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Featured Writings from Our Partners

Afghan girls and women sharing their stories, experiences, and perspectives with the world through our network of publication partners.

Humanitas Media
Women, Life, Freedom: The Fight for Human Rights Under Taliban Rule
Humanitas Media

“Women, Life, Freedom: The Fight for Human Rights Under Taliban Rule”

This article documents the Taliban's escalating restrictions on women in Herat through firsthand accounts from EmpowerHer students, reports of protests and violence, and the lived experiences of Afghan women facing fear, uncertainty, and repression. It highlights the resilience of Afghan women while calling for sustained international support, advocacy, and access to education and opportunity.

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National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)
What I Carried in My Voice
National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)

“What I Carried in My Voice”

In “What I Carried in My Voice,” by Nazifa Popal, Third Place Winner of the HerVoice 2026 Writing Contest, the writer reflects on a moment when language, experience, and quiet determination became tools of courage in the face of intimidation. Drawing on her work supporting women and communities in Afghanistan, the piece explores how strength is built through years of service, resilience, and perseverance rather than a single act of bravery. Through a powerful personal narrative, Nazifa honors the unseen forms of leadership that allow Afghan women to protect, uplift, and advocate for others even in the most challenging circumstances.

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When did I feel that I am a strong girl?
National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)
Amplify Afghan Women
The Bird Who Learned to Sing Without Sound
Amplify Afghan Women

“The Bird Who Learned to Sing Without Sound”

In “The Bird Who Learned to Sing Without Sound” by Nazanin R, an EmpowerHer student, the writer uses allegory to explore silence, repression, and quiet resistance. Through the story of a bird that learns to express itself without sound, the piece reflects how muted voices can still create impact, showing that even restrained expression can carry meaning, influence others, and become a form of survival and defiance.

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A Girl Made of Hope
Amplify Afghan Women

“A Girl Made of Hope”

In “A Girl Made of Hope” by S.R., an EmpowerHer student, the writer tells the true story of Leila, an Afghan woman forced to flee her home to escape an imposed marriage and growing repression. Through quiet, powerful narration, the piece explores consent, displacement, and survival, showing how hope can exist not as safety or certainty, but as the courage to keep moving forward when everything familiar becomes a threat.

“When did I feel that I am a strong girl?”

In “When Did I Feel That I Am a Strong Girl?” by Roqia Qasemi, Second Place Winner of the HerVoice 2026 Writing Contest, the writer reflects on the moments that shaped her understanding of strength as an Afghan girl living through violence, loss, and educational restrictions. Through powerful personal memories and unwavering determination, the piece explores how courage is forged in the face of injustice and how the pursuit of education becomes an act of resistance. Roqia’s story stands as a moving tribute to the resilience of Afghan girls who continue to rise, dream, and fight for their future despite immense obstacles.

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Bread and a Red Apple
National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)

“Bread and a Red Apple”

In “The Girl Who Returned to School,” by the First Place Winner of the HerVoice 2026 Writing Contest, the writer recounts the story of a young Afghan girl who survives a brutal acid attack meant to silence her pursuit of education. Through memories of pain, perseverance, and hope, the piece explores the courage required to defy fear and continue learning in the face of violence. As the narrator grows into a teacher who secretly educates other girls, the story becomes a powerful tribute to resilience, resistance, and the enduring strength of Afghan women fighting for their right to learn.

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My Name Is Afghani
National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)

“My Name Is Afghani”

In “My Name Is Afghani,” by S.R., an EmpowerHer student, the writer tells the haunting story of a woman whose life has been shaped by war, widowhood, and generational loss. Through Afghani’s quiet endurance, the piece reflects the suffering of countless Afghan women while honoring their resilience, sacrifice, and struggle to survive in a world that offers them little mercy.

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Me and a Memory
Amplify Afghan Women

“Me and a Memory”

In “Me and a Memory” by Zainab H, an EmpowerHer student, the writer reflects on a childhood memory centered around her brother’s bicycle and a lasting scar on her forehead. Through vivid storytelling, she captures innocence, joy, pain, and the quiet influence of patriarchal expectations, showing how a small personal memory can hold deeper truths about family, protection, and silence.

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Why is writing a powerful way to protest?
Amplify Afghan Women

“Why is writing a powerful way to protest?”

In “Why Is Writing a Powerful Way to Protest?” by Zainab H, an EmpowerHer student, the writer explains how writing becomes a form of resistance when speech is restricted. She shows how written words preserve truth, turn personal pain into collective voice, and contribute to lasting social change, emphasizing writing as a powerful refusal of silence in the face of injustice.

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