The evening of Wednesday December 2nd, I was in my Brooklyn kitchen helping my son with his homework. NPR was on, and news was unfolding about an active shooting incident in San Bernardino, CA, where it was still daytime. The phone rang, and it was a dear friend Sonya Stokes who is completing medical school in San Bernardino. …
Hope and Continued Progress in Afghanistan
One hot summer day, 3 teenage girls were walking to school in Afghanistan’s Western Herat Province when a group of men on motorbikes threw acid in their faces. Following the attack, the men responsible called the act “punishment for going to school.” …
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Learning Through the Afghan Diaspora
In my experience of attending an international boarding school and a highly cosmopolitan college, I have had the fortune of befriending numerous Afghans. Most of them exited the country at the age of sixteen or seventeen, leaving behind their families, to pursue studies here in the United States. In our long conversations that revolved around the various themes prevalent in Afghanistan, I heard anecdotes that compelled me to challenge the popular notions about Afghanistan. These interactions were less about war and violence, but more about resilience, hope and love. …
The Journey towards Equality
When there are more failures than successes and more shortages than abundance, we tend to often forget celebrating our success. The same has happened in my homeland, Afghanistan, especially in regards to gender issues. Many inside and outside of the country are trying to compress this gap and bring about a new environment where there is equality and respect between the two genders. …
An American Woman’s Perspective on Advocating for Afghan Women
As a young woman growing up in America, I have had the privilege of living in ignorance. I have never lost family or friends to bombings, I have never fled my home in fear, and I have never even imagined that my neighborhood would become a war zone. I grew up in a safe bubble with only a vague understanding of the harsh reality girls my age faced elsewhere. …
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Development Can Only Be Sustainable If It’s Inclusive
As Afghans love to say, Afghanistan is a country situated in the heart of Asia. Because of its strategic location, Afghanistan has been a war zone for decades now, and my country’s women are more vulnerable to fall victim to the many wars and regimes. Due to several decades of ongoing violence, Afghan women’s rights have been dramatically affected. …
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