Broken Light

by Fahima*

August 15, 2025

Have you ever found yourself just one step away from realizing your dreams—only to have everything taken away in an instant? 💔 I have. My name is Fahima*, a XX-year-old woman from the Tajik ethnic group, born and raised in XX, Afghanistan.

I grew up in a large, loving family that faced severe economic hardship. Yet, despite all odds, I pursued my education with determination and discipline. 🎓 Without attending any cram schools, I prepared for the national university entrance exam on my own and was accepted with excellent scores into one of the most competitive fields: Mechatronics Engineering. Studying Mechatronics was not only a personal dream but also a symbol of resistance in a male-dominated field—I was the only girl among 75 boys in my class. Sadly, when the Taliban returned to power, they banned girls from higher education, and I was forced to abandon my final year before earning my degree.

I was then pressured to change my field to Civil Engineering, despite having no background in it. Adapting to a completely new discipline under mental and social pressure was one of the hardest experiences of my life. Still, I made a promise to myself: if ever given the chance, I would return to the engineering field I love. 🏗️ If not, I would dedicate myself to rebuilding my country.

Afghanistan has millions of hectares of barren land, and millions of women and children without shelter—many dying from the heat of summer or the cold of winter. ❄️☀️ My greatest dream is to use my engineering skills to build safe, sustainable housing for vulnerable families.

After the universities were shut down, I refused to give up. I turned to learning English as a new path forward. 📚 In just six months, I made significant progress. One organization that supported me on this journey was the organization where I was first a student and later became a volunteer English teacher, helping other Afghan girls who, like me, had lost access to formal education. Later, I began studying Nutrition and Counseling—fields that would allow me to serve Afghan women and children through health and well-being. I became the top-ranking student in both semesters. But once again, Taliban restrictions closed the doors of institutes, and I was forced to pause my education for the second time.

During this period, I applied for multiple international job opportunities. 🌍 I passed interviews and written tests, often ranking first among many candidates. But each time, I was rejected—not for lack of talent or effort, but because I lacked a university graduation certificate. Again and again, I lost the best opportunities simply because I was not allowed to complete my degree.

Still, I have never let despair define me. ✊ For the past year, I have worked as a writer, contributing articles, stories, and poems. Writing has become my voice, my resistance, and my way of keeping hope alive—not just for myself, but for other Afghan girls like me.

I live in a country where women are silenced, but I continue to speak. 🕊️ I live in a country where girls are banned from classrooms, but I continue to learn. I may be alone, with no one to support me—but I believe I can build a bright future for myself.

My message is simple: One day, light will penetrate this darkness, and the shadows will vanish. 🌅 Until that day comes, we must remain strong. 💪

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* it is a pseudonym.