HerVoice
This story shares the journey of an Afghan girl who faced displacement, fear, and loss of education as a refugee in Pakistan and later upon returning to Afghanistan. Despite restrictions and hardship, she continued learning, developed her talents, found leadership through EmpowerHer, and remained committed to education, justice, and hope for Afghan girls.
Owned by Mahtab Ebrahimi
My story begins when we immigrated to Pakistan in 2022. Living as a displaced refugee was very challenging there, as we could not afford to extend our visas, and I was completely hopeless about my future. I wasn’t able to attend a regular school because of documentation, and financial issues were piling up at their greatest. But I realized these kinds of challenges should not stop me from dreaming. So I started online learning, joined English and Graphic Designing courses offered by UNHCR in Pakistan. I also started singing and performing national anthems at events, where my team and I were awarded by Afghan and Pakistani organizations many times. Besides that, I started teaching English in a small refugee academy. I was pursuing my goals and dreaming of a peaceful future. My life wasn’t perfect in Pakistan, but at least I was able to continue my education—the hope that moved me forward.
However, the deportation of Afghan refugees started in 2025 by the Pakistani government. This prevented me from my work and attending classes in academies. We were in constant fear of being deported. Those were truly terrifying days for me because I did not want to go back to Afghanistan. But fate had different plans for us. The situation was getting worse day by day, and eventually we were forced to come back. It was really hard to put all your efforts there and come back to zero—where education is banned and voices are silenced. I was sad and disappointed about coming back here because I do not see any future for myself, nor for my family.
After a while, I witnessed how Afghan girls in Kabul were trying their best and standing against the oppressive policies. That really sparked hope in me. It motivated me—if we survived under these conditions and still go for our biggest dreams and push our limits, what else is there to fear? The answer is: NOTHING. There’s nothing else for us to fear, and that’s why we are unstoppable and resilient no matter what we face!
I gained hope and motivation and continued my online school. Furthermore, I applied to as many opportunities as possible and started chasing my dreams once again. During that time, I came across EmpowerHer and was accepted into the Leadership and Personal Development Workshop. From the beginning of the workshop, it felt truly incredible, because not all online classes paid enough attention to the students. But EmpowerHer is different. It is a safe space for me where I am able to share my thoughts and opinions openly, without any judgement and without limitations regarding my age or knowledge level. At EmpowerHer, I saw in the speech of my classmates and mentors the desire to bring a positive change in society. It was a truly amazing workshop and I learned about self-leadership and leadership at local and global stages. I learned to take matters into my own hands. I learned to listen to others and ask for their guidance with confidence.
Through every loss and new beginning, I learned that leadership is not about positions, but about actions. Even when schools were closed and we were denied our rights and opportunities, I created my own path through learning, raising my voice, and going beyond limits. My journey is still continuing, but I carry one promise with me: no matter where life takes me, I will keep working for education and justice for Afghan girls.
My final words for Afghan girls are to dream as big as you can, even when the world tries to limit you. Remember that your strength, courage, and voice matter.
Let's keep learning, keep rising, and keep supporting each other. Together we will build a brighter future for ourselves and Afghanistan.