“Despite all the challenges, I stand strong and refuse to accept defeat”

“My name is Sabah, I’m 23 years old, and I am the guardian of my two sisters. There was a time when we had both parents, but they were taken away from us by the harshness of life. Now, we have neither a mother to seek refuge in during difficult times, nor a father to extend his comforting hand. 

My parents were in the military. In 2020, my father was killed by the Taliban in Kunduz when I was 20 years old, and my sisters were 17 and 15, respectively. The loss of my father was a tremendous tragedy that profoundly affected all of us, especially my mother. Despite being alone, my mother, a strong woman, carried the burden of life on her shoulders. She earned a living working for the Ministry of Defense, providing for our family.  

I managed to pass the university entrance exam, with a score of 320, and I enrolled in the Faculty of Law. I was overjoyed as I took my first step towards realizing my dreams and was hopeful that I could lift some of the burdens off my mother’s shoulders. My sisters were in grades 11 and 9. We were happy living together, but our happiness, like that of many Afghan women and girls, did not last long.  

Life became very difficult for us. Our money ran out and we were living in a dilapidated rented house. We had little food, no mahram, and my mother, burdened with the responsibilities of three daughters, was facing numerous challenges and despair. 

Amid unbearable suffering, I contemplated suicide to escape the pain, but I couldn’t follow through with it because I couldn’t leave my sisters alone. I had to persevere and I took on the responsibility for my family. To this end, I secretly started a homeschooling programme, where I tutor a group of girls who have fallen behind in their studies in science and math. The funds generated are used to cover my family’s expenses.