Dear Global Citizen,
I’m Pashtana Durrani, the 2023 recipient of the Global Citizen Prize. As you've likely seen in the news, the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan has worsened dramatically since the Taliban’s return to power. Girls are banned from education beyond the sixth grade, and women are effectively erased from public life.
For over 1,000 days, Afghan girls have been denied schooling, and each week brings new restrictions targeting our rights and voices. As the founder of Learn Afghan, I’m committed to changing this. Despite being in exile, I’m running underground schools, currently serving 661 girls aged 13 to 18 across five schools in Afghanistan, with plans to reach all 34 provinces. Our mission is to democratize education and resist its politicization by the Taliban.
Our brave teachers and staff risk their safety daily, but we can’t do this alone. I urge you, as a fellow Global Citizen, to join our efforts. Whether through sharing our story, volunteering, or offering resources, your support is vital. |
