'Don't forget us': Teenage refugee reminds Gen Z of silenced Afghan girls

Nila Ibrahimi, a courageous 17-year-old Afghan refugee, has recently been awarded the prestigious International Children's Peace Prize. This award is given to young individuals who make significant contributions to promoting peace and advocating for children's rights. Nila's journey began when she decided to create a website that shares the stories of Afghan girls, aiming to give them a voice and connect them with young people in her new home, Canada. She believes that despite the vast differences in their lives, Afghan girls and Canadian teens share common interests, such as their love for music, including artists like Taylor Swift. Nila expressed her desire to make Afghan girls relatable to others, stating, 'I want to make them as real as possible so that other people, especially young people, Gen Z specifically, can put themselves in their shoes. ' Nila's mission is particularly important given the harsh realities faced by women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Since the Taliban regained power, they have imposed strict regulations that severely limit the rights of women and girls, including banning them from attending school and requiring them to have a male guardian for travel. Nila understands that these issues may seem distant to young Canadians, but she is determined to bridge that gap. To achieve this, she co-founded a project called HerStory, which serves as a platform for Afghan women and girls to share their experiences in their own words, both from within Afghanistan and as refugees. Nila emphasized the importance of recognizing the similarities between people, saying, 'So many times we are lost in the differences that we don't see the similarities and that's our goal, to show that to the world. ' Nila's recognition as the 20th winner of the International Children's Peace Prize is a testament to her dedication to advocating for women's rights in Afghanistan. Her journey into activism began in March 2021 when she participated in a video project with other young Afghan girls, singing as a form of protest against oppressive decrees. This act of defiance was a pivotal moment for Nila, as it helped her realize the power of performance and the importance of speaking out on critical issues. However, her life took a dramatic turn when the Taliban took control, forcing her family to flee to Pakistan for a year before they were granted asylum in Canada. Upon arriving in Canada, Nila was overjoyed to return to school after a year without education. She was reunited with friends from her singing group and began sharing her story at various events, raising awareness about the plight of Afghan girls. Nila's eloquence and passion surprised many, but she is aware that countless Afghan girls possess similar talents and potential, yet lack the opportunities she has been afforded. She stated, 'If my potential can surprise these people and they don't know about how educated girls from Afghanistan can be, what if that information was accessible to them? ' HerStory, the website Nila created, launched in 2023 and features interviews and personal accounts from Afghan women and girls. The platform aims to create a safe space for individuals who have experienced the harsh realities of life under the Taliban to share their stories and express their feelings of shock and anger at the current situation. Nila strives to keep her anger separate from her work, focusing instead on the shared experiences of girls everywhere. She acknowledges the fear that comes with witnessing Afghanistan's regression over the past two decades, stating, 'It's a shared feeling. It's a shared experience for girls anywhere. ' The award she received serves as a reminder to the world about the ongoing struggles faced by Afghan girls, urging people not to forget them. Marc Dullaert, the founder of the KidsRights Foundation, which administers the award, highlighted the alarming number of young women currently being denied education. He praised Nila's inspirational efforts to amplify their voices, declaring her a deserving recipient of this year's International Peace Prize. Nila hopes that her generation can make a difference, emphasizing that while the world can be daunting, there are ways to approach issues that resonate with young people. She believes that taking small steps can lead to meaningful change, stating, 'The world is a very scary place, but there is an approach that is more Gen Z-like. and we can take little steps and. do whatever we can.