Dreams blocked by education ban
Alia once dreamed of becoming a pilot. Before the education ban, her parents supported her school journey and encouraged her goals. That changed after girls were stopped from attending school and university.
Now her family feels trapped by harsh conditions. They still support her English classes, but options inside the country are limited. Her parents believe marriage may be the only safe future left for her.
Alia says she still wants to study. She also wants freedom to choose her life path. She fears that marriage could end her dreams if her future in laws restrict her choices.
Escape for study and safety
Alia was told to marry. Instead, she chose to leave and travel by taxi to avoid that future. Her decision reflects the pressure many young women now face.
She continues to study English while staying in Kabul. Her goal is to keep her education alive, even with limited support around her.
She says she will keep resisting marriage pressure for as long as she can. Her biggest fear is losing control over her future.
Pressure of forced marriage
Shama’s story shows a different outcome. She wanted to become a doctor and complete her education. That plan stopped when she was pushed into marriage at eighteen.
Today she is a mother of two young children. Her education stopped before she could finish school. Her life changed quickly after marriage, leaving her childhood dreams behind.
She now reflects on what she lost. Her hopes for higher education and a medical career were never fulfilled.
A mother’s difficult choice
Shama’s mother Kamila raised her daughters alone after losing her husband. She worked as a cleaner to support their schooling.
She feared social pressure and possible questioning from authorities if her daughter stayed unmarried. That fear led her to agree to early marriage for her daughter.
Kamila still believes education is important. She wanted her daughters to study, work, and build independent lives. Economic pressure and fear of consequences forced a different path.
