Afghan women stand and overcome challenges

Naqeeba: A dream that lives on

Naqeeba (20), lives with her husband and two children in the Maidan Shahr returnee camp. After returning from Pakistan, she and her family are rebuilding their lives in a temporary shelter. “When I was a student, I dreamed of continuing my higher education abroad through a scholarship,” she says. “I did go abroad—but not to study. I went because I had to leave my country.” Her dream was disrupted, but not destroyed. “The world does not always go as we plan,” she says. “But I still have hope. If I cannot achieve my dream myself, I will create opportunities for my children. I want them to study and get an education. I will do everything I can to support them.”

For Naqeeba, hope has simply changed direction. She now finds it in her children’s future.

Humaira: Teaching for bringing a positive change

In Nerkh, 21-year-old Humaira teaches girls in a Community-Based Education (CBE) class we established in cooperation with SADA and funding from the European Union.

After finishing school, Humaira had planned to continue her studies and take the university entrance exam. But bans on education beyond sixth grade prevented her from doing so. “My dream remained unfinished. It stopped right there”, she tells us. Instead of giving up, Humaira chose a new path. Today, she stands before her students and encourages them to continue learning. “I always tell them not to lose hope,” she explains. “They are young, but they already have big dreams. When I see their motivation, I feel strong again.”

Through her work, Humaira is helping other girls believe in their future—even though her own path changed.

Saeeda: Giving voice to the communities

Saeeda (29) is one of our Community Feedback and Response Mechanism (CFRM) Officers. She listens to people’s concerns, complaints, and suggestions—and ensures they are heard and acted upon. “When I graduated from university, some people told me a woman should not work with men,” she says. “But my parents supported me, and I believed in myself.”  Now she speaks daily with community members who often feel unheard and marginalised. “Many people think their voices do not matter,” she says. “When I can help them be heard, I feel proud of my work.” For Saeeda, empowerment means standing with others and making sure no one is forgotten.

Feroza: Hope through winter, poverty, and drought

In mountainous Ghazni, 63-year-old Feroza recalls harsh winters and long droughts. “We thought the world had forgotten us,” she says. “During winter and drought, life became extremely difficult. But when support arrived, we felt we were not alone.”

For women like Feroza, assistance is about being seen and remembered.

Standing with Afghan women

For almost 25 years we worked alongside communities across Afghanistan—supporting returnees, teachers, farmers, and vulnerable families. We provided education, emergency response, livelihoods, shelter, and other essential services.

Across all of our programmes, the goal remains the same: to ensure women and girls have equal access to opportunities and services, regardless of their ethnicity, race, and gender.

On International Women’s Day, we listen, and we recognise the quiet strength of women who continue to lead their families, teach the next generation, and support their communities. Today—and every day—we stand with Afghan women.