Afghans Hold On to Hope and Ask the World to Do the Same
By Molly Shapiro
Photos by Omer Abrar
When the United States withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the Taliban took over , one of the biggest questions was whether women and girls would lose their hard-fought rights — from freedom of movement to education to career opportunities . Tragically , that question was answered quickly , when the Taliban began issuing a rapid succession of severe edicts that drove women from the workplace , forbid them from education beyond the sixth grade , and banned them from all aspects of public life .
In a little over a year , women had lost almost everything they had gained during the two decades without Taliban rule . No more high school or university . No hope for a job to make money or a meaningful career . No opportunity to go to the gym , a park , a swimming pool , or a public bath . The one thing that remained — the chance to gather and socialize at the beauty parlor — was taken away in July 2023 .
Not surprisingly , this desperate situation has led to an alarming rise in mental health issues for many Afghan women and girls . As their freedom to do anything beyond farming and household chores swiftly dwindles to almost nothing , many women and girls are losing hope . A Washington Post article detailing the crisis quoted Shafi Azim , a psychiatrist working in a mental health facility in Kabul , who explained : “ They fear they will never be able to go back to work or school . They are isolated and become depressed .” 1
CAI and our partners in Afghanistan are finding similar feelings among the women and girls in the regions where we work . “ We used to enjoy going to school ,” said Leila , a 17-year-old girl from the Badakhshan region . “ But now we ' re saddened because the schools are closed , and we can ' t continue our studies .” Leila has to spend all of her time working in the fields and doing chores for her family . However , she has not given up her dream of one day restarting her education . “ Our hope is for schools to reopen , providing opportunities for girls like us .”
THE RESILIENCE OF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE INSPIRES CAI ’ S WORK
Even amidst the sadness and despair , there are still many signs of hope and progress . Young women like Leila are holding on to the idea that one day they can resume their studies . And these glimmers of optimism are what keep CAI
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