HOPES AND DREAMS - THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN SHARE THEIR STORIES

Often, being asked the question “what are your hopes and dreams?” can seem commonplace in our world. At one point, we’ve all had dreams, aspirations, and goals. For the women of Afghanistan, however, hopes and dreams are something they’ve rarely had the chance to share with others. The Taliban government has placed strong restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and even social media, making it very difficult for women to connect with people outside of their country. 

The goal of this blog is to serve as a connection point between the women of Afghanistan and the rest of the world. Thanks to the Institute for English Literacy, an online school that provides classes to women and girls in Afghanistan, I have had the incredible experience of meeting with many women in Afghanistan. Over the course of several WhatsApp calls, we have had the privilege of getting to know these women - their stories, daily lives, and hopes for the future. We then share their experiences in  blog posts, offering them a platform to tell their stories and to be seen and heard in a country where those freedoms are often not granted. Getting to know these women and giving voice to their experiences has been one of the most meaningful opportunities of my life. I sincerely hope that their hopes and dreams will inspire others as well.

-Norah Feldt

Norah Feldt Bio

My name is Norah, I am sixteen years old and in the 10th grade. Ever since I was young, I’ve loved to travel, be in nature, and run. I’ve been to more than thirty countries across three continents, and thanks to my father’s job in the Air Force I also had the amazing experience of living in Germany for several years. This gave me perspectives into many cultures that differ from my own, and sparked my interest in learning about others. Along with this, for seven months when I was young, my father was deployed to Afghanistan. Hearing about his time there, the people he met, and the stories that were shared with him inspired me to find a way to raise awareness for the people of Afghanistan. I believe every story deserves to be told, and I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to share about the lives of the incredible women of Afghanistan.