Afghan girls share their stories and ask for support for education

In March, the Festival was privileged to host a webinar with a group of girls from Afghanistan, who shared their personal stories, challenges, hopes and ambitions to raise awareness and call for action to support girls’ education in Afghanistan. Neda (aged 11), Dina (aged 13) and Shadmana (aged 15) have lost their right to education, along with 1.4 million girls in Afghanistan. Read their stories below.

All three girls have to find ways to access learning online. It is difficult, but they do access some lessons and groups through the support of Victory Afghanistan – book clubs, writing workshops, movie nights. Internet connections are difficult and intermittent and most people do not have laptops, so they are using their phones. Girls are not allowed to attend school or college or go to work. They said that they need people to remember they are still there and to fight for them and talk about the issues.

UK schools and young people can advocate for the right to education for girls in Afghanistan and teachers can support girls in Afghanistan in the following ways:

• Access the education resources provided below, consider the suggestions for ways to help and get involved and support them in any way you can.
• If any teachers are interested in this topic and in  virtual “school partnerships” with Afghan girls, please contact Vicky on wrn.eventmgr@gmail.com
• This is the Let Afghan Girls learn substack – please follow and on X https://x.com/WRNAfghanistan
• Volunteer with Victory Afghanistan: https://www.victoryafghanistan.org/team – you can volunteer as an English teacher, a conversation partner, book club host, mentor
• Donate to Victory laptop campaign – 80% of girls are learning via a mobile phone: https://givebutter.com/ywtWJv
• Read Shadmana’s poem that will be in an exhibition at the Bodleian and other poems by women and girls in Afghanistan: https://mixam.co.uk/shares/685d41ba1bb3a348ae109778    
• Follow Kate Clanchy on X https://x.com/KateClanchy1 she runs an online poetry group with the girls and posts poems regularly

Afghan Girls’ stories and dreams

Dina loves learning new things and wants to become a doctor, journalist and a business woman. She wants to tell stories of life in Afghanistan and raise awareness, inspire others and help people. She wants to travel and see the world, meeting people and finding out about their lives and other cultures. She loves walking in the mountains and reading and being exposed to new ideas. Dina would like to be able to go back to school in a classroom, rather than trying to learn online and is keen to get a scholarship. Ultimately, her dream is to use her knowledge to inspire others, support them and give girls the chance to learn and go to school.

They signed off the webinar with messages of hope for children in the UK and around the world:

If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face and you will always look lovely (Neda quoting Roald Dahl)

Keep shining, keep learning, have big dreams – believe in yourself and you can achieve your dreams (Dina)

Thank you for being here and listening to us! (Shadmana)