Azadeh, 24

I was a high school graduate before the Taliban invasion. I have continued my education to the best of my ability and am currently studying English through Voices Unveiled online, as well as taking some online courses in law and political science. My greatest interests are writing, teaching, and exercising. My goal for the future is to receive a scholarship overseas and leave Afghanistan, so I can pursue my passion for writing stories in a more academic way, have my poems and stories published, become a successful politician, and fight against ignorance and injustice.

My greatest challenges are the limited educational opportunities and freedom, along with the refusal of those in power to recognize my rightful place as half of society. I have already taken the Voices Unveiled self-empowerment course for two semesters. This class is meaningful to me because I have learned self-acceptance, and that as a human being, I can make mistakes and sometimes feel sadness and regrets, and accept these as part of life.

Then, slowly, I can overcome them, love myself, and prioritize myself in any situation. I can say no to what I don’t want and let my feelings be felt. They should not be suppressed, but rather understood. In this way, I can find logical solutions, accept myself with all my strengths and weaknesses, and express the best version of myself. I free my thoughts and let them expand, knowing that I am human. I don’t need to be perfect—I am enough, and I am grateful for that.

I would like to continue my studies with Voices Unveiled because this course helps me become more aware of myself. As the name suggests, the focus of this course is self-empowerment, which means understanding that I am important. I want to feel the way I did as a student of this course again, continue to gain knowledge, and learn more about strong women who have not given up, and about parts of ourselves we rarely have the opportunity to explore and express.

This course is especially important for Afghan girls because it helps us break free from the four walls imposed around us and rediscover peace within ourselves—a space where we can truly know, love, and care for our mental well-being.