A Mission to Speak for Those Who Cannot

I never imagined I would one day have the chance to speak to you all – not just as a student, but as someone whose life has been transformed by the compassion of others.

 

I come from Afghanistan, a country that has lived in conflict for over 30 years. It is one of the most difficult places in the world to grow up in, especially as a girl. The Taliban has affected nearly every Afghan life in one way or another, but in mine, they arrived a little earlier. 

 

In 2014, the Taliban bombed our family’s small shop. We lost a beloved family member, and my uncle was badly injured. I was just a child, but in that moment, my childhood ended. The world stopped feeling safe. For two years, I couldn't continue my education in Afghanistan because of the many threats after the explosion. However every day since then, I’ve thanked God that my father wasn’t in the shop that day. If he had been, I don’t know where I would be now. 

 

In 2016, my father made the hardest and bravest decision of his life: he took us to Turkey to start over, to give us safety, and to give us a future. I learned a new language, adapted to a new culture, and slowly, began to believe in dreams again. 

Afghan people are survivors. We grow up learning how to rebuild ourselves in foreign lands. We adjust to other systems, learn new ways of life – and yet, deep down, we all carry the same hope: that one day we will return home. Until that day, we live with courage, and we carry Afghanistan in our hearts. 

 

Being here today, in this community, is something I never thought would be possible. I was given the opportunity to grow, to learn, and to believe in my own voice. And that opportunity came from people who didn’t even know me – but believed I deserved a chance. That belief has meant everything. 

 

I am really thankful to Women Leaders of Tomorrow, Ms. Friba Rezayee, and all those who made it possible for me to be here. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You didn’t just support my education – you changed my future. You gave me a mission: to speak for those who cannot, and to be a light for those still in the dark. 

 

As Afghan women, even from afar, we are committed to supporting and fighting for our country. And today, to stand here and share this with all of you, to speak on behalf of millions of silenced girls and women from Afghanistan, is my greatest pride and responsibility. 

 

Thank you for helping me carry this voice forward.