As schools in the UK reopen this week, Afghan women and girls remain barred from secondary education and many aspects of public life under Taliban rule. Mah, 22, who fled Kabul in August 2021 as the Taliban took control, is now pursuing a GCSE in English in Cardiff, UK. She reflects on her newfound freedom with mixed emotions, saying, "I am happy for myself. I am safe. I have freedom. I am free." However, she also feels the weight of her friends' continued struggles back home, where women and girls face severe restrictions, including bans on schooling, work, and recreational activities.
Mah's journey to education in the UK was fraught with peril. After fleeing from Helmand to Kabul amidst the Taliban’s advance, she arrived in the UK with other refugees, carrying the weight of her family's abrupt departure and the challenges of starting anew. Despite the difficulties, Mah received support from the Urdd, a major youth organization in Wales, which helped her adapt and learn English, and now Welsh.
Sian Lewis, chief executive of the Urdd, notes that many refugees have integrated well, with some becoming bilingual in Welsh. Mah, who initially struggled with English, now communicates fluently and is also learning Welsh, highlighting the stark contrast between her current situation and the oppressive conditions in Afghanistan.
Similarly, 17-year-old Aqdas, who is studying in New Mexico on a fully funded scholarship, reflects on the fear and uncertainty she felt when the Taliban took Kabul. Despite her mother's past struggles and the current turmoil, Aqdas continued her education through online classes and remains resilient in pursuing her academic goals.
Both Mah and Aqdas’s stories underscore the harsh reality for Afghan women under Taliban rule, and their perseverance and achievements abroad shine a light on the broader struggle for educational and personal freedom.