Navigating Taliban Restrictions, and Dreaming in Code
“Kabul collapse.” I was shocked as the American reporter’s voice echoed in my ears. I thought about my wishes and dreams that were ruined with Kabul. The return of the Taliban to power was the beginning of restrictions on girls and their removal from society. Schools were closed for girls, and we could not get educated. I couldn’t even bike outdoors; my mother sold my bicycle, saying it would be very dangerous if the Taliban saw me. In this moment, I understood that the coming of the Taliban would mean the end of fulfilling my dreams and aspirations in Afghanistan. Things only got worse: seven months had passed since the arrival of the Taliban in Kabul when I lost my father. I was 15 years old. He was an educated man and always encouraged me to study, and with his passing, a big void was created in my life.
However, under the Taliban, and working for the memory of my father, I didn’t allow it to stop me from learning. In the first year when the Taliban came to power, my friends and I made a group to study at each other’s houses. We worked on our English skills for four months and we used online materials. The next year one of the private schools in Kabul, Pegah High School, started teaching girls secretly, and one of my friends was studying there. At first, my family couldn’t afford school fees, but I was able to get a scholarship because I had the qualifications of a high GPA, English level, and extracurricular activities. Going to school is a big risk, but I do it anyway. When I go to school, I always look around so that the Taliban don’t see that I’m entering the school or have books in my hands.
As a grade 12 student, I have many subjects to study, and there are difficult lessons in math and science subjects. Besides, I am a class proctor, so I have to work hard in all subjects so that I can help my students with their lessons and homework. My friends and I made a group to play badminton after school, although we have not to make any sound so that if Taliban are around the school they won’t hear our voice and know that we are studying there. In addition, I was a member of an organization named Sympathy and Kindness, where we gathered street kids to teach them school subjects and prepare school supplies. I taught them English with online videos, something that other teachers didn’t do, and I learned more about my society and the problems of Afghanistan. Moreover, my friends and I are writing a book documenting our life experience, struggle, and resilience under the Taliban government.
At home, in addition to helping my siblings in their studies and helping my mother with housework, I also started working in order to pay for two English classes online. Under the Taliban, women can only work at home, but one job that girls can still do is sewing. I talked with my friend who was sewing to lend me some fabric to do it. Therefore, I would bring three meters of fabric and I would sew different kinds of beads on fabrics. It was a lot of work, and although the payment was less than one dollar, I was continuing to solve my problem and could continue my online classes.
I passed all these bad situations and worked hard because I want to go to college where I can continue my education and I'm not restricted by the Taliban. With regard to my academic aspirations, I am particularly drawn to computer science as my major. I am deeply interested in coding and aspire to create innovative applications for Afghan people. I'm excited to learn these things in college along with other students who are passionate and driven like me.
By Amina
