Razia a girlforward story

My name is Razia. I am from Afghanistan.

In Jalalabad, we lived in a house with walls made of stones. Everyone slept in the same room together.

BECAUSE OF THE TALIBAN, I COULD NOT GO TO SCHOOL. IT WAS NOT SAFE FOR GIRLS TO GO OUTSIDE. INSTEAD, I WOULD SPEND THE DAY INSIDE, CLEANING THE HOUSE.

My father worked with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. He had tried several times to send me and my sisters to school, even though it was dangerous and many people disapproved. One day my father came home and told us we were going to America. I was so happy. I would finally go to school.

Everything was different.

The houses were big. People could go outside.

On the first day of school, I did not understand anything. In class, my teacher put me next to another girl who wore the hijab because she thought we could speak the same language - but she spoke Arabic, not Pashto. Still, I was so happy to be in school.

Now, I have a GirlForward mentor named Neda. She talks with me, takes me to the library and teaches me how to get books. At Camp GirlForward, I thought about my future. In my future, I want to have a good job and a beautiful house so I can take care of my father. He is a source of strength in my life because he stands up for me and believes in me.

GirlForward gives girls like razia the opportunities and support they need to achieve their dreams.

Illustrations by Cori Lin Art.

Credits:

Creative Commons: Peretz Partensky, U.S. Army, J. Cornelius, Matthew Rutledge. All art by Cori Lin.

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