Michelle

How has your life changed since August 15, 2021?
August 15, 2021, changed the direction of my life in ways I never imagined. Before then, I had just begun studying psychology at Kabul Education University after successfully passing the university entrance exam. I was excited to continue my education and contribute to my community through both learning and service. However, within a short time, girls were banned from attending schools and universities in Afghanistan. Overnight, the future I had worked so hard for was taken away.
Despite this setback, I refused to let my dreams end there. I continued to search for opportunities to learn and grow. I later received a scholarship to continue my education abroad, but once again, I was unable to pursue it because Afghan girls were prohibited from traveling without restrictions. Losing both my university education and the opportunity to study abroad was heartbreaking.
Instead of giving up, I chose to create new opportunities for myself and others. I continued working remotely with international organizations, including the International Youth Alliance for Peace (IYAP), where I served as Deputy Country Director and HR Assistant. I volunteered with organizations focused on education, mental health, and youth development; participated in international training programs through UNITAR; completed coding and programming training supported by the World Bank; founded Khaima to support women’s empowerment and education; launched my fashion brand, La Michelle, to create employment opportunities for women; and continued strengthening my business skills through Cornell University and other entrepreneurship programs. Although many doors were closed, I kept looking for windows to continue moving forward.
In what ways have Taliban restrictions affected your education, work, freedom, relationships, or daily life?
The restrictions have affected nearly every aspect of my life. The most painful impact was losing my right to higher education after successfully earning a place at university. Even when opportunities became available abroad, travel restrictions prevented me from taking them.
The limitations also changed the way I work and contribute to society. Before, I could openly teach, organize events, participate in educational programs, and engage with my community. Today, many of these activities are either impossible or must be carried out quietly and remotely. As someone who believes deeply in education, leadership, and women’s empowerment, it has been painful to know that I cannot openly do the work I love in my own country.
The restrictions have also affected daily life by limiting freedom of movement, professional opportunities, and the ability to gather, organize, and build communities. Something as simple as planning for the future has become uncertain. Yet, despite these challenges, I have continued to adapt, finding safe and meaningful ways to stay active, connected, and useful.
What experience or moment from the past five years has had the greatest impact on you?
The series of restrictions placed on Afghan women after August 2021 has been the most life-changing experience of my life. Watching years of hard work disappear because of policies beyond my control was emotionally devastating.
There was a period when I experienced severe depression. I struggled to find hope and relied on medication to cope with the emotional pain. It felt as though every dream I had built since childhood had been taken away. The bans did not only affect my education—they affected my sense of identity, purpose, and future.
Yet, even in those darkest moments, I realized that giving up would mean allowing those restrictions to define who I was. That realization became the turning point in my life.
What challenges have you faced, and how have you responded to them?
The greatest challenges I have faced have been losing access to education, seeing opportunities disappear one after another, and struggling with the emotional impact of these losses. The disappointment of being unable to attend university, missing a scholarship opportunity, and living under constant uncertainty pushed me into one of the most difficult periods of my life.
What helped me begin healing was spending time with children through charity and community programs. Being around children reminded me why education matters and why hope should never be abandoned. Their curiosity, resilience, and dreams gave me strength when I had very little left.
Instead of allowing my struggles to stop me, I redirected my energy toward serving others. I invested more time in community work, youth initiatives, women’s empowerment projects, and educational programs. Helping others slowly helped me rebuild myself.
How have you continued to learn, work, create, resist, or support others despite the restrictions?
Although formal opportunities became limited, I never stopped learning. I participated in international training programs, completed courses in entrepreneurship, business management, coding, crisis communication, artificial intelligence, first aid, and women’s empowerment. I worked remotely with international organizations, expanded my leadership experience, and continued building partnerships that support Afghan youth and women.
I founded Khaima as a social initiative dedicated to women’s empowerment and education, and later established La Michelle, a fashion brand that creates employment opportunities for women while promoting ethical local production. Through volunteering, mentoring, fundraising, and community engagement, I have continued supporting others even when the environment around me has become increasingly restrictive.
For me, continuing to learn and serve has become a form of resilience.
What dreams or goals are you still holding on to?
My dreams have not changed—they have only become stronger. I want to build organizations and businesses that create opportunities for Afghan women and girls. I want to continue my education, expand my leadership, and develop innovative solutions that improve communities.
More than anything, I want to prove that Afghan girls are capable of achieving extraordinary things when they are given the opportunity. I hope to create a lasting impact not only for myself but also for thousands of young women whose dreams deserve the same chance to grow.
What has given you strength, courage, or hope during difficult times?
My belief in education has always been my greatest source of strength. Every achievement I earned before the restrictions reminded me that my abilities had not disappeared simply because my opportunities had changed.
The children I worked with through charity programs gave me hope during my darkest moments. Seeing them smile, learn, and dream reminded me that even small acts of service can change lives.
My family, my faith, and the support of people who continued believing in Afghan women also gave me courage. Most importantly, I reminded myself that resilience is not about never falling—it is about continuing to stand up every time life knocks you down.
What do you want the international community to understand about the lives of Afghan women and girls?
I want the international community to understand that Afghan women and girls are not defined by victimhood. We are students, teachers, entrepreneurs, leaders, innovators, and dreamers whose opportunities have been restricted—not our abilities.
Behind every statistic is a young woman whose education was interrupted, whose career was stopped, or whose dreams were postponed. Despite these hardships, many Afghan women continue learning, working, creating, and supporting their communities in whatever ways remain possible.
What we need most is not sympathy, but opportunities to continue building our futures with dignity.
What meaningful actions do you believe the international community should take?
The international community should continue investing in Afghan women and girls through accessible education, scholarships, remote learning opportunities, professional development, entrepreneurship support, and mental health services. These opportunities allow women to continue growing even when local restrictions exist.
It is equally important to amplify the voices of Afghan women in international discussions and decision-making processes. Sustainable support should focus not only on humanitarian assistance but also on creating long-term opportunities that enable women to become leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers in their own communities.
What future do you hope to see for Afghan women, girls, and Afghanistan?
I dream of an Afghanistan where every girl can walk into a classroom without fear, complete her education, choose her career, travel freely, and contribute to her country with dignity and equality.
I hope for a future where women are recognized not for the restrictions placed upon them but for the ideas they create, the businesses they build, the communities they strengthen, and the leadership they provide.
My own journey has taught me that hope can survive even the hardest circumstances. I believe that one day, Afghan women and girls will once again have the freedom to learn, lead, and shape the future of Afghanistan. Until that day comes, I will continue doing everything I can to make that future possible.