KIDSOFKABULLIVINGBRAVELYTHROUGHANEVER-ENDINGWAR

DEBORAHELLIS

GROUNDWOODBOOKS/HOUSEOFANANSIPRESSTORONTOBERKELEY

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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.