The Afghan women who escaped to get an education abroad

Mah, a 22-year-old woman from Afghanistan, made a brave decision to leave her home country when the Taliban took control in August 2021. She fled to the UK, where she is now pursuing her education in Cardiff. As she begins her GCSE in English, Mah expresses her happiness and relief, stating, 'I am happy for myself. I am safe. I have freedom. I am free. ' However, her heart aches for her friends back in Afghanistan, who are unable to attend school or participate in public life due to the Taliban's oppressive rules. Since the Taliban regained power, women and girls over the age of 12 have been banned from schools and are not allowed to take most university entrance exams. Additionally, they face restrictions in the workplace, with many beauty salons closed and access to parks, gyms, and sports clubs denied. Mah refrains from sharing her joyful moments on social media, as she does not want her friends in Afghanistan to feel envious of her freedom. She hopes that her education will pave the way for her dream of becoming a midwife in Wales. 'It’s hard for me because I can go to college here and I can go to work. But at the same time, back home, my friends who are the same age can't leave the house,' she explains. The Taliban claims that their ban on education for women is rooted in religious beliefs and has promised that women will be allowed back to school once certain issues are resolved, including ensuring that the curriculum aligns with Islamic principles. However, there has been no progress on this front, and Afghanistan remains the only country with such severe restrictions on women's education. Mah's journey to the UK was fraught with challenges. She fled from Helmand Province to Kandahar and then to Kabul, where she experienced a terrifying moment when she woke up to find the Taliban on her street. Fearing for her life, she called her mother to inform her of her decision to leave, even though she did not know where she was going. Upon arriving in the UK, Mah, along with other refugees, faced the daunting task of starting anew without any belongings. She did not have the chance to say a proper goodbye to her mother, a memory that haunts her. 'It’s not safe now, but Afghanistan is the place I grew up and went to school. I can’t forget the country, and I miss everything about it,' she reflects. Mah received support from the Urdd, a prominent youth organization in Wales, which has helped many refugees adjust to their new lives. Sian Lewis, the chief executive of the Urdd, notes that some refugees have even become bilingual in Welsh. 'It’s opened so many doors for them,' she says. When Mah first arrived in the UK, she struggled with the English language and felt isolated. 'It was so hard. I didn’t know anybody. Everything was new,' she recalls. However, three years later, Mah has made significant progress, conducting a 20-minute interview in English and even learning Welsh. She encourages people in the UK to appreciate their freedoms, stating, 'People here should say thank God every day. Women have rights. People here have whatever they want open to them, and they are safe. They should be happy. They are so lucky. ' Another young woman, 17-year-old Aqdas, also left Afghanistan and is now studying in the US on a fully funded scholarship. She remembers the day the Taliban took over Kabul and the fear that gripped her family. 'I remember that I did not know what to do anymore. Will they take my rights away? Will I experience violence just like my mother did 20 years ago? ' she recalls. Aqdas's mother, who had faced challenges in her own education due to the Taliban, encouraged her daughter not to let the Taliban dictate her future. With determination, Aqdas continued her education online in secret, refusing to give up despite the obstacles. Her journey to the US was complicated, as she had to travel to Pakistan with her father to obtain a visa, since she was not allowed to leave Afghanistan on her own. Now, Aqdas is studying in the US, but she emphasizes that the issues in Afghanistan extend beyond just girls' education. 'Lots of people think the only problem in Afghanistan is just the girls' education. There are other issues like mental health. Girls in Afghanistan are going through depression and anxiety every day, and there is no help. ' The UK Government has condemned the Taliban's ban on women's education and is calling for urgent action to protect the rights of Afghan girls. Despite these calls for change, the Taliban has not responded to concerns about the restrictions on education for women and girls.