For a long time, girls and women have been considered weak, emotional, and dependent—especially in societies like mine, Afghanistan. But through my own journey and the stories of other brave Afghan girls, I have learned that we are far stronger than the world expects.

In today’s world, there are still corners of this earth where the voices of half the population remain unheard. I am one of those girls—an Afghan girl who has fought in the heart of darkness. But I chose not to remain silent. I have decided to speak, write, and fight for the rights of those girls in Afghanistan who have been left behind.

I grew up in a country with over 40 years of war—a country where people didn’t even have the chance to live peacefully. In my homeland, people struggle to survive, let alone dream. Amidst all these miseries, being a girl presents a distinct and constant challenge.

Being a girl in Afghanistan is never simple. Girls have always been deprived of their basic rights, and others have continuously made decisions on their behalf—from denying them education to forcing them into marriage. While much is said about girls’ rights after the return of the Taliban, the truth is, even before that, many girls in remote areas never had the right to education. Some families still believe that educating girls is of no benefit. They fear........

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