Fatima’s Baggage to and from Oxford

I was still working as a civil servant at the Ministry of Finance when the Taliban entered Kabul on August 15th, 2021. With their arrival, women have been banned from employment. All female employees of the ministry – educated and bright women – whom I worked with are not allowed to work now.

Conference in Kabul. This photo was taken on 5th November 2020, in a session organized by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Office in Afghanistan. The discussion was between the German Embassy in Kabul and FES's Young Leader Forum (YLF) members under the theme of "Dialogue is the Key." The Young Leader Forum was one of FES's programs which aimed to empower the next generation of leaders of Afghanistan through capacity building, conferences and dialogue platforms. I was one of the YLFees and in the picture, I was moderating the discussion. 

The Nosh Book Cafe. It was one of my favourite cafes in Kabul where I used to go with my siblings and friends. Their Cappuccino was probably the best. Their barista always made sure to make the best coffee with a beautiful design on top of it. Besides the coffee, I always enjoyed the music they played. 

Kabul Stadium, called Ghazi Stadium.  It was the final match between Simorgh Alborz and Shaheen Asmaee, two teams from two zones of Afghanistan. It was organized by the Afghan Premier League which was the professional football league of Afghanistan. This was probably the only match I attended. Often, I didn’t go to the stadium because of security issues. The little girl in the photo was there with her family. As my friend and I were taking pictures, she asked to be included as well. 

I was forced to leave my home on August 17, leaving my family, friends, home, and a life I had built behind. I left home with my passport and a couple of changes of clothes and headed to an uncertain future. Amid the uncertainty, I applied to the University of Oxford wholeheartedly. In March 2022, I received an email stating that “your application for Master of Science in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation is now considered. We are very pleased to offer you a place on the course.” With that letter, my dream of studying at Oxford had come true. And with the generous support of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust, it was made possible.

Me and my friend, Adiba. it was taken next to the intercontinental hotel in Kabul after attending a conference. The hotel faces my home in Kabul. 

I was preparing to leave for Oxford in September knowing that girls’ access to secondary education in my country is illegal under the Taliban rule. The country now faces one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. And women are stripped of their basic rights, dignity, and freedom. While it pains me to see the current situation in my country, I am hopeful that the knowledge and skills I gain at the University of Oxford will help me do my part in making Afghanistan a stable and thriving nation. And, that keeps me motivated.