“Let us take small but unwavering steps towards a brighter future, for ourselves and for those who cannot”

Neda

Graphic designer, Herat

A woman paints a woman in a pink and red burqa.

“My journey began during my second year at the Faculty of Fine Arts at Herat University. At that time, I was working at a local advertising agency, where my role was to craft logos, banners, posters and brochures. It was a job that not only sustained my own life but also helped support my family.

Life went on as usual until one day everything changed. A new decree was announced, a directive that prohibited girls from attending schools. This heartbreaking decision came shortly after I graduated from university and presented me with a serious dilemma. After graduation, I had the opportunity to find personal happiness and success. However, there were the thousands of girls who were deprived of their basic right to education. The weight of this reality settled heavily on my shoulders, and the news of the ban shattered my spirit. For nine whole months, I struggled with my despair.

Every moment of life became a challenge, but after months of uncertainty, I found my resolution. I decided to document and portray Afghan women and girls’ hardships, because it hurt my heart to see the injustices they are suffering, and I wanted to shine a light on it. I decided to ‘picturize’ Afghan women and girls’ suffering by drawing and designing graphics to attract world attention to help Afghan women who are stuck in a terrifying situation.

Now, my sole focus is on the severe restrictions that women face in our society. By choosing subjects that revolve around Afghan women, I strive to convey the ways in which the Taliban’s rule and its misguided culture are affecting human lives. I try to motivate and encourage women and girls to not give up and keep trying to reach their goals using online opportunities to learn and by doing some online business.

With their oppressive regulations, the Taliban have stripped women of their basic rights and freedoms, leaving them vulnerable to psychological distress. Young girls, uncertain about their future, have lost their motivation to pursue an education. They divert girls from education and progress by marrying them at a young age, as they lack the ability to advance in married life. Placing them on this path will bring about serious physical and psychological harms for these girls.

My call to action is clear: I urge fellow artists to embrace their roles as conduits of change. Together, we can illustrate the impact of the Taliban’s oppressive policies on society. By sharing our artwork on social media, we can awaken the global community to the widespread violation of women’s rights.

And so, my message to all the girls in my homeland is this: Don’t let your future slip away. Do not remain passive and disheartened. Instead, let us take small but unwavering steps towards a brighter future, for ourselves and for those who cannot.”

“I am making the most of my current captivity”