High Goals

 Written by: Aqsa Sediqi

Some families in Afghanistan do not let their daughters study or get a job but some girls have proved the importance of education and job.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to Pashtana, a resident of Kabul city.

Pashtana says, “I was the only girl of our tribe to go to school. My uncles were preventing me and they also wanted my father to prevent me from going to school but I resisted and convinced them that girls are also able to study and get a job. I got entry to Kabul University. My father told me that he is not able to pay my study expenses and wanted me to leave university but I found a half day job as a teacher in one of the private schools. I adorned myself with the principles and civilities of society. When I passed the university, I got a job in Logar province with a convenient salary. One of my brothers was suffering from blood cancer and I was helping my family to treat him but unfortunately, he died.

When the residents of our area saw my attitude, social decency, and honesty, they allowed their daughters to study and have a job. Now I am responsible for my family expenses.”

Expanding business

In this part of the program, AEPO’s writer/producer has to Maryam, a resident of Kabul city. Maryam talks about her business, “In the beginning, I was sewing ladies party dresses but my incomes were not sufficient. Once I took part in a workshop with some other women and when I saw some embroidered dresses with them, the idea of clothing design came to my mind, and started the designing of dresses. I hired some other women and I pay for them. My incomes doubled from before.”