilledtheirhusbandsbecausetheywere
forcedintomarriageortheirhusbandsbeatthem.Sotheykilledtheirhusbandstobefree,buttheyendedupinprison,wheretheywerenotfree.It’snotgoodenough.Igettovisitmymothereverytwomonths.Thishomedoesregularvisitsforall
thekids,plusspecialvisitsonholidaysorifachildisreallymissinghismother.It’sgoodtovisitbecauseotherwiseIwouldworrytoomuchabouther.Sheisnotdoingwell.Shestaysinhercellalot,butshesaysthattheguardsaretreatingherbetterbecausetheycanseesheiskind.Ilikegoingtotheprisonwithalotofotherchildrenfromthishomebecause
themothersaresohappytoseeus.Theylookattheirchildrenandsay,“Thesearenotmychildren!”becausetheirchildrenhaveeatenwellandarecleanandhavebeentoschoolandsotheyhavelotstotalkabout.So,lifeformeisgoodrightnow.Itishardtobeawayfrommymother,andI
don’tthinksheshouldbeinprison,butIcan’tchangethat.AllIcandoiswatchovermybrotherandsisterandworkashardasIcanatmystudies.WhenmymothergetsoutofprisonIwanttobeabletotakecareofherandgiveheragoodlife.Whenthatistakencareof,thenIwillseewhatelseIcando.Ihavebeengiven
anewstart.I’mallright.NowIhavearesponsibilitytomakeothershappy.
Sukina,15
ViolenceagainstwomeninAfghanistanispervasivebecauseofpoverty,theongoinginstabilitycausedbydecadesofwar,andtheclingingofmanytoasystemofvaluesthatbelieveswomenarepropertyandaretobesilentandobedient.AccordingtotheUnitedNations,oneoutofeverythreeAfghanwomenexperiencesphysical,psychologicalorsexualviolenceatthehandsofmen.Lackofeducationandeconomicopportunityforwomenmeansthatevenwhenlawsareinplacethatrespectwomen’srights,theabilitytoexercisethoserightsislimited.Afghanistanhasjustafewsheltersforwomen.Supportedbyinternationaldonors,the
shelterswereoperatingindependentlyfromthegovernment.Earlyin2011,thegovernmentwantedtobringtheshelters—andthewomeninthem—underitscontrol,statingthatbeforeanabusedwomancanenterthesheltershemustappearbeforeapaneltostatehercase.TheAfghanSupremeCourtalsodeclaredthatifawomanrunsawayfromherhomeforreasonsofabuse,andshegoestothehouseofstrangers,suchasashelter,shewillbearrestedandsenttoprisononthechargeofadultery,becausewomenshouldgotootherfamilymembersforhelp,nottostrangers.Butwhatifawoman’sfamilyisalsoherenemy?Sukinawentintoasheltertosaveherlife.
Icametothesheltertoescapemymarriage.Iwasforcedtogetmarriedafewyearsago.Igrewupinanotherprovince.DuringtheTaliban,webecamerefugeesand
wenttoadifferentprovince,Wardak,totrytobesafe.Welivedinarefugeecampthere.Itwasveryhard.Thenaftersomeyearswewentbackhome.Myfatherisafarmer.Heworksonotherpeople’sland.Becauseofpovertyhe
hadtogointodebtwiththelocalshopkeepertogetthethingsweneeded.Butthenhecouldnotpaythedebt.Thecropswerenotgoodandhedidnotmakeenoughmoney.Buttheshopkeeperhadtobepaid.Anothermancametomyfatherandsaidhewouldpaytheshopkeeper.In
exchangefordoingthat,hewantedmetobehiswife.Iwasveryyoung.Ididnotknowanythingaboutthis.Noonetalkedtomeaboutit.Iwasbrought
toKabultothisman’shouse.Ithoughthewasmyuncle.That’showhewasintroducedtome.Hewasveryold,anoldman.Heshowedmeawhitedressandaskedme,“Doyoulikethisdress?”Ididand
Isaidso.Thenhesaid,“Ifyoulikeit,putiton.Let’sseehowyoulookinit.”
SoIputiton.Thentheyputsomepapersinfrontofmeandputmythumbonapadofink.Thentheyputmythumbprintonthepaper.Andwiththat,Iwasmarried.Iwasnotallowedtogohomeafterthat.IbelongedtothisoldmanandIhadto
dowhathesaid.Iwassosurprisedthatallthiswashappening.IthoughtIwasinabaddream,thatmylifecouldnotbethis.Ifhewantedanice,quietwife,hedidnotgetone.IwasangryandscaredandI
missedmymother.Icriedalot.ThenhewouldbeatmeforcryingandIcriedsomemore.Myhusband’sfamilywouldnotletmeseeanyoneoutsidethefamily.They
wouldnotletmeseemyownmother.Whenneighborsorothervisitorscameover,theylockedmeinabackroomandthreatenedtobeatmeifImadeanynoise.TheysaidIhadtomakecarpetstobeabletoearnsomeofthemoneyitcostto
feedme,andtopaybackthemoneymyhusbandhadgiventomyfatherforhisdebt.Thereisskilltomakingcarpets.Ididn’tknowhowtodoit.Theywouldstand
overmeandwaitformetomakeamistake.Theywouldbeatmeandsay,“Whydon’tyouknowhowtodothis?”TheylockedmeinthebackroomandIwasnotallowedoutintothesunshine.Afterayear,mymothercametovisitme.Whenmyhusbanddiscoveredthat
shewascoming,hetookabigpairofscissorsandcutoffmyhair.Hecutitrightoff,likeIwasaboy.Hesaidhediditbecauseitwouldmakemetooashamedtoletanybodyseeme.Whenmymothercame,Ikeptmyhaircovered.Ididnotletherknowwhathe
haddonetome.Shetoldmeshewasnotinfavorofthismarriagebutwhatcouldshedo?Shecouldnotgoagainstmyfather.Myfather-in-laworderedmetotellherthatIwashappywiththemanddidnot
wanttogohomewithher.Irefusedtospeak.Icouldnotlietomymother,butIwastooscaredtosaywhatwasreallygoingon.AndbecauseIkeptsilent,theyhitandbeatme.Somymotherleftwithoutknowingeverythingthatwashappeningtome.Itwentonandon.Thebeatings,thehunger,thehardtimeswithmyhusband.Iwouldcryfordaysatatime.Icriedsomuchmyin-lawswouldgoalittle
crazywithit.Itwentonandon.Finally,oneday,whentheyletmemoveaboutmorefreelysothatIcoulddo
thechores,Iwentoutintotheyardtothrowawaythegarbage.IthrewitawayandthenIkeptmoving.Iranaway.Iwalkedandwalkedfordaysandthenfinallymadeithometomymother’shouse.ShehadheardabouttheAfghanHumanRightsCommission.OnceItoldher
aboutwhatwasgoingon,andhowtheyweretreatingme,shefoundoutabouthowtogetintouchwiththemandshetookmetoseethem.Theyhelpedmetogetintothewomen’sshelter.Ihadtogosomewheresafeandhidden.Ifmyhusbandorhisfamilyknew
whereIwas,theymightkillme.Iamnotsayingthatjusttotellmystory.TheytoldmetheywouldkillmeifIranaway,thatIbelongedtomyhusbandnowandifIleftwithouthispermissionitwouldbelikeIwasstealingfromhimandthatwasacrime.AndifIranawayitwouldbringshametomyhusband’sfamilyandtomyfamily.Ididn’twanttoshamemyfamily,butintheendIwantedtogetawayandthat
wasallIwanted.Ihavebeenintheshelternowforovertwoyears,waitingforadivorce.Myhusbanddisappeared.HewenttosomeotherpartofAfghanistan,Ithink.
Itisveryhardtogetadivorcewithouthim.Finally,afterwaitingforalongtime,alawyerwenttomyfather-in-law.Shedemandedheproducemyhusband.Whenthathappens,whichIhopewillbesoon,thenIwillgetmydivorce.Thedivorcewillgivemesomeprotection,Ihope.ItisalegalpaperthatsaysI
donotbelongtomyhusbandanymore.Icanshowthemthispaperiftheycomeaftermeanditwillprotectme.Ihaveneverbeentoschool.Itwasnotpossiblewhenwewererefugees,and
myfamilywastoopoor.Itwasjustnotpossible.Intheshelter,IhavebeenabletoattendliteracyclassesandnowIamabletoreadabit.AndIhavehelpedoutintheshelter’skindergartenclass.Wehavealotofsmallchildrenstayingthere.It’sgoodthattheygetaneducationwhiletheyareyoung.InthefutureIwouldliketocontinuetostudy.Theliteracyclasseshaveopened
awindowinmybrain,butitisonlyopenalittlebit.IwantitopenallthewaybecauseIthinkIcouldhaveagoodbrainthatcandosmartthings.WhenIfirstcametotheshelterIwasveryweak.Myhusband’sfamilywould
punishmebylockingmeinthebackroomandnotlettingmehavefood.Iwouldnottalktoanyonehereaboveawhisper.Andlookatmenow!Iamsittingupstraight,lookingyouintheeyeandtelling
mystoryinaloud,clearvoice.Andyouareastranger.Itismystorybutitisnot
theonlystory.IntheshelterIhaveheardtoomanystorieslikemine.Weallneedtotalkaboutwhathashappenedtousbecausebadthingshappeninsecret.Idon’tknowwhyIleftonthedaythatIdidandnotonsomeotherday.Itwas
adaylikemanyothers.IwasthrowingawaythegarbagelikeIhaddonebefore.Ihadnotplanneditout.Nothingwaspackedorprepared.Ijustthrewawaythegarbageandstartedwalking.Idon’tthinkIwasbrave.Ijustwasn’treadytodie.Willmyfatherhavetopayhisdebtnow?Idon’tknow.Itismyfather’sdebt,
notmine.IspentyearsmarriedwhenIdidnotwanttobe.Ifanyofhisdebtbelongstome,Ihavepaidmyportionback.WhenthedivorceisfinalandIhavethepaper,Iwillgobacktomyparents’
house.Iknowmymotherwillbehappytoseemeandhaveherwithmeagain.Idon’tknowhowmyfatherwillfeel.
Shazad,10
Duringthe1980sand1990s,Afghanrefugeesmadeupthelargestsinglerefugeepopulationontheplanet.Morethanone-fifthofthecountryfledthewar,lookingforsafetyinPakistan,Iranandanyothercountrythatwouldacceptthem.Mostlivedincampsmadeofmud,tatteredtentsandragswithfewservicesandlittlehope.TheUnitedNationsHighCommissionforRefugees(UNHCR)saysthatsince2002,more
thanfivemillionAfghanrefugeeshavereturnedtotheircountry.Insomeareas,asmanyasoneoutofeverythreepeopleisareturnedrefugee.Theyreturntoacountrystillreelingfromwarand,inmanyplaces,stillengagedinone.Returningfamiliesneedjobs,land,shelter,foodandopportunities.Someassistancehas
beenprovidedbyinternationalagencies,butitdoesnotstretchtomeetalltheneeds.Insituationslikethis,childrenareespeciallyvulnerable.Familiesindesperateneedsellchildrentotraffickerswhosmugglethemintoothercountriestoactasdomestic,sexualorindustrialslaves.Therearestill1.7millionAfghanrefugeesinPakistanandalmostonemillionstillinIran.
ManyoftheAfghansinPakistanareinareasbadlyaffectedbyrecentflooding,addingtotheirmisery.
IDPstandsforInternallyDisplacedPerson,orinternalrefugee—apersonforcedtoleavetheirhomeareawhofleestoanotherpartoftheircountry,hopingitwillbesaferforthemthere.TheAfghanMinistryofRefugeesandReturneesestimatesthattherearenowover
450,000IDPsinAfghanistan—peoplewhohavefledareaswherethewarisstillraging.Manyhaveendedupinmakeshiftcampsontheedgeofcities,wheretheythinktheywillbesafe.TheseIDPcampshavefewserviceslikeproperlatrinesorcleanwater.Peoplefreezein
thewinterandswelterinthesummerheatanddust.Peoplelivingtheretrytofindworkdoinganythingtheycan,butitisverydifficult.Therehavebeenunconfirmedreportsoffamiliestryingtoselloneormoreoftheirchildreninordertokeeptherestofthefamilyalive.ShazadandhisfamilyarelivinginanIDPcampontheedgeofKabul.
WecamefromSangininHelmandProvince.Alotofusinthiscamparefromthatplace.SomeofthepeoplecameherefromIran.TheyareAfghansbuttheylivedinIranbutthenIrantoldthemtheyhadtoleave,buttheyhadnohomestogobackto.Sotheylivehere.WeleftSanginbecauseofallthefighting.Therewasshooting,planes,bombs,
lotsofsoldiers.Ididn’tlikeallthenoise.Therewasalotoffighting,andnorain,sonothingwouldgrowandwecouldn’teat.
AyardinShazad’sIDPcamp.
Ithinkwecamehereayearago,maybealittlemore.IneverwenttoschoolinHelmandandIdon’tgotoschoolhere.Thereisnoschoolinthisplace.I’mherewithmyuncle.Hebroughtmehere.Idon’tknowwheremyparents
are.Ithinktheyaredead.Iwouldliketogotoschool,Ithink.Idon’treallyknowwhatthatwouldmean,
butIthinkI’dliketodoit.Itwouldbesomethingtodo.There’snotalottodohere.Therearealotofchildrenandweplayfootball
whenwehaveaball.Whenwedon’thaveaballweusesomethingfromthegarbageforaball.Anythingthatrollsworksokay.ThethingsIdon’tlikeaboutthisplace?Idon’tlikethatitisrightbythe
highway,sothereisalotofnoiseandsmellfromthecarsandtrucks.Theairishardtobreathe.Wecan’tplaywithoutcoughingalot.Everybodycoughsatnight,too.It’shardtosleepwithallthecoughing.Igetcoldatnight.Isleepinmycoatbutitisstillcold.Therearenotenough
blanketsandthereisnocoveringonthefloor.Justharddirtandsomepaperand
thingswefoundinthegarbage.Itishardtosleepon.ButatleastIhaveshoes.Somekidshavenoshoesandtheycan’tplayverywellinwinterbecausetheirlegsandfeethurt.SometimesIdon’tdoanything.Isitoutsidethecampwithmybackagainstthe
mudwallsomeonebuilt.It’swarmthereifthesunisshining.Ihaveafriendandwesittheretogetherandlookatthecarsgoingbyanddecidewhichoneswelike.Iwanttohaveacarsomeday.Maybearedone.Wegetwaterfromapump.Wehavetocarryitalongway.That’soneofmy
jobs.It’sheavytocarrybutit’ssomethingtodo.Thereareanimalshereandtheysmell,butatleastitisafarmsmell.It’sa
smelllikefrommyhome.Iwanttogohomeifthewarstops.Itisnicethere.Theygrowalotofpoppies
andtheyarebeautiful.Iwanttobebackinmyhome.Iwanttobreathenormalagain.ThethingsIlikeaboutthisplacearethereisnowarorshooting.Wesee
helicoptersbuttheydon’tshootatus,theyjustflyaround.Andmostoftheadultshereareniceifwedon’tmaketoomuchnoiseandtheyarenottooworried.Ifsomeonegetssomefoodtheyusuallyshareit.Ababywasbornhereyesterday.I’veseenher.She’sverytiny.Whenshecries
itisnotveryloud.She’llgetlouder.Welookthroughgarbagepilestofindthingstoburntostaywarm.Sometimes
wefindfoodlikeoldbread,orsomethingwecanuse,butnotoften.Peopleusuallythrowawaywhattheydon’twant.Someofthefoodisbadandwefeedittothesheep.Theyeatanything.Somepeoplehavetakenuptheworkofmakingbirdcagesandraisingbirds.It
doesn’ttakelongtogrowabird,sothat’sagoodjob.Theymakethecagesfromstickstiedtogether.Peoplebuythebirdsforgoodluckormaybetoeat.Idon’tknow.Imightdothatjobsomeday.That’sifIcan’tgobacktoHelmand.Howlongdoeswarlast?Idon’twantto
stillbeherewhenI’mold.
Sara,17
Economicpowerisvitalforwomeneverywheretobeabletocontroltheirdestiny.Assistingwomentostartupsmallbusinesses,likehandicrafts,beekeeping,poultry-raisingandtailoringisawaythatwomencanearnmoneyandimprovethelivesofthemselvesandtheirchildren.Sarabenefitsfromhavingbothagrandmotherandamotherwhoareastute
businesswomen.
Mygrandmotherisabusinesswoman.Mymotherisabusinesswoman.AndIamgoingtobeabusinesswoman.Mygrandmotherrunsaprojectforwidowstomakejewelryoutofthestones
ofAfghanistan,likelapislazuli,afamousbluestone.Mymotherworkswith350farmwomenfromallaroundAfghanistan.They
producegrapesandraisinsfromthegrapes,walnuts,almonds,thingslikethat.Mymotherfindsmarketsforwhattheyproducesothattheycanearnmoney.
WestayedinAfghanistanduringpartoftheTalibantimes.Westayedinsideallthetime,tryingtostudyandpassthetime.Onedaymygrandmothergotsick.Therewasonlyoneburqainthehouse.Mymothergaveittomygrandmothertowearandmymotherworeachadoroverherhead.Thatwasn’tgoodenoughfortheTalibanandtheybeatherverybadly.Afterthat,wedecidedtogetoutandallgotoPakistan.Thingswerehardthere.Mymotherworkedasacleanerinthehomeofa
Pakistanicouple.Butmymotherisalwayslookingoutforsomethingbetter,andshegotmoneyfromanaidorganizationtostartasmallschoolforrefugeechildrenwhohadtoworkmakingcarpetsduringtheday.MymotherwentbacktoAfghanistanafewyearsaftertheTalibanfell.Sheleft
usinPakistanbecauseshewantedtoseeforherselfthatwewouldbeallrightandcouldgotoschool.Shelikestotakechargeandmakethingshappen.ShegotajobwiththeAfghanWomen’sBusinessCouncil,rentedanapartment,andwecamebacktoAfghanistan.IwasafraidbecauseIhadbadmemoriesofAfghanistanundertheTaliban.
Onenightwewereinourhomeandweweretalking,entertainingourselvesbecausetherewasnothingelsetodo.Someonesaidsomethingfunnyandwealllaughed.ButthentheTalibanstartedbangingonthewindow.WeknewitwastheTaliban,eventhoughthewindowwaspaintedover,
becausetheyyelledatusandtoldustostoplaughing,thatourlaughterwasbotheringthemenwhowerewalkingalongtheroad.Wecouldnotevenlaughinourownhome!Butitdidn’tmatterthatIwasafraidtocomeback.Wecamebackandstarted
ourlivesagaininKabul.Kabulisokay.It’smyhome,butIdon’treallylikelivinghere.I’dpreferto
liveinGermany.MyuncleisinGermany.Mymother’sbrother.Idon’tknowwhichcity.I’ve
neverbeentherebutIhavelearnedalotaboutit.Itseemslikeacleanplacewherethingsworkandthetreesaregreen.Herethetreesarecoveredindustallthetime.Kabulisverydustyfromallthecarsandallthebuildingthatisgoingon.Plus,heretherearealotofsoldiersandgunsinthestreets.Evenifsomethingbadisn’thappening,youcaneasilythinkthatsomethingbadisabouttohappen.Andbombsgooffandpeopleblowthemselvesupandeveryonepanics.Thingslikethatdon’thappeninGermany.Idon’tknowwhatstartedmymotheronthisnewestbusiness.Sheseesthings
thataren’tbeingdoneandfindsawaytodothem.ShetravelsalloverAfghanistantomeetwithfarmwomenandcollectthethingstheygrow.ShewantstostartmakingalmondbuttertosellinforeigncountriesbecauseAfghanistangrowsgoodalmonds.Iamnowingradetwelve,plusItakeextracoursestoimprovemyEnglish.
EventhoughIwanttoliveinGermanywheretheyspeakGerman,knowingEnglishwillbegoodformyfuture.IamalsogoingtotakeprepclassesforuniversityentranceexamssoIcangetagoodscore.Ihavenotimeforfun!It’salwayswork—schoolworkorhelpingtotakecare
ofmyyoungerbrothersandsisters.WhenIdohaveabitoftime,myfriendsandIliketoplaysports.Wecan’t
usuallyrunaroundmuch—thereisnospaceforthat—sowejumpropealot,whichisgoodexerciseandwecandoitinasmallspace.MymothergoestomanyinsecurepartsofAfghanistantomeetwithherfarm
women,andIworryaboutheralot.SometimesIgowithher.Iseehowhardtheirlivesare,evenwithmymother’shelp.ThegovernmentofAfghanistanhasdeclaredThursdayandFridaytobetheweekend,whenpeoplecantakeabreakfromworkandhaveaholiday.Buttherearenoholidaysforwomen!Iplantogointobusinessandmyfriendshavethesameplan.Wewanttomake
alotofmoney.It’sgoodforAfghanwomentomakealotofmoney.Withmoneywehavepower.Wearegoingintobusinesssothatwecancontrolourownlives.
Shaharazad,12
FawziaKoofiisaformidablewoman—smart,energetic,stronganddeterminedthatAfghanistan’sfuturewillbebetterthanitspast.Sheisraisingherdaughter,Shaharazad,tobethenextgenerationofstrongAfghanwomen.ImetShaharazadinthelobbyoftheIntercontinentalHotelinKabul.Thisfamoushotel,
onthetopofahill,hasasmallarmyofsecuritypolicecheckingandre-checkingeveryonewhoapproachesandentersthehotel.Inspiteoftheprecautions,inthespringof2011,thehotelwasattackedbyTalibangunmen.Severalpeoplewerekilled.
Iamnamedafterafamousstoryteller.MymotherisFawziaKoofi,amemberoftheAfghanparliament.ShewaselectedbythepeopleofBadakhshan,theprovincenearChina.Theyhadachoiceofpeopletovoteforandtheythoughtshewoulddothebestjobsotheyvotedforher.Herfather—mygrandfather—wasalsoamemberofparliamentalongtime
ago,inthe1970s.Inevermethim.Hewasmurderedwhenmymotherwasstillsmall.Heownedtheonlyradiointhewholearea,althoughthat’snotwhyhewaskilled.Beforehediedhehadsevenwivesandtwenty-threechildren.
Mymotherwasthefirstgirlinherfamilytogotoschool.ShewasinuniversitywhentheTalibancame.Shehadtoquit.Allthegirlshadtoquit.Shealwaystellsmysisterandme,“Youaresoluckytobeyoungwomennow
insteadofbeingyoungwomeninthosedays!Wecouldnotgoout,wecouldnotstudy,wecouldnothavefun.”I’mgladIdidn’tlivethroughthat,butthatdoesn’tmeanmylifenowiseasy.MyfatherdiedwhenIwassmall,justlikemymother’sfatherdid.Hewas
arrestedbytheTalibanandgottuberculosisinprisonandthat’showhedied.Hewasanengineerandascienceteacher.Havingmymotherbeamemberofparliamentisverynice,butitalsoscares
me.Igetafraidforhersafety.Maybesomethingwillhappentoherandthenwewon’thaveher.Iwaswithheronedaywhenshewasattacked.Thiswaslastyear.ItwasontheroadbetweenKabulandJalalabad.Becauseshe’samemberof
parliamentshealwaystravelswithbodyguards.Theyfollowalonginanothercarandsitwithherinourcar.Iwasinthebackseatofourcareatingabagofchips.IusedtolikeeatingthembutsincetheattackIdon’tlikethemanymore.Iwaseatingthesechipswhenthecarswerestoppedandallthisshootingstarted.Menwereshootingatus!Thebodyguardswereshootingatthemandweretryingtoprotectmymotherandus.Iwassoscared!Ididn’tknowwhatwashappeningandIdidn’twanttogetshot.Therewassomuchconfusion.Thenahelicoptercameandwegotputintothehelicopterandtakentoaclinic,
butwewereallokay,justscared.Buttwopolicemendiedthatday.That’stheonlybadpartaboutmymotherbeingamemberofparliament.All
thedanger.Sometimesshetravelsinhelicoptersandthehelicoptersarereallyold,sothat’sanotherthingIworryabout.Thebestpartaboutherbeingamemberofparliamentiswegettocomehere,
totheIntercontinentalHotel.It’saveryfancyhotelhighuponahill.Thereislotsofsecuritytogetthroughtogetin—lotsofguardsonthehillonthewayupandguardstocheckyourbagsasyougoinside.Soit’ssafe.That’sagoodthing.Allthemembersofparliamenthaveroomsherebecausetheyneedaplaceto
staywhenthey’reworking.SomeoftheMPshavechildrenwhocomewiththemandsoweplaytogetheralloverthehotel.Mymotherknowswearesafehere,sowhileshe’sbusyinmeetings,mysisterandIandourfriendsgoalloverthehotel.Thestaffknowusandlikeusbecausewehavefunbutwedon’tcausetrouble.Wesitintheloungesandridetheelevatorsandgoexploring.Wegoto
eachother’sroomsandplaygamesonourcomputers.SomeoftheMPscomefromprovinceswheretherearenogoodschoolsandtheirchildrendon’tknowaboutcomputersandthings.Weteachthemwhatweknow.Andwewatchtelevisionandrunthroughthegardens.Idon’tlikeshoutingandloudnoisesandIdon’tlikeseeingmenwithgunsin
thestreet.That’shardbecauseeverywhereyoulookinKabultherearemenwithguns.They’resupposedtobetheretoprotectusbutIneverknowifthey’llstartshootingatusinstead.MymothersaysmygenerationisthehopeforAfghanistan.MysisterandI
wearjeansandgotoschoolandwehearherstoriesabouthowharditwasbutwedon’treallyunderstandit.Mymothersaysweshouldknowaboutthepastbutthinkmoreaboutthefuture.Mymessagetootherkids?TellthemIwanttolivewiththeminapeaceful
worldandapeacefulcountryandbehappywithmymotherandfamily.
Miriam,14
UNICEFestimatesthatthereare1.6millionorphansnowinAfghanistan.War,diseaseandpovertyhavetakenthelivesofmanyparents.Someofthesechildrenaretakeninbyfamilymemberswhocaredeeplyaboutthem.Othersarenotsolucky.Theyenduponthestreetorinsituationsofdangerandexploitation.Miriamlivesinagirls’orphanagethatissupportedbyCanadiandonors.Thereis
uncertaintyaboutherfuture.ItisnexttoimpossibleforwomentolivealoneinAfghanistan,andwithoutfamiliestoarrangeamarriage,itisdifficulttofindapartnerinlife.EducationisthebesthopethatMiriamandthegirlssheliveswithwillhaveforasafeandhappylifeoncetheybecometoooldtostayattheorphanage.
Ihavebeeninthisorphanageforsixyears.Wewereinanotherbuildingupuntiltwoyearsago,butthelandlordsoldthehouseandwehadtomovetothishouse.BeforeIcametoAfghanistanIlivedinanorphanageinPakistan.Mymotherisstillalive.Sheisverypoor.Shehasnojobandherlifeisvery
bad.Shecannotaffordtohaveherchildrenwithher.MysisterandIareinthisorphanage.Mybrotherisinanotherplace.Igettoseemymotheronceamonth.Sheisstayinginthehomeofmyuncle.Thereisnoroomforusthere.Therearethirtygirlsinthisorphanage.Somehavelostbothparents,some
havelostoneparent.Theyoungestisalittlebabywhohasnoparents.Thentherearesomelittlegirlsinkindergarten,someolder,andsomeevenolder.I’mnottheoldest,butI’mclosetobeingtheoldest.PeopleinCanadasenduspresents,likebooksandtoysandstuffedanimals.
Weliveinabighouse.Therearebedroomsupstairswithseveralbunkbedsineachroom.Weeachhaveametalboxwherewecankeepourthings.Thereisaroomwithbigtableswhereweeatanddoourhomework,andaroomwecallthewinterroombecauseitistheonlyroomthat’swarminthewinter.Ithasarugonthefloor,toshaksalongthewallsandawoodstove.That’swherewespendmostofourtime.Thelittleonesrollaroundonthefloor,theolderoneslikemereadandtalkandplaygamesandtrydifferentwaystodoourhair.Thewinterroomhasatelevisionsetbutourhousemotherdoesn’tletuswatch
itverymuch.Shesaysourtimeisbetterspentstudying.Whenwegettowatch,IlikeBollywoodmovies.Wealsohaveashelffullofbooks,bothforlittlekidsandforoldergirls.MostofthebooksareinEnglish.WearealllearningEnglish.I’mreadinganEnglishbooknowbyJudyBlume.IhavetogoslowbecausemyEnglishisstillnotgood.Weusedtoplayagamewherewewouldsitinfrontofthewindowofoneof
thebedroomsthatlooksoutoverthestreet.Wewouldsitthereandwaveatpeoplewhowalkedpastandseeiftheywavedback.Itwasagametoseeifwecouldmakethemwave.Butsomemencametothegateandtoldourhousemotherthatwehadtostopthatgameorhewouldhavethepolicecome.Sowecan’tplaythatgameanymore.Butwehaveotherthingswecando.Wehavebeentothezoo,wecanjump
ropeinthebackyard.Wecanworkonourmemorybooks.Weallhaveanotebookweusetokeepourmemoriesin.Someusethemforwriting,someusethemfordrawing.Iliketokeeppicturesofmyfavoritemoviestarsinmine,soIdon’tforgetthem.
ThebackyardofMiriam’sorphanage.
Whengirlscomeintothisorphanagetheyusuallyjuststay.It’sveryhardforAfghangirlstomanageintheworldunlesstheyaremarried.IamtakingextraclassesatschoolbecauseI’dliketogotouniversity.Thatwouldgivemeagoodfuture.Therewasagirlwholivedherebutshelefttogetmarried.Heruncleshowed
upandsaidhehadahusbandforher.Shedidn’twanttogetmarried.Shewantedtofinishschool.Wedidn’twanthertogo,butourhousemothercouldn’tstophimfromtakingheraway.Soshehadtoleaveandmarrysomeoneshedidn’tknowinanotherprovince.Iwonderifsheisokay.IthinkIwouldliketobeadoctor.Thatwouldbeagoodjob.OrImightbea
teacher.OrIcouldbeasinger.MaybeI’llbeallthree.
Anonymousgirl,14
TheUnitedNationsreportsthatbetween60and80percentofallmarriagesinAfghanistanareforced.Themarriageisimposeduponthegirlwhethershewantstobemarriedornot.Marriageofdaughtersisusedtorepaydebts,solveadisputeorpayfamilyexpenses.Thefatherofthebrideisgivenmoneybythegroom’sfamilyinexchangeforthemarriage.Althoughtherearelawsonthebooksagainstforcedmarriage—andagainstchild
marriage—thelawsareseldomenforced.InruralAfghanistan,girlsaremostlymarriedoffbetweentheagesofsevenandelevenand,accordingtoTaheraNassratoftheForeignPolicyAssociation,rarelydoesagirlreachhersixteenthbirthdaywithoutbeingmarried.Forcedchildmarriageusuallyleadstoamiserablelifeforthesegirls—alifeinvolving
rape,childbirthbeforetheirbodiesandmindsarereadyforit,healthproblems,abuse,isolation,depression,lackofeducationalopportunitiesandendlesshardlabor.Thegirls’prisoninKabulisfullofyoungteenswhoarepayingthepricefortryingtotake
ownershipovertheirownlives.
Bothofmyparentsarealive.Myfatherisapoliceofficerwiththeministryoftheinterior.Mymotherstaysathome.Ihavefivebrothersandthreesisters.I’vebeenintheprisonforsixmonths.Myfatherarrangedamarriageformewithacousinofhis,averyoldman.Ididnotwanttomarrythisoldman.Iamyoung,soofcourseIwanttomarry
someonewhoisalsoyoung.Itoldmyfatherthis.Itoldmyfatherandmymotherandneighborsandanyonewhomightlisten.ButmyfatherwasdeterminedthatthiswaswhoIshouldmarry.WhatIreallywantedtodowastocontinuemystudies.Iwantedtostudylaw,
becausebeingalawyerwouldbeagoodjobforawomaninAfghanistan.Myfuturenow?Probablynothing.Nofuture.SoIdidnotwanttomarrythisoldman.Therearesupposedtobelawsthat
protectgirlsfromforcedmarriages.Ilearnedabouttheselawsinschool.Awomaninourdistrictworkedfortheministryofwomen’saffairs.Iwenttoherandaskedforhelp.Shesaidshecouldnothelpme.Ihadtofindmyownhelp.Therewasaboywhoworkedatthelocalradiostation.Hewasontheradio
andheplayedsongsandtookphonecallsfrompeoplewhowantedtohearaparticularsong.Iusedtocallintotheradiostationtoaskformyfavoritesongs.Helikedthesoundofmyvoice,Iguess,andhegotmyphonenumberfrom
whenIcalledinandhecalledmeback.Westartedtalkingthatway,andwhenItoldhimaboutthemarriageIwasbeingforcedinto,hesaidhecouldhelpme.Wemetupandhetookmeawayintoanotherprovince.Ithoughteverything
wasgoingtobefine.IwouldmissmyfamilybutIthoughtthatintimetheywouldforgivemeandIcouldseethemagain.IthoughtIcouldjustgotoanotherplaceandstartschoolthereandlivemylifeandeverythingwouldbeokay.Weweregettingsomethingtoeatinarestaurant.Themanagerofthis
restaurantstartedaskingusquestionsaboutwhowewereandwherewecamefromandwhereweweregoing.Wethoughthewasjusthavingaconversation,butheendedupcallingthepolice.Theycametotherestaurantandarrestedusthere.Thepoliceseparatedus.WewenttoadistrictpolicestationandeventuallyI
wasbroughthere.Ihadtogoontrial.Iwaschargedwithrunningaway.Itwasveryscary.All
thesemenwereinthecourtroom,lookingatmeandtalkingaboutme.Iwasnotallowedtospeak.Therewasadefenseattorneywhospokeforme.Hewasverygoodandkindtome,butIwishIcouldhavesaidsomething.Afterall,it’smylife.InprimarycourtIwasgiventhesentenceofsevenandahalfyears.Theboy
gotfiveyears.Insecondarycourtmysentencewasupheld,andtheboygothisreducedtothreeyears.Hegotlesstimebecausemyfathercametocourtandtestifiedthatthiswasall
myfaultsothecourtshouldpunishmemore.Afterthetrialtherewasajerga,ameetingofmeninthecommunitytodecide
whatshouldhappenbecausetheoldmanhadbeenpromisedabride.Hefelthewasowedabrideandthejergaagreed.Theysaidheshouldgetmyten-year-oldsistersincehecouldn’thaveme.Iwasveryafraidformysisterbutthensomethinggoodhappened.Theold
mancommittedsuicide.Somylittlesisterdidnothavetomarryhim.Myfatherblamesmeforhiscousin’ssuicide,butIdon’tcare.I’mnot
responsibleforwhatsomeoldmandoes.Idon’tseemyfatheranymore.Henevercomestoseeme.Mymothercomes
onceaweek.Shedidnotwantmetobemarriedoff.Shewantedmetocontinueinschool.Butshehasnovoiceinthefamily.Hereitisnotsobad.Itisaprison,buttheyhaveateacherwhocomesinsowe
cangotoschoolforalittlebiteachday.Andnooneismakingmegetmarried
whenIdon’twantto.Wehavearoutineherethatiseasytofollow.Wehaveschoolinthemorning
untileleven.Didyouhearussingingwhenyoucamein?Betweenelevenandonewehavelunchandprayers.Thenintheafternoonwesometimeshavecourses.Peoplecomeinfromtheoutsideandteachusbeautyparlorortailoring.I’dliketolearnEnglishandcomputers—andlaw,ofcourse—butwhateverIgetinhereismorethanIwouldbegettingifIhadn’trunaway.OnThursdaysandFridayswehavedaysofffromschool.Wecantakecareof
personalthingslikelaundryormending.Somegirlsdohandicraftslikeribbonwork.I’dlikeitifwecoulddoartclassesbecauseIliketodraw.Wegetoutsideforonehouraday,butinsidewearenotconfined.Wecango
upstairs,gointoeachother’srooms.Alltheroomshavebunkbeds,likethisone,withlotsofgirlssharing.Theyarenotcrowded,andtherearebigwindowssotheroomsarebright.I’mfriendswithsomeofthegirls.Mostofthemarealsoinhereforrunningaway.Idon’tknowofanyonewhoisinhereforthievingorhurtinganyone.WhenIturntwentyIwillbesenttotheadultwomen’sprison.Idon’tliketo
thinkaboutthat.It’sstillafartimeaway.Afterthat,Idon’tknow.Myfatherwon’twantmeback.Idon’tknowwhereI’llgo.
Sigrullah,14
Librariessavelives.TheysavedmylifeasateenagergrowingupinParis,Ontario,givingmeaglimpseof
somethingbigandglorioustoreachfor.Theysavethelivesofpeoplearoundtheworldbygivingusexamplesofhowgreatwe
humanscanbe.Theyfillourheadswithnewideasandinformation,andtheyreassureusthat,whatevermudwearewadingthroughinourpresentlives,thereisthepossibilityofsomethingbetter.ChilsitoonisanimpoverishedneighborhoodinKabul.TheAfghanWomen’sResource
Centrehasbuiltacommunitycenterthere,withasmallgymwherewomencanexerciseinsafety,classroomsforhandicrafts,literacy,human-rightseducationandsmall-businesstraining.Andalibrary.SigrullahisontheChilsitoonchildren’scommittee.
Myfatherisacarpenter.Heworksinafurnitureshop,makingframesforbeds,
tables,thingslikethat,whenheiswell.Rightnowheissicksoheisnotworking.Iworkasatailor’shelper.Itbringsinsomemoneyandsoourfamilyeats.IamlearningtobeapropertailorsothatIcanearnevenmoremoney.ButthatisnotreallythekindofworkIwanttodo.Ireallywanttobeanelectricalengineerbecausetherearenotalotofpeoplein
Afghanistanwhocandothatkindofwork.Itwouldbeeasytofindagoodjob.IwouldliketobringelectricitytoallofAfghanistanbecausewhenpeoplehaveelectriclights,itisgoodfortheireyestostudyatnight.Mostpeopleworkalldayandtheonlytimetheycansitwithabookisatnight.Sotheyneedelectriclights.ImightalsobeadoctorbecauseAfghanistanneedsdoctors.Alotofkidshere
wanttobeteachersbecausetobeateacherisholywork.IamamemberoftheChilsitoonchildren’scommittee.Thepeoplewhorun
thiscentertoldeveryonetheywerelookingforchildrentodothisjob.Ithoughtitwouldbeagoodthingtodo,soIappliedandIwaschosen.It’savolunteerjob.Wedon’tgetpaid.ThisisaverypoorareaofKabulsopeoplehavealotofproblems.People
comeherefromallpartsofAfghanistanbecauseKabulisthecapitalcity.Theythinkitwillbeverynice,verysafe,withgoodjobs.IamfromParwanprovince.AnothercommitteememberisfromPaktia.Wecomefromallover.Inthiscommitteewelearnaboutchildren’srightsandhumanrights.Welearn
aboutwhatthelawsayspeopleshouldandshouldnotdo.Wetalkaboutwhatrightsparentshaveandwhatpeopleshoulddofortheircountry.Childreninthisareahavealotofproblems.Itisourjobtofindoutwhatthe
problemsareandtoseeifwecanfixthem.Wetalktothechildrenwhocomehereforcoursesandaskthem,“Howisyourlife?Areyouhappy?Areyoubeingwelltreated?”Wealsoaskchildrenthesequestionswhenwemeetthemintheneighborhoodoutsidethecenter.Theyhavealotofproblemsbecausetheyarepoor.Theirparentsgetupsetand
hitthem,orthereisnofoodinthehouse,ortheywanttocometocoursesinthecenterandtheirparentswon’tallowit.Wewillhearaboutagirlwhoisbeingforcedtomarrysomeoneshedoesn’twantto.Thesearebigproblems,biggerthanwecansolve.Butwecantalktochildrenabouttheirrightsandthelawandsometimeswe
canexplainthingstotheirparents.Wediscussthingswiththeadultswhorunthecenterandtheycansometimestalktotheparentsandhelpthemoutwithfoodor
findoutwhat’smakingthemangry.Itdoesn’talwayswork,butsometimesitdoes.Theygotothelocalmullahs
andsay,“Toomanyparentsarehittingtheirchildreninthisneighborhood.Canyoupreachaboutthatinthemosque?”AndthemullahswilltalkabouthowIslamisareligionofpeaceandthatchildrenshouldbeprotected.Wetrytokeeptheneighborhoodclean.Wegodoortodoorandtellpeoplenot
tothrowtheirgarbageintothestreetsbecausethatbringsratsandfliesandthosethingsarenotgoodforchildren.IwouldlikeallthestreetsinKabultobecleaner.Manyofushavetowalka
longwaytocometothiscentereveryday.Thestreetsareverydustyandlotsofchildrenbecomesickfromthedust.Iwouldliketoknowhowwecanfixthisproblem.Therearealotofpeoplewhocometothiscenter,allages.Ladiescomehere
whoarewidows,andtheylearnhowtoreadandmakepicklestosell.Thereisaroomupstairsthattheyuseforexerciseandgames.It’seasyforboystoplaygamesandrunaround—wecandothatanywhere.It’sharderforladies.Ilikethatwecanworktogethertosolveourproblems.Talkinghelpsalot.We
hadapublicmeetinghereaboutthespacebetweenparentsandchildren.Childrendon’ttelltheirparentsabouttheirproblemsandparentsdon’ttalktotheirchildren.Itmakesproblemsworsewhenwedon’ttalk.Myfavoritepartofthiscenteristhislibrary.Wehavetenshelvesofbooks!
Wonderfulbooks,alldifferentbooks.Weneedtohavedifferentbooksbecauseweallhavedifferentminds.IlikebooksaboutAfghanhistory.Somepeoplelikebooksaboutcookingorpoetryorlaw.IamhappiestwhenIaminthislibrary.Allofourproblemscanbesolvedwith
thesebooks.Afghanistanwillhaveagoodfutureifthegovernmentwillhelpallthepeople
learntoreadandifeverycommunitycouldhaveagoodlibrarysotheycouldfindsolutionsandsolvetheirownproblems.
AboutAfghanistan
AfghanistanisasmallcountrythatliesbetweenEuropeandAsia.Itcontainsmountainranges,fast-flowingriversandgoldendeserts.Itsfertilevalleysonceproducedanabundanceoffruit,wheatandvegetables.Throughouthistory,explorersandtradershavepassedthroughAfghanistan
andtriedtocontrolitfortheirowninterests.Thecountryhasbeenmoreorlesscontinuouslyatwarsince1978,whenAmerican-backedfightersopposedtheSoviet-supportedgovernment.In1980,theSovietUnioninvadedAfghanistan,andthewarescalated,withtheUnitedStatesbackingAfghanfreedomfighters,manyofwhomwerewarlords.Thefightingwasfierce,cruelandprolonged.AftertheSovietsweredefeatedin1989,acivilwarerupted,asvariousgroups
foughtforcontrolofthecountry.MillionsofAfghansbecamerefugees,andmanystillliveinhugecampsinPakistan,IranandRussia.Manypeoplehavespenttheirwholelivesinthesecamps,andmillionsofAfghanshavebeenkilled,maimedorblinded.
Childrenlookingthroughrubbishforsomethingtheycanuse.
TheTalibanmilitia,oneofthegroupsthattheUSandPakistanoncefunded,trainedandarmed,tookcontrolofthecapitalcityofKabulinSeptember1996.Theyimposedextremelyrestrictivelawsongirlsandwomen.Schoolsforgirlswerecloseddown,womenwerenolongerallowedtoholdjobs,andstrictdresscodeswereenforced.Bookswereburned,televisionssmashed,andmusicinanyformwasforbidden.Inthefallof2001,al-Qaeda,aterroristgroupbasedinAfghanistanand
protectedbytheTaliban,launchedattacksonthePentagonandtheWorldTradeCenterinNewYorkCity.Inresponse,theUnitedStatesledacoalitionofnationsintobombingAfghanistananddrovetheTalibanfrompower.Electionswereheldandanewgovernmentandconstitutionweresetup.Anumberofschoolsforboysandgirlswereopened,andabouthalfofAfghanchildrennowhaveaccesstosomeformofschooling.Insomepartsofthecountry,womenwereallowedbackintotheworkforce.
WomenandchildreninaKabulmarketplace.
However,Afghanistanisfarfrombeinganationofpeace,formanyreasons.TheTalibanhasreturnedtofightaveryeffectiveguerrillawaragainstthegovernmentandforeignforces.Afghanistanhasbecomeamajorproducerofopium,fromwhichheroinismade.Thereisagreatdealofcorruptionatalllevelsofgovernment.Finally,Afghans,likepeoplearoundtheworld,areuncomfortablewithforeignforcesfightingintheircountry.Strugglesforwomen’srightscontinueaswell,withgirls’schoolsbeingburnedandwomenactivistsbeingassassinated.TherearenoeasyanswersforthepeopleofAfghanistanastheyfacesucha
difficultsituation.Learningmoreaboutthisbeautiful,tragiccountryanditswonderfulpeopleisonesmallwaytotrytoavoidthemanymistakesoutsidershavemadethathavebroughtAfghanstothisdifficulttimeintheirhistory.
ForFurtherInformation
Organizations
AfghanBookHouseAnorganizationfoundedbytwolibrarianstopromotelibrarianship,readingandthelocalpublishingofAfghanbooks.
AfghanistanYouthCenterwww.ayc.8m.netAnAfghanyouthorganizationinKabul.
AfghanYouthInitiativewww.afghanyouth.orgAnorganizationthatsupportsAfghanyouthinKabul.
Ainawww.ainaworld.orgFormerpublishersofParvaz,theonlychildren’smagazineinAfghanistan,AinanowworksinpartnershipwithAschianatoprovidewriting,photojournalismandreadingtrainingtoAfghanchildren.
AschianaFoundationwww.aschiana-foundation.orgAnorganizationthatprovidesfood,education,drugcounseling,jobtrainingandmicro-credittostreetchildren.
CanadianWomenforWomeninAfghanistanwww.cw4wafghan.caSupportseducationalopportunitiesforAfghanwomenandtheirfamilies.
InternationalBoardonBooksforYoungPeople(IBBY)www.ibby.orgIBBYisworkingwithAfghanstocreateanAfghanNationalIBBYsectionthatwouldhouseamajorcenterforreadingpromotionandtrainAfghansinreadingpromotion,writing,illustratingandpublishingoflocalchildren’sbooks.
LittleWomenforLittleWomeninAfghanistanwww.littlewomenforlittlewomen.comFoundedbyAlainaPodmorow,thiskid-runorganizationraisesmoneyforAfghanschoolsandorphanages.Membersproducedabook(ThroughOurEyes)oftheirownpoetrynexttoimagesofgirlsfromanAfghanorphanage.Theywelcomenewmembersandbranches.
NoorEducationalandCapacityDevelopmentOrganizationwww.necdo.org.afProvideswomen,youthandchildreninKabul,GhazniandJalalabadwithhealth,literacy,vocational,internet,English-languageandothereducationalsupport.
PARSAwww.afghanistan-parsa.orgSince1996,PARSAhasbeenworkinginAfghanistanwithwarvictims,widows,orphansandotherdisadvantagedpeople.
RevolutionaryAssociationoftheWomenofAfghanistanwww.rawa.orgStartedin1977,RAWAadvocatespoliticalaction,runsschoolsandsupportswomen’srights.
Shuhada
www.shuhada.org.afBegunin1989byDr.SimaSamar,Shuhadaworkstoimprovehealth,educationandwomen’srightsinAfghanistanandintherefugeecamps.
SOLASchoolofLeadershipAfghanistanwww.sola-afghanistan.orgAnNGOthatprovideseducationalopportunitiestotrainAfghanistan’sfutureleaders.
WomenforAfghanWomenwww.womenforafghanwomen.orgAhumanrightsorganizationbasedinNewYorkandKabul.RecentlyopenedtwonewChildren’sSupportCenterswherechildrenwhosemothersareinprisoncanliveandattendschool.
Books
(althoughwrittenforadults,thefollowingbooksaresuitableforgrade8andup):
ABedofRedFlowers:InSearchofMyAfghanistanbyNeloferPazira,RandomHouse,2005.AfilmmakerrecountsherlifethroughthemanystagesofwarinAfghanistan.
KabulinWinter:LifeWithoutPeaceinAfghanistanbyAnnJones,Metropolitan/HenryHolt,2006.AnAmericanaidworkertellsthestoriesofwomeninAfghanistansincethefalloftheTaliban,anddescribeshowlittlehaschanged.
MyForbiddenFace—GrowingUpUndertheTaliban:AYoungWoman’sStorybyLatifa,Virago,2002.Writingunderafakename,sixteen-year-oldLatifatellsthestoryofhowshesurvivedinTaliban-controlledAfghanistan.
VeiledThreat:TheHiddenPoweroftheWomenofAfghanistanbySallyArmstrong,Penguin,2002.ACanadianjournalistwritesabouthertripstoAfghanistanandthewomenwhohaveaffectedherwiththeirstoriesofsurvivalandresistance.
WomenoftheAfghanWarbyDeborahEllis,Praeger,2000.InterviewswithAfghanwomenlivinginrefugeecampsinPakistanandRussia.
Glossary
afghani—ThecurrencyofAfghanistan.OneCanadiandollaristheroughequivalentof45afghanis.Allah—TheIslamicnameforGod.al-Qaeda—Anetworkofterroristswhobelieveinaradical,andun-Islamic,versionofIslam.Buddha—SiddharthaGautama,thefounderoftheBuddhistreligion,wholivedaround400BC.burqa—Alongtent-likegarmentwornbywomen.Itcoverstheentirebodyandhasanarrowmeshscreen
overtheeyes.chador—Apieceofclothwornbywomenandgirlstocovertheirhairandshoulders.Communist—SomeonewhobelievesinthephilosophyofCommunism—thatpeopleshouldcontribute
accordingtotheirindividualabilitiesandreceiveaccordingtotheirneeds.Dari—OneofthetwomainlanguagesspokeninAfghanistan.despot—Someonewhoholdsontoabsolutepower,ofteninabrutalway.djinn—Aninvisiblespirit,asupernaturalbeing.exiles—Individualswhoarebannedfromlivingintheirnativecountry.guerrilla—Anarmedfighterinasmallmilitarygroup.hafiz(pl.huffaz)—AMuslimwhocanrecitetheentireQur’anfrommemory.hashish—Ablacktar-likesubstancemadefromthemarijuanaplant.heroin—Anillegal,addictivenarcoticmadefromacertainkindofpoppy.insurgents—Agroupthatusesmilitaryforcetoopposeagovernment.Islam—AreligionthatfollowstheholybookoftheQur’anandtheteachingsoftheProphetMuhammad.landmine—Abombplantedintheground,soitexplodesifitissteppedon.Maristoon—AnAfghantermthatreferstoaplacewheredestitutepeoplecanfindhelpandrefuge.mosque—AplacewhereMuslimsgotopray.mullah—AreligiousexpertandteacherofIslam.Muslim—SomeonewhofollowsthereligionofIslam.nan—Afghanflatbread.NATO—NorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization,anallianceofNorthAmericanandEuropeancountries
formedafterWorldWarII.NGO—Non-governmentalorganization.opium—Anillegaldrugmadefromakindofpoppy.Pashtu—OneofthetwomainlanguagesspokeninAfghanistan.Qur’an—TheholybookofIslam,believedtobethewordofGodasrevealedtotheProphetMuhammad.refugees—Peoplewhomustleavetheirhomecountrybecausetheirlivesareindanger.Soviet—AcitizenoftheformerSovietUnionorUSSR(UnionofSovietSocialistRepublics),including
RussiaandotherCommunistcountries.surah—AchapterorsectionoftheQur’an.Taliban—ThearmythattookoverAfghanistaninSeptember1996.Althoughitwasforcedfrompowerat
theendof2011,itcontinuestofightagainstthegovernmentandforeignforces.terrorist—Someonewhousesviolenceorthethreatofviolencetoforceotherstobehaveinacertainway.
Ingeneral,terroriststargetcivilianpopulations.toshak—AnarrowmattressusedinAfghanhomesasachairorbed.tuberculosis—Acontagiousbacterialinfectionthatusuallyattacksthelungs.UN—TheUnitedNations,aninternationalorganizationthatpromotespeace,securityandeconomic
development.UNHCR—TheUnitedNationsHighCommissiononRefugees.UNICEF—TheUnitedNationsInternationalChildren’sEmergencyFund,anagencythathelps
governments(especiallyindevelopingcountries)improvethehealthandeducationofchildrenandmothers.
visa—Adocumentthatallowsapersontoenteranothercountry.warlord—Amilitarycommanderwhoactsinhisowninterestsratherthanintheinterestsofthenational
government.
AbouttheAuthor
DEBORAHELLISisbestknownforherBreadwinnerTrilogy,setinAfghanistanandPakistan—aseriesthathasbeenpublishedintwenty-fivelanguages,withmorethanonemilliondollarsinroyaltiesdonatedtoCanadianWomenforWomeninAfghanistanandStreetKidsInternational.ShehaswontheGovernorGeneral’sAward,theRuthSchwartzAward,theUniversityofCalifornia’sMiddleEastBookAward,Sweden’sPeterPanPrize,theJaneAddamsChildren’sBookAwardandtheVickyMetcalfAwardforaBodyofWork.SherecentlyreceivedtheOntarioLibraryAssociation’sPresident’sAwardforExceptionalAchievement,andshehasbeennamedtotheOrderofOntario.DeborahlivesinSimcoe,Ontario.
AboutthePublisher
GROUNDWOODBOOKS,establishedin1978,isdedicatedtotheproductionofchildren’sbooksforallages,includingfiction,picturebooksandnon-fiction.WepublishinCanada,theUnitedStatesandLatinAmerica.Ourbooksaimtobeofthehighestpossiblequalityinbothlanguageandillustration.OurprimaryfocushasbeenonworksbyCanadians,thoughwesometimesalsobuyoutstandingbooksfromothercountries.Manyofourbookstellthestoriesofpeoplewhosevoicesarenotalwaysheard
inthisageofglobalpublishingbymediaconglomerates.BooksbytheFirstPeoplesofthishemispherehavealwaysbeenaspecialinterest,ashavethoseofotherswhothroughcircumstancehavebeenmarginalizedandwhosecontributiontooursocietyisnotalwaysvisible.Since1998wehavebeenpublishingworksbypeopleofLatinAmericanoriginlivingintheAmericasbothinEnglishandinSpanishunderourLibrosTigrilloimprint.Webelievethatbyreflectingintenselyindividualexperiences,ourbooksareof
universalinterest.Thefactthatourauthorsarepublishedaroundtheworldatteststothisandtotheirquality.Evenmoreimportant,ourbooksarereadandlovedbychildrenallovertheglobe.