Silent resistance: how Afghan girls study in the shadows

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, it was as if half of the country’s soul was ripped away overnight. For the women, the world they knew—the classrooms that nurtured their dreams, the jobs that gave them purpose, and the public spaces where they laughed freely—disappeared in an instant.

Streets that once echoed with the ambition of young girls now lay silent, covered in an enforced silence. In a cruel turn of history, the clock was turned back. Girls were excluded from schools, their futures buried in the shrouds of missed opportunities.

The hands that once held pens, microphones, or surgical instruments were pushed to the margins; denied not only work, but also dignity.

Stripped of their already limited freedom, women became prisoners in their homes and moved only under the watchful eye of male guardians.

For them, survival is now an act of silent defiance in the face of engulfing darkness.

This is the story of Harir Marhamat*, a 17-year-old girl whose world collapsed when the Taliban took power in her country. Despite the attempts to erase her existence, she remains resilient, a testament to Afghan women’s refusal to fade into obscurity.

Before 2021, Harir had a life full of excitement about the future; going to school, studying English and planning to become a doctor. But now her life, like many Afghan girls, revolves around finding discreet ways to continue learning and surviving in a society that has severely restricted women’s freedoms.

“Before the Taliban came, life was full of joy and happiness. On a normal day, I would go to school until the evening, then return home to help my mother with the household chores. I would enjoy life with my friends and family; without stress or anxiety. We were also very busy at that time. But now, in the current situation, we have lost freedom. I can’t even meet and interact with my friends because most of my friends came from school. Now I can’t even go to school. We cannot even carry a school bag or a pen without being interrogated by the Taliban. When they see us walking with books, they stop us and ask where we are going and what we are doing,” says Harir.

She was only in 9th grade when the Taliban took over and she was forced to leave school.

“They only allow men to take the ‘major’ courses and enter any university, while women are limited to attending institutions where they can receive basic training in medicine and nursing. Only girls who go to these kinds of institutions have the right to work and have a job,” said Harir, whose dream is to become a doctor.

“Even becoming a midwife has not been easy for me. My sister and I went to a healthcare institution to register. However, they only enrolled girls who had completed high school, but since I left school in 9th grade, I did not meet the criteria,” she recalls sadly.

What keeps Harir going through all this is the love and support she receives from her parents.

“When my sister and I were rejected at school, it was a very difficult moment for me, but my father hugged me and told me that he would continue to support me. He urges me not to give up and that one day I will achieve all my goals,” said Harir, who has seven siblings.

Despite all the stumbling blocks in her educational path, Harir refuses to let her dreams fade away. She is determined to keep learning, even if it means doing so in secret.

Speak with The East African virtually from her family’s home in Afghanistan, she told us about her ‘underground’ teachings.

“Together with a number of other girls, we asked our teacher to set up a class for us at her home. Here she teaches us English and on some days she teaches us scientific subjects such as chemistry, physics and mathematics. There are only six girls here. She charges us half of the normal amount we would pay at school. At least now I have something to keep me busy. When I get home, I can do some of the homework we’re given.”

Harir takes classes at least three days a week in the afternoon.

To avoid getting caught, she has come up with some clever ways to escape control. She has to use different routes each time.

“Attending these secret classes is not without risks. We can’t take the same route every day or people might notice. I use another path going to my teacher’s house and another path coming back to avoid getting caught by the Taliban. We are also not allowed to carry bags or books because that would make us a target,” she says.

When she is not reading medical books, Harir spends her free time writing poems.

Despite the limitations placed on her, Harir remains hopeful about her dream of becoming a doctor. “One day I want to become a doctor and build a hospital. I want to help those who are weak and don’t have enough support. When you look at the new hospitals in Afghanistan, you see that not many people can afford them. So my biggest dream is to build a large hospital in our country for people who are poor and cannot afford to travel abroad for treatment.”

Would she ever consider leaving Afghanistan?

Harir says that if her parents had the financial capacity, she would want to leave to study abroad, but she would still return home.

Harir Marhamat in her home in Afghanistan.

Photo credit: Swimming pool

“Currently, my family cannot afford to continue my education outside the country, but if I get the chance, I will leave the country to pursue education. But after school I would return to my country, and my main mission would be to serve my people,” she says, her voice full of determination.

But there is hope. Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program helps girls like Harir gain the skills needed to achieve their dreams.

“I hope this program will help me develop the skills I need to become an entrepreneur, and I hope it will give me the tools to help others,” she says.

Harir’s story is not just about survival. It is one of silent resistance. Her refusal to give up on learning, despite the obstacles, is a testament to the resilience of Afghan girls and women.

She understands the risks associated with attending secret classes, but believes that education is worth the risk. What all this has taught her is that ‘strength, perseverance and resilience are important, no matter how bad the situation gets.’

Sofia Alpizar, program design and development officer at Women for Women International, the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program aims to support 3,000 teenage girls by 2025 in a ten-month program tailored to advancing gender equality, improving health outcomes, increasing financial literacy and providing vocational education. course.

“We design the curriculum to fit the local cultural context and we engage girls through storytelling, group discussions and role-playing,” she says.

The program also provides participants with a monetary award to facilitate their involvement and ensures that trainers are equipped with child protection skills.

“Our goal is to empower these girls to overcome the barriers they face and create a better future for themselves and their communities,” says Sofia.

*Harir’s name has been changed to protect her identity.