“I decided to sow the seeds of my dreams in the ashes of my despair”

“I was a third-year university student majoring in journalism when Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban, and I was unable to continue my education. I had spent three years in university, full of passion and enthusiasm for the subject, but with the arrival of the Taliban, all my hopes, particularly the completion of my education and my aspirations, were left unfulfilled. 

Before the Taliban’s return to power, my father had a respected profession as a money-exchanger, and my brother worked in local media. At the same time, my sisters and I were dedicated to our education and studies. I can say that we enjoyed a good life.  

But the time came when war broke out in Afghanistan, and Laghman was engulfed in the flames of conflict. Military and police officers were forced to flee, trembling and in fear, and they surrendered the province to the Taliban.  

The night the Taliban entered the city, the echoes of “Allahu Akbar” (God is great) filled the streets and alleys of our town. In the morning, with broken hearts and tearful eyes, we made our way to the capital, Kabul, hoping that Kabul would never fall to the Taliban and that we could test our fate there. 

The entrance gate of Kabul was crowded with people carrying their belongings and heading towards the city. We, full of hope and anticipation, entered. But upon our arrival, we found everyone anxious and exhausted. We spent the first two days in the house of a close relative. 

Two days later, the sounds of shouting and gunfire were heard from all directions. I was curious and worried, so I rushed to the window and looked outside. The scene I witnessed deeply shook me. People were running in all directions in fear and terror, trying to reach their homes.  

One of my friends helped me find work as a volunteer in the media, even though the working conditions were challenging for me. I had to hide my identity, wear a burqa, and avoid working alongside men. Despite these difficult conditions, and because I had bigger aspirations, I accepted these limitations and joined the media.