This International Day of the Girl (11 October), we celebrate the power, potential and promise of girls everywhere.
It has been five years since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. More than 2.6 million girls have been denied secondary education, while women and girls face sweeping restrictions on their ability to work, move freely and participate in public life. Afghanistan remains the only country where girls and women are barred from secondary and higher education.
But Afghan girls continue to dream. Rahela Trust, an inspiring grassroots partner in Afghanistan supported by The Circle, is ensuring those dreams and futures are not silenced.
Founded by Rahela Sidiqi, Rahela Trust provides scholarships and mentorship to underprivileged girls and young women from rural Afghanistan through online learning. Over the past decade, they have supported more than 50 university scholars and 100 secondary school students, helping girls continue their education despite the restrictions they face.
Here are some powerful letters from girls supported by Rahela Trust about their hopes and dreams for the future:
‘A small light shone from the heart of darkness’
“An era when school doors were closed to us and despair cast a heavy shadow over our heads, a small light shone from the heart of darkness: a light named online education. This path was not just a way of studying but a lifeline that rescued us from drowning in hopelessness…our diploma is proof of our resilience, resistance and faith in tomorrow.” – a Rahela Trust scholar
‘They cannot take away our dreams’
“Even in this darkness, we will not give up. The Taliban can take away our schools, our jobs, and our freedom, but they cannot take away our dreams, our intelligence, or our strength.” – a Rahela Trust scholar
‘Becoming an independent girl’
“For me, freedom means having the opportunity to pursue higher education, becoming an independent girl and earning my own money. One day, I hope to be one of the most successful doctors in my country and serve my family and community.” – a Rahela Trust scholar
‘I still dream of school’
“My mind still dreams of school, and my heart longs for my lessons. I do not know when this dream will become a reality.” – a Rahela Trust scholar
‘The end of darkness’
“One evening, after prayer, my phone rang. It was a call from Rahela Trust Online School, a call that changed my life. I took the entrance exam, competing with hundreds of outstanding Afghan girls, and with a score above 95%, I was accepted into Grade 11. That night felt like the end of darkness. Hope returned, and it felt as though the sun had risen over our home again.” – a Rahela Trust scholar
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These letters are declarations of hope, reminding us that behind every statistic is a girl with ambitions, talents and a future she wants to build.
When we support girls’ education, we are helping to keep a dream alive.
We stand in solidarity and action with girls everywhere who are determined to write their own futures.
Will you join us?
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