Back to HerVoice

Published Stories

Featured Writings from Our Partners

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

Amplify Afghan Women
The Silent Bird
Amplify Afghan Women

“The Silent Bird”

A haunting poem about homesickness, displacement, and loneliness, The Story of a Silent Bird uses the image of a caged bird to explore the emotional weight of exile and the longing for a place that no longer feels like home. Through powerful metaphors of nature, silence, and loss, the poem reflects on identity, belonging, and the quiet suffering carried by those forced to leave everything behind.

Read more
Dreams Have No Gender
Amplify Afghan Women

“Dreams Have No Gender”

Why should gender determine a person's future? In this thoughtful opinion essay, the author argues that education, employment, and personal freedom are fundamental rights that should never be limited by gender. Drawing on the experiences of Afghan women and girls, the piece explores how equal opportunities empower individuals, strengthen communities, and create a more just society for everyone.

Read more
A Future Inspired by Ladyland
Amplify Afghan Women

“A Future Inspired by Ladyland”

Inspired by Sultana's Dream, this reflection explores the power of imagination to challenge gender inequality and reimagine a more just society. Drawing connections between Ladyland and the realities faced by Afghan women today, it examines freedom, equality, and the hope for a future where women and men stand side by side.

Read more
Hope in the Dark
Amplify Afghan Women

“Hope in the Dark”

Drawing on recent events and lived experience, this piece sheds light on the growing restrictions imposed on Afghan women and girls while highlighting their resilience, courage, and unwavering hope. It is both a testimony and a call for global solidarity.

Read more
2345
Humanitas Media
Silence in Herat and Kabul: A Story of Change, Fear, and Hope
Humanitas Media

“Silence in Herat and Kabul: A Story of Change, Fear, and Hope”

A powerful reflection on the realities faced by Afghan women and girls under increasing restrictions. Through a personal lens, this piece captures the fear, silence, and uncertainty experienced in Kabul and Herat while highlighting the resilience, courage, and enduring hope of those who continue to dream despite oppression.

Read more
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.

Read more
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.

Read more
When did I feel that I am a strong girl?
National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)

“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.

Read more
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.

Read more
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.

Read more
23