A Letter from an Afghan Educator: Optimism in the Face of Agony

A Letter from an Afghan Educator: Optimism in the Face of Agony
1/20/2023 by Pat Mitchell

Shabana Basij-Rasikh and her students made it out of Kabul—but so many women and girls remain in Afghanistan, denied an education and all the opportunities that come with it.



An Afghan girl at an open classroom in Kandahar on Jan. 1, 2023. Under Taliban rule, girls can only attend school until the sixth grade, when primary school ends. (AFP via Getty Images)

This article was originally published in Pat Mitchell’s blog and weekly newsletter.

On Monday, the Taliban’s Ministry of Education announced it will allow girls from first to sixth grade to continue their studies in schools. The announcement was a welcome surprise after last month’s announcement that women were immediately barred from attending universities and working for nongovernmental associations.

In the midst of this troubling Taliban action, my dear friend Shabana Basij-Rasikh keeps me updated about her mission to educate Afghan girls in middle and high school. Basij-Rasikh is the co-founder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), the country’s first and only girls’ boarding school. Shabana Basij-Rasikh runs a school for girls in Afghanistan. She celebrates the power of a family’s decision to believe in their daughters — and tells the story of one brave father who stood up to local threats.



(Filmed at TEDxWomen 2012)




In this deeply moving talk, educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh shares the story of evacuating Kabul after the Taliban took power in 2021.


. . . . . .

We must all keep the women of Afghanistan in our hearts and minds, and continue to support them in whatever ways we can. I’ve included a list of organizations, like SOLA, that I hope you will follow and support.

School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA): Follow Shabena on Twitter. Follow SOLA on Twitter. You can also donate to SOLA.
Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) and the Sakena Fund: Creating hope for women and children in Afghanistan through education, healthcare, economic opportunity and civic engagement. Follow Sakena on Twitter. Follow AIL on Twitter. You can donate to AIL.
Malala Fund: Malala Fund supports Afghan education advocates who offer alternative education programs for girls while schools remain closed. Follow Malala Fund on Twitter. Follow Malala Fund on Facebook.
Gawharshad Media:This online media account brings you the news and stories of Afghan women by our finest team of women reporters. Follow them on Twitter.
U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council: Under the leadership of First Ladies Laura Bush, Hillary R. Clinton, and Rula Ghani, all of whom serve together as the Honorary Co-Chairs of the USAWC, the Council has worked to address areas of need identified by Afghan women, convening interested partners and brokering connections to meaningful sustainable platforms. Follow them on Twitter or Facebook.

Onward!


https://msmagazine.com/2023/01/20/afghanistan-girls-school-education-taliban/