CAI Program Officer Zia Sanaban ’ s journey from a poor , remote village in Afghanistan to a prosperous life in Maryland is a story of hardship and struggle , perseverance and courage .
Zia Sanaban
Zia Sanaban grew up with three brothers in a poor rural village in Afghanistan . His family and neighbors never had enough money and were constantly struggling to make ends meet . They had no electricity and no access to essential services . Jobs were scarce . Government aid and support systems to help impoverished families like his did not exist .
Children were born poor and stayed poor , unless they had the opportunity to go to school . “ As a boy growing up , I believed education would help me overcome some of the challenges my family was facing ,” said Zia . “ Education would
mean I could also help my community . Even when I was young , I knew I wanted to give something back to my community . I knew I wanted to help people .”
Zia dreamt of becoming a scientist or engineer so he could help tackle some of the most pressing challenges of his community . “ We had no electricity . There were transportation problems and health issues . We had to walk long distances to school . There was no access to the internet or other resources ,” he explained . “ For me , education was something that could help me overcome some of these issues personally , for my family , and , on a broader scale , for my community .”
LEARNING THE VALUE OF EDUCATION FROM HIS PARENTS
Zia ’ s mother was a strong woman who refused to accept the traditional way of life for herself and her children . She knew education was essential if her boys were to escape a life of poverty . She revered her brother and uncle — both teachers — and told her boys that these men inspired her . Her esteem and respect for teachers made an impression on Zia , one he never forgot .
Both of his parents were hard workers , but it was difficult for them to make enough money to afford school . They had to make many sacrifices to cover the fees , supplies , and uniforms their four
Photo : Lynzy Billing
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