FutureSheLeaders (5)
Royesh: Weda jan, welcome. I’m very happy to have you with us in the “FutureSheLeaders” series as one of the role models of leadership — especially female leadership — for tomorrow.
Weda: Thank you very much for inviting me to this program, and I warmly greet all the dear viewers as well.
Royesh: Weda jan, how old are you?
Weda: How old will you be this year?
Royesh: When you turn forty — when we want to see you as a leader in society, actually holding the reins of leadership, for example as president or in a high position of authority —how far are you from that time?
Weda: Weda: Right now, I’m 18 years old. I think there’s still a long way to go until I’m 40, since I’ve just turned 18. When I turn 40, I feel that I will be someone who continues the work I’ve started for building peace — for promoting peace in Afghanistan.
Royesh: How much of a role did your father and mother play in shaping your character during childhood?
Weda: My father and mother — whom I love very much and deeply respect — never fell short in raising me. They used all their strength and resources to nurture me so they could present me to society in the best possible way.
Royesh: Are your father and mother literate or illiterate? My father and mother didn’t complete school, but they studied up to grades six and seven.
Weda: My mother can now read and write — she’s even currently attending an English course.
Royesh: What does your father do? What did he do during your childhood? How did he provide for the household expenses?
Weda: My father used to work in Iran. He spent most of his time there and had informal labor jobs.
Royesh: Was the house you were born in, your own, or was it a rented house — were you living in someone else’s home?
Weda: The house was ours.
Royesh: Was there anyone else living with your family — like your uncle, grandfather, or anyone else — or were you living alone as a family?
Weda: No, when my father got married, he became independent early on and started his life in a new household that was his own. The other family members, like my grandfather and grandmother, live with my eldest uncle.
Royesh: Were your father and mother related by family, or did they get to know each other from a distance and then get married?
Weda: No, teacher. My father’s family and my mother’s family had a very distant connection. Later, since my father knew my maternal grandfather, he came to propose to my mother, and then the relationship continued, and they started a family.
Royesh: Was it your father himself who took the initiative, or was it his family?
Weda: He took the initiative himself. Throughout his life, my father was a very independent person — both intellectually and in every other aspect of life.
Royesh: Since I got to know you, you’ve been a very cheerful, humorous, and energetic girl. I assume the atmosphere at home was also joyful and full of energy. Is that right?
Weda: Yes, teacher. By nature, my personality is social and cheerful. At home, sometimes I talk a lot, and others just keep listening and listening. They ask me, “Where do you get all this energy from, talking so much around the house?”
Royesh: Who did you inherit it from — your father or your mother? Which one talks more at home that made you turn out so expressive?
Weda: My mother is a calm person — she doesn’t talk much, she’s more quiet. My father is also considered quiet. I feel like I take after my aunts. They’re also very energetic and cheerful.
Royesh: From your childhood — from home, your upbringing, and the atmosphere your parents created —what joyful memory do you have that feels especially sweet to you?
Weda: Most of my sweetest memories go back to my early school years, when I was younger. I was calmer back then and really enjoyed going to school, being at home, and interacting with my siblings and parents. When you’re a child, there are fewer things to worry about — you mostly live in your own joyful world. I was also very lively and didn’t care much about other things. That’s why I feel most of my sweet memories belong to my childhood.
Royesh: Which child were you in the family that you turned out so cheerful?
Weda: I was the third child in the family.
Royesh: Where did you go to school during your childhood — your early school years — that became so memorable for you?
Weda: I studied my primary years at Tamadon High School, and I completed my middle and high school at Chehel Dokhtaran High School.
Royesh: At school, which teacher had the biggest impact on your mindset and spirit — someone who, when you think back now, really made you interested in life, learning, and school?
Weda: Teacher, now that I’ve reached this age, I feel that I’ve mostly devoted my life to studying. That’s why I’ve interacted with many different teachers — and I respect all of them and am grateful to each one. Every single one of them has played a role in shaping who I am today, and they’ve all had a positive impact on me.
But the teachers who really stayed in my memory — one of them was Ustad Heydari. He was our teacher for religious studies, geography, and geology. A very respectful and capable teacher. The personality and character he had still inspire me. Even now, I try to shape my thinking in the direction he taught me —to always be a positive-minded person and someone who never stops trying.
Teacher Mosammam, our chemistry teacher at Cluster Education, is also an amazing teacher —very skilled, and the advice he used to give has helped me in many parts of my life.
Mr. Arefi, Mr. Husseini, and Ms. Freshta have also supported me in so many ways throughout my life.
Royesh: From your early childhood teachers, who do you remember — the ones in grades one, two, or three — who opened your eyes to life?
Weda: I remember my first-grade teacher very clearly — her character, her face, everything about her. Her name was Ms. Safa. Since she was our very first teacher, she had a big impact on me. I was the kind of student who was super active, humorous, and talked a lot —I had an incredible amount of energy that needed direction. I feel that Ms. Safa was really good at guiding that energy in a positive way. I’m truly grateful to her.
Royesh: Which subject gradually became more important to you — the one you focused on the most?
Weda: The two subjects I really loved were geography and math. These were always my favorite. I had a special interest in learning them. In geography, beyond the lessons we were taught, I used to find and read extra articles — for example, I would study the atlas and gather a lot of additional information.
One of the teachers who really helped me in this was Ms. Yasamin. She was our math teacher —a very kind and skilled teacher who didn’t just teach what was in the textbook, but even taught us beyond the curriculum. That’s why I was really successful in later grades, and I feel it was because of that extra knowledge I got from her in earlier years. She built in me the habit of learning beyond the book —not limiting myself to the textbook, but trying to explore and collect more information about each subject.
Royesh: Until which grade did you continue at Tamadon School? When did you move from Tamadon to Chehel Dokhtaran School?
Weda: I studied at Tamadon School from grade one to grade eight. Then from grade nine to ten — until the current government came — I studied at Chehel Dokhtaran School.
Royesh: What made you leave Tamadon School and move to Chehel Dokhtaran?
Weda: Actually, it was my mother who transferred me from Tamadon to Chehel Dokhtaran. She thought that as our grade level got higher, a public school would be a better option —because the workload increases, and in a public school, you have more time to focus on other things besides just studying. In private schools, you’re busier.
Another reason was the tuition —the fees at Tamadon had gone up a lot, and we could no longer afford them. So we decided to go to a public school.
Royesh: How much was the tuition? Did you pay monthly or yearly?
Weda: We could pay either monthly or yearly. The monthly fee was one thousand Afghanis.
Royesh: When you came to Chehel Dokhtaran School, your learning environment must have been different. What specific differences did you witness here that didn’t exist at Tamadon School?
Weda: There are many differences between public and private schools — differences in terms of facilities, number of students, teachers’ attention, and the school office’s treatment of students.
At the public school, when we came, there were 55 students in one class, while there were no facilities like a laboratory or a computer class. In 10th grade, there were 9 classes — meaning, imagine 9 classes with 55 students each. And since my name, “Weda,” starts with a “W,” I never received a textbook. I always had to get my own books. For other students as well, out of 16 or 17 textbooks, only 5 or 6 were given out.
In terms of teachers, we had very few. In most subjects, we didn’t have a teacher. For example, in subjects like Pashto and English, we didn’t have a teacher. Even sometimes, when teachers took leave for a while, during that period, there was no other teacher to come and teach in their place. It was a very different situation.
Royesh: Did you have a classroom, or like in some other schools, were you studying under a tent or under a tree?
Weda: I remember that some students — at least three classes — were under tents in that hot weather. In grade 8, we were inside a classroom. Our class had chairs and some facilities. Four of us would sit on one bench. Then in grade 9, we had a classroom, but there were no desks or chairs — we used carpet. In grade 10, we used plastic floor mats to sit on inside the classroom.
Royesh: When the Taliban came, you were in 10th grade. What was your experience of that time? Where were you when you heard the news? What do you remember about the situation that had already started — the fear and panic that had spread — before the Taliban arrived? What memory do you have?
Weda: I had a very, very strong passion for going to school. When I was attending school, I hardly ever missed a day — maybe only one or two absences a year. I was extremely eager to study. I had already heard that when the Taliban come, many things would change. One of the rumors was that they would shut down the schools. I felt a deep sense of fear and panic at that time. I kept thinking: What will happen if they come and close the schools? If they come, maybe I’ll never see the outside world again. Maybe I’ll have to cover my face, wear a burqa. I felt like if they came, I would be deprived even of my most basic and simple rights.
Royesh: When the Taliban arrived, how did you find out they were near or had entered the city? Did you hear it from the television? From your friends? Did your mother tell you the Taliban had entered the city? Or did you witness it yourself outside the city?
Weda: I was in the Resalat street — I think I had gone out to buy something —when suddenly there was a lot of chaos, a lot of shouting and screaming. People were running in the opposite direction. At first, I thought maybe there had been an explosion in that area, and people were scattering because of it, or maybe a battle had broken out. But then everyone was shouting, “The Taliban are here! The Taliban are here!” At that moment, my lips almost went dry.
I’m a really good runner — I’ve even won medals — but at that moment, I couldn’t even find the way home properly. I was completely shaken mentally. I thought: now they’ll just show up, take me away — and that’s it.
Royesh: After the Taliban came, what did you do at home? What decisions did you make? When you contacted your father, what advice or guidance did he give you?
Weda: My father said that for now, we should stay home —not even go out to buy groceries or for any other reason, unless it was absolutely necessary. So that’s exactly what we did. Even though I knew the schools had been shut down, I tried to make use of that month or two while I was at home by finding online learning opportunities, and I completed a few courses online during that time.
Royesh: The first time you went outside again — to school or to a course — when was it? How many months after the Taliban came did you feel like you could finally go out, see your friends, join a class, see a teacher?
Weda: In August 2023, I left Afghanistan and came to Pakistan. I started studying at International Grammar School and College, where I had received a scholarship. That was the first time since the Taliban came that I stepped into a classroom where I was being taught in person.
Royesh: This educational opportunity that brought you to Pakistan — where did you get it from? How did you come to know about it?
Weda: My cousin’s father’s colleague, whose name is Meriel Carboni, initially worked with Khalil Rahman Anwari — the father of my cousin Hadia — at UNICEF. Meriel Carboni is from the United Kingdom. When the Taliban came and we were staying at home, Hadia’s father (Khalil Rahman Anwari) suggested to Meriel that she speak English with me and my cousin for a while so that our English speaking would improve, since we weren’t attending any courses at the time. Meriel agreed and spoke with us in English for quite a long time — over a year.
During that year, we were trying to find school-based scholarships so we could continue our education in another country. Later, with the help of Meriel Carboni, we applied to the International Grammar School and College. They gave us a few tests, and we were accepted and received a scholarship. We studied there for a year. But later, we couldn’t obtain a student visa, so we had to return to Afghanistan.
Royesh: How did you get to know about Cluster Education and join this program?
Weda: When I returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan, I kept trying to find other organizations where I could continue my education. Then one of my close friends, Sama Gul, who knew about my interests, told me about a program called Cluster Education. She said it includes Empowerment classes, and since she knew I was interested in that kind of subject, she suggested I come and see what the classes are like. So I came with Sama Gul. The first time, I attended the Empowerment class. I really liked it and saw that the Empowerment class was very useful for me. After that, I continued my studies through Cluster Education.
Royesh: What was the first thing you noticed in the Empowerment class that caught your interest and made you want to keep attending? The first discussions I heard that really attracted me were about having a vision, you were talking about having a vision, a dream, how to set goals, and how to create a strategy that would lead you to that dream. That was very interesting for me, because I already had a dream, but I felt like it was an unshaped, raw dream. It’s true that I had some goals, but I didn’t have a proper strategy. I hadn’t really organized my goals. I felt like my dream was still undeveloped. So I realized that by attending the Empowerment classes, I could strengthen this part of myself and move closer to the dream I have.
Royesh: What was your personal understanding of these concepts? How did you relate to them, and how did they influence your perspective, goals, and plans — even your life? How did they help shape you into someone more joyful, focused, and energetic? Did they change the way you relate to friends and family? What were those things?
Weda: Vision is like a viewpoint — it’s the lens through which you see the world, people, and opportunities. It’s like a light. Just as people have different views on topics and ideas, they have different kinds of light. In physics, there’s a simple definition of light: “Light reveals the identity of objects.” In the same way, vision works like light. Whatever viewpoint you have becomes the light you shine, and that’s what you see.
For example, if you have a positive mindset, you try to see opportunities, look for solutions to problems, and keep a hopeful perspective. It means being optimistic. But when you have a negative mindset, you tend to lose energy instead of gaining it. Your view of the world and people turns negative.
As for having a dream — when you say, “This is something I truly want to achieve, and it gives meaning to my life,” that’s your dream. A dream is something big, something you devote your entire life to. Right now, I feel like I’m going through the steps toward that. I’ve set goals that will lead me to my dream.
Based on the vision I have, I feel like I’m on the path.
Royesh: As a girl, you live in a society whose most obvious trait is killing everyone’s dreams, especially girls’ dreams. That is why, if we look closely, people in this society see their minds as a graveyard of dead dreams. Anything that has arisen in their mind as a dream or desire has been suffocated by the society, by the harsh conditions within it, by its people, and by the beliefs that exist there. In the midst of these bad conditions and this difficult situation, how were you, as a girl, able to recognize your own dream, and how did you keep it alive so it wouldn’t be suffocated and destroyed?
Weda: In my view, it is exactly this “Growing Edge” or self-discovery, and understanding which are your Supporting Beliefs, what your reality is, which are your Limiting Beliefs, and what your ideal is—meaning what you want to turn your reality into. When you grasp these things, you try harder to make your dream clearer for yourself and to reach it. For example, I accept my current reality: I am an Afghan girl and, at the moment, I do not personally have access to education in Afghanistan; but my ideal is that I want to complete this education legally in a very reputable place. I understand and accept both of these. At the same time, within this reality, I have certain Limiting Beliefs.
Royesh: What does ‘Limiting Beliefs’ mean?
Weda: ‘Limiting Beliefs’ are beliefs that restrict you. For example, it’s true that something is reality, but you give it too much weight and view it negatively. For instance: I no longer have legal access to education; the Taliban won’t allow me; I don’t have full family support. These are indeed real; they are my current reality. But they shouldn’t become ‘Limiting Beliefs’ for me; they shouldn’t turn into beliefs that limit me. I should look at them more positively and try to find the ‘Supporting Beliefs’ here. You can even turn ‘Limiting Beliefs’ into ‘Supporting Beliefs.’
Royesh: What do you actually do to change your Limiting Beliefs? When you say that you turn limiting beliefs into supporting beliefs, what does that really mean in practice? The realities still exist—there’s the Taliban, there’s poverty, there are problems and hardships. What do you do to stay hopeful despite these difficulties and continue your work?
Weda: We have to change our perspective. That means we need to make a “Turn Around” here—to turn Limiting Beliefs into Supporting Beliefs.
Royesh: But more specifically, when you say you change your beliefs—what exactly do you do? How does this practice of shifting your perspective actually happen?
Weda: Shifting perspective means looking at things from different angles. When we face an issue, if we view it from multiple directions, there is always one angle that helps transform that Limiting Belief into a Supporting Belief. We need to make an effort to look at the issue from that specific angle.
Royesh: Weda jan, I want us to better understand your practice. Maybe many of your peers or others want to know how, despite all the difficulties we’re going through, when you say you’re optimistic or that you’ve overcome your anxiety—what have you actually done? What is the specific practice you used to shift your perspective? How did you turn “Limiting Beliefs” into “Supporting Beliefs”? How did you turn an obstacle into a growth opportunity? What exactly did you do?
Weda: First, we understood that when problems arise, new opportunities also emerge alongside them. And when we view a problem from different angles, we begin to discover those opportunities. For example, when the Taliban came to Afghanistan, they created many Limiting Beliefs—especially for women—because of the new policies they introduced. But those same problems also opened up other kinds of opportunities for girls. Before the Taliban, girls didn’t have such broad visions. They would just say: I’ll go to school, then take some courses, then pass the Kankor (university entrance exam), go to university, and that’s it—then work and live my life.
But now, if we look, girls’ visions have changed dramatically. They feel more empowered. They understand themselves more deeply because of the challenges they’ve faced. They’ve shown real courage. And many opportunities have emerged—many girls now study at top American and international universities with scholarships. Others have completely redefined their view of life. That’s a huge mission in itself.
I feel that girls, after enduring so many hardships, are now much stronger— far stronger than those who were in school during the Republic era.
Royesh: Do you remember any specific examples from the Empowerment classes that helped you develop this mindset? For example, any exercises you personally practiced?
Weda: Yes, I remember two examples clearly because they were really meaningful to me. One was the story of Mullah Nasruddin’s donkey. The donkey had fallen into a deep well. People saw it and said, “It’s impossible to save him now. He doesn’t even understand language, and he can’t climb out.”
So they gave up and decided to bury him right there. They started throwing dirt into the well. But every time they threw dirt, the donkey shook it off and stepped on it. Gradually, the dirt piled up under his feet, and he rose higher and higher until he finally got out of the well.
The second example was about “barriers, opportunities, and paths.” A person was walking along a path and encountered a huge stone blocking the way. Because he was so close to it, he thought the path was entirely blocked. But when he took a step back and looked from a broader perspective, he realized it wasn’t just one rock— there were several, and in between them, there were new paths. He climbed over one rock, jumped to another, and eventually found his way forward.
Royesh: That’s very interesting — this is a very important point. Now, as a girl, what do you think the Taliban made you realize about a special power you have, which under normal circumstances you might not have noticed? Earlier you said that before their arrival, you saw yourself just as a girl —you would go to school, study, take the Kankor exam, go to university, and then build your life.
After the Taliban came, what did you discover about your own unique power — a women’s power —that you now recognize as a source of leadership or even an alternative model for solving Afghanistan’s problems?
Weda: When the Taliban came, the first policies they implemented were all against the rights of women — especially young girls. For example, they banned girls from accessing education. They also prohibited simple things like working in beauty salons, working outside the home, even wearing colorful clothing or bright colors. They placed restrictions on women’s voices, banned songs and music performed by women — and many other policies like that. When we analyzed these things, we came to a specific realization: how afraid they are of girls — and that fear stems from the power of women.
People are only afraid of things that are more powerful than themselves. When we saw that they imposed so many restrictions just on us, we understood that girls carry a strong energy within them — a power that even threatens some people. That made us realize that we are full of strength and energy — and that power can be used to do great things.
Royesh: In the Empowerment classes, some exercises were done individually — like talking in front of a mirror, speaking to yourself, to your body, or creating a reflection journal. But many of your activities were group-based, done in teams. What do you remember from those exercises — what insights did you gain, whether individually or in groups?
Weda: Some of the exercises I did individually. For example, I looked into my own eyes in the mirror. I really tried to see my thoughts in the mirror — tried to see my body and accept it. It gave me a very beautiful feeling — a feeling of self-awareness.
Royesh: Did you speak to yourself in the mirror?
Weda: Yes, sir. Even at home, sometimes I unconsciously start talking to myself, because I feel it really lightens me, it clarifies many things for me, and it helps me build a much closer connection with myself.
Royesh: When you imagined yourself as an independent person outside of yourself and spoke to yourself as if to another, what kind of special feeling did you experience, if you were to describe it?
Weda: It felt really good — like you truly get to know yourself. You realize that you are your own priority, and you deeply care for yourself. Because through that, you understand what your true desires are and what you actually want from this world. When you talk to yourself, you begin to see why you’re even here in this life. It truly gives meaning to your life— or helps you discover that meaning.
Royesh: Some girls spoke very personally about their individual empowerment exercises —for example, dancing alone in private, drawing themselves, or sculpting their own image. What kind of exercises did you personally do?
Weda: I tried to keep notes about the things I was doing in a little notebook I called my “Daily Reflection Journal.” That was really helpful for me because I’m someone who likes to plan everything carefully in life. I try to ensure that whatever I do is purposeful and well thought out. This journal helped me organize my thoughts — so they wouldn’t be scattered. It helped me stay focused on my goals and actually achieve them. The things I wrote gave me the ability to reflect and analyze —to understand where I am right now, what I’m doing, and how my past and present actions are leading me toward a specific future.
Royesh: What specific group activities do you remember from your empowerment program that had a lasting impact on you and your environment?
Weda: I was the team leader of my group, working alongside four of my teammates — Maleka Sahili, Sama Gul Safari, Nilab Anwari, and Hadia Anwari. When we were working together, the first thing we focused on was building connections with one another. Our work was team-based, so I needed to communicate with all four of them —not just as teammates, but as a leader and a friend. This experience taught me a lot about communication, collaboration, and understanding different perspectives. It also helped shape and refine my own views. Now, as a continuation of that growth, we’ve created organizations so others can learn as well. I’m currently one of the founders of an organization called NAWA: Sound of Change, where we teach various subjects to students. I’m also active in larger circles like LearnUp Circle and Public Library, which reach thousands of people. In these groups, we try to share educational and job opportunities and help students in their academic journeys. For example, we’ve formed a WhatsApp group called Roya Group, where we support others by helping them with things like filling out the Common App, applying for scholarships, or preparing for international English exams.
We try to assist in any way we can. Nilab and Hadia Anwari, who are sisters, also founded another organization that provides learning opportunities for many girls.
Royesh: Your group was one of those that played a big role in creating a joyful and exciting atmosphere at Cluster. What did you do that helped energize others and bring joy to the Cluster environment?
Weda: In the beginning, the girl’s morale wasn’t that good, so we tried to do things that would uplift them and boost their morale —something that could shift the atmosphere they were in. One of the best ways to release adrenaline is through physical activity.
So, we organized volleyball matches, running competitions, and other games to give them a chance to engage in group physical activities.
Royesh: Where did you hold the sports games? Inside the school grounds?
Weda: We held them inside the Cluster compound. It was all girls there, and the facilities were available. We had a volleyball net and two volleyballs. At first, the girls didn’t know how to play, but one of the school janitors was really good at it and tried to teach the others. Eventually, we all learned together by helping one another. Another activity we had was hugging and celebrating — sharing what you have with others. It might sound simple, but when you have a celebration and interact with others, you try to get rid of negative feelings and build stronger relationships. You give each other energy.
When we hugged each other, it gave a really special feeling. In Afghanistan, hugging isn’t very common. I don’t know whether it’s due to shyness or cultural limitations, but it’s not something we often do. But when we started doing it — hugging, greeting each other with a “good morning,” sharing food during breaks — it made things feel very warm and close. It felt like our hearts were connecting more deeply.
Royesh: What other activities did you engage in outside the Cluster compound that helped spread the hope and joy you felt within, out into the community? Did your group, like the others, carry out any external activities beyond Cluster?
Weda: Yes, sir, we did many activities outside of Cluster that were truly joyful and meaningful. One that I remember well happened during winter. The weather was extremely cold, it was snowing heavily, and everyone was bundled up in warm clothes and carrying umbrellas. That day, we decided to hand out some sweets and a cup of tea. We poured hot tea into paper flasks and distributed it along with a cookie to people passing by —like cart-pullers, shopkeepers, and others. They were so happy. When the weather is freezing, the snow is falling beautifully, and suddenly someone offers you a warm cup of tea and a sweet — it feels so special. Seeing their smiles made me feel they truly enjoyed that moment. It was such a heartwarming experience.
Royesh: When you gave out the tea or the sweets, did you also say something to the people? What was your message? What did you tell them?
Weda: Yes, we gave them a small note along with the tea or sweet. On those notes, we wrote things like: “Smile,” “Today is your day,” “You can definitely succeed.” We tried to write encouraging and hopeful messages. On some of the notes, we’d write things like: “You look great,” “You are very beautiful,” or “Your scarf really suits you.” We would roll up these notes and shape them into little stars or hearts and place them alongside the tea or sweet.
People would usually taste the tea or sweet first and then ask, “What’s inside the note?” We’d say, “Read it on your way.” And when they opened it while walking, we could see their expressions light up. Some of them looked back at us and smiled, some waved, and others made heart signs with their hands. One girl even came back, put her bag down, hugged us, and said, “I was having a really bad day, but you gave me so much energy — you turned my day into a beautiful one. I’m really happy you did this.”
Royesh: The activities you carried out — were your audiences or the people you organized for all girls and women, or did you also offer tea and messages to men as well?
Weda: Sir, they were people from all walks of life —young, old, men, women, wealthy, and low-income individuals — even Taliban members. There were several times when we included Taliban in some of our activities. Surprisingly, they supported us in many of them. We even have some videos of them where they said very positive things— supportive things — and they encouraged us.
Royesh: You mean you actually went and gave tea or bread to the Taliban? For example, handed them a ribbon or something?
Weda: Yes, teacher. One time, I went to a mosque. I hadn’t planned to carry out any specific activity that day — I didn’t have an idea in mind — but I had a strong feeling that I should go and pray the noon prayer at the mosque. So I went, spread out my prayer mat, and prayed. After I finished, I noticed the mosque was a bit messy. I grabbed a broom, wet the courtyard, and swept the mosque thoroughly from top to bottom.
As soon as I finished, I put on my hijab and stepped outside. I saw a group of Taliban had gathered at the mosque entrance. At first, I got scared — I had been alone inside. But instead of anything bad, they encouraged me, saying I had cleaned the house of God. One of them even gave me a small chocolate. When I received that little chocolate, I felt really good, and I went home with a happy heart. Has there ever been a time when your group talked with mullahs or a community elder and you faced a particular reaction — whether supportive or opposing?
Weda: Yes, let me start with one negative reaction. It was at one of the Sunni mosques. When we tried to enter, the mosque’s attendant didn’t allow us in. He said, “In our sect, girls and women are not allowed in.” So he stopped us from entering. But then another man came and defended us strongly. He said, “These girls are part of this society — how can you stop them from coming into God’s house?” After that, the man allowed us in and apologized. Then we entered the mosque.
Royesh: Why did you go there? Did you go to the mosque to pray, to make a supplication, to talk with the mosque’s mullah, or to advocate something? What was the reason?
Weda: We went to the mosque because we wanted to hear the perspectives of the people there— the mosque staff and even the Taliban — about how our religion, Islam, can serve as a force that strengthens society, and how it can guide our community toward progress and development. When we went, we tried to understand their views on that. They shared many insightful thoughts.
Royesh: You went as a group — the five of you together?
Weda: Yes, teacher. The five of us went together. One positive memory I have is from the same day we were distributing tea and cookies. A young man — he looked about 21 or 23 years old — came, took a cup of tea, his little note, and a cookie. After reading the note, he offered to collaborate with us. We were very happy because back then we were just getting started, and when we learned that he worked for a major organization — I don’t recall the exact name — but it was a big organization, and he was interested in financially supporting the programs we had for women. That gave us a really good feeling.
Royesh: Did you follow up? Did you stay in touch with him, get a project from him, and work together?
Weda: Yes, teacher. We stayed in touch with him. He financially supported us once because, until then, we had been funding our activities from our own pockets— just the little money we had, maybe 10 or 20 Afghanis. But this time, he became a sponsor and supporter of our program.
Royesh: How much money did he give you? Not much, sir. 1,000 Afghanis. But that 1,000 Afghanis covered all the expenses we had made. 1,000 Afghanis isn’t what matters; what matters is that you created a focal point for attracting support. What did you feel when, for the first time, you raised 1,000 Afghanis from the community for your work? For people who make big plans with just 10 Afghanis—to buy thread, or a needle, or potatoes, or bread—now suddenly you receive 1,000 Afghanis. That’s a lot of money.
Weda: Yes, sir. That day, I was sitting in a rickshaw with Malaka Zahidi—one of our teammates—and also Samagul. We were heading toward Cluster after just finishing the activity. On the way, we were full of energy, talking a lot, full of joy and excitement about what great things we could do with this money.
Because with all the challenges we faced, we didn’t have the financial means to do much. But when we received 1,000 Afghanis—even though it’s not considered a big amount—It meant a lot to us. We kept planning and dreaming about all the good things we could do with that 1,000.
Royesh: During the time you were doing your group activities in Empowerment—especially in the Peace Game—you also faced a strict Taliban regulation that limited the movement of girls due to hijab requirements in many provinces like Bamyan, Ghazni, and Kabul. Some girls faced harassment. Did you also experience harassment by the Taliban? Were your activities disrupted or stopped, or did you continue without interruption?
Weda: We continued our lessons normally; there was no disruption. But it had a deep negative impact on the students’ morale. Still, we carried on with our activities because what we were doing wasn’t, God forbid, against their rules. They had expectations about things we had to observe.
For example, we had to wear black, long clothes, wear a mask or burqa, not show our faces or hair, cover ourselves properly, not wear makeup, keep nails short, and avoid colorful or shiny clothes. We followed those rules. I personally wore a long black outfit, wore a mask, observed hijab, and then attended class. I never faced any problems.
Royesh: Have you ever witnessed the Taliban harassing girls in the market or elsewhere? Like grabbing them off the street and taking them away?
Weda: ٰI didn’t personally see anything, but many people said that in front of Barchi Center, many girls were taken into Rangers by the Taliban because their hijab was not proper and were taken to the police station. I didn’t witness anything with my own eyes.
Royesh: During the time you were attending classes in the Cluster Education program and doing Peace Game activities, did the Taliban ever come into your cluster? Did they observe your classes?
Weda: Yes, sir. The Taliban came several times with their people. Their higher-ups also came, observed the school, saw the teachers, and checked their dress. They didn’t create any problems because we behaved exactly as they expected. We adjusted ourselves to their policies and respected their rules.
Royesh: Did you ever speak directly with Taliban members in the classroom?
Weda: Yes, sir, several times. I don’t know if it was my personality or the way I dressed that stood out to them, but most of them talked to me when they came. Some even thought I was a teacher because I used to take attendance, clean the board, or explain some topics to the students—especially in English.
One time, one of them even said, “All you girls should follow this girl’s example in observing proper hijab.”
Royesh: So you became a role model for the Taliban?
Weda: Yes.
Royesh: Weda jan, tell me about your connection with books and writing. When you find time, how much do you read? What kind of books do you read more often? How much do you write? Where have your writings—both in Persian and English—been published? Do you have samples?
Weda: I’m someone who’s deeply interested in books, articles, and writing in general. That’s why I’ve written a lot in both Persian and English. Some of my writings have been published in Sheesha Media, and others have been shared with different organizations and individuals during international meetings. We even built a small virtual library with around 500 members, which I manage. I share free e-books with people who request them.
I’m also an admin in Public Like Library, a digital library with more than 100,600 members. I help provide them with digital book files. Most of my writings are in English because I feel more comfortable expressing my ideas in that language.
Royesh: In some of your earlier answers, you mentioned your interest in business and your future goals. Have you now decided which academic field you want to pursue?
Weda: Yes, ever since I truly understood myself and recognized my goals, I’ve been deeply interested in business, as well as peacebuilding and governance. These interests feel like a natural part of me. Since childhood, I’ve participated in programs that support my academic and career goal in business. I chose business because I believe it’s a powerful tool to help others.
Money is power—we experience this daily. I want to be a successful entrepreneur, not only managing my own ventures but also investing in strategic businesses that support the community and government.
I don’t want to run just a charity that gives out money. I want businesses that first train their employees—especially women, underprivileged individuals, or working children—so they can stand on their own feet and become part of the business itself. This way, they can stand on their own feet, and there’s no need for me to turn them into dependents, like a charity case.
My goal is to empower them to become self-reliant and to involve them in my business. That way, I can both grow my enterprise and support my people in every way I can. Weda jan, if you were to look at the overall situation of women in Afghanistan and compare it with women in other parts of the world, when you see yourself alongside your peers globally, what similarities do you see, and what differences?
Royesh: Where do you see your strengths—the things that give you positive energy and boost your confidence?
Weda: When I look at Afghan girls and then at my foreign friends whom I’ve met through various programs, I see many differences—in perspectives, priorities, behavior, and desires. For example, in developed countries like the U.S., my friends mostly talk about how to get a million followers on YouTube, or how to spend summer in another country. But when I look at Afghan girls, I feel they are stronger. I’m really proud of them because they are fighters. They fight for meaningful change. Seeing this makes me very happy. Afghan girls, despite living in instability, are under intense pressure—from the government’s restrictions, from society, and even sometimes from their families, such as forced marriages.
When I see them still fighting for change with the little resources they have, holding onto their dreams and fighting for themselves, it’s really admirable. It’s truly valuable.
Royesh: When you and your friends sometimes dream together about your shared future—say, 20 or 22 years from now—what kind of world do you imagine? In Empowerment’s terms, what kind of world do you “visualize,” a world you believe in creating without doubt?
Weda: My teammates and I have this idea of building an Afghanistan that’s different from the past—a progressive Afghanistan, free of discrimination, especially against women, where all women enjoy their basic rights. I want a country that is self-reliant, not dependent on other countries or people.
I envision an Afghanistan that invests most in its youth, since they make up the majority of the population. I’ve seen that they are capable and have great potential to build a flourishing Afghanistan. I also truly believe that one day Afghanistan will live in peace.
Royesh: As a girl, have you ever felt that being a girl makes you powerless? That because you’re a girl, you face limitations or can’t reach some of your goals or dreams? I have understood that there are things I cannot do in my society because of my gender. But I’ve never felt sad about it. It’s true—it hurts—but I never felt hopeless because of it. I’ve always been proud to be a girl. Even in very difficult situations— for example, I personally loved being an athlete and wanted to win medals in different areas. When I went to Pakistan, I won several medals and trophies in just one year. I’m proud of that because I had the talent, drive, and motivation.
No one stopped me because I was a girl. But in Afghanistan, the situation was different. Even so, I understood and accepted it. I told myself: if I can’t play sports outside, I can do it inside the cluster with the girls. At home, I can train with my sister and brother. When I understood that, life became easier.
Royesh: What role did Empowerment play in strengthening this hope and optimism? How much did Empowerment help you not to fear being a girl, to overcome the difficulties, and to keep dreaming?
Weda: Empowerment taught me that if I understand and accept my reality, and build an ideal version of myself—something I want to turn my reality into—that gives me power. Yes, the reality is I’m an Afghan girl living in Afghan society. But in my ideal, I’m unlimited. These limiting beliefs and restrictive policies don’t exist in my ideal self. That gives me energy to turn my ideal into reality.
Royesh: What’s your message to other girls—your age or younger—who are walking the same path? If you wanted to give them a message of hope, what would you say?
Weda: I want to give this message honestly: love yourself more than anyone else. Put yourself first in your life. Try to find meaning and purpose in your life. Have a vision. Expand your perspective. Work for your growth, your personality, your blossoming. The only one who can truly help you in all situations is yourself. You need to build your own strength—become self-reliant and take responsibility for your life.
My advice to all young people, especially girls, is: try to become something. Try to be self-sufficient. Never stretch your hand out to others.
Royesh: What is your message to your parents? Now that you’re 18 and reaching the age of independence and self-reliance, what do you want to say to your parents?
Weda: I want to say that I’m truly proud of you. Thank you deeply for all your efforts. Everything I am now is because of my parents. I kiss my parents’ hands for raising and nurturing me. I wish them good health and hope they continue to live this part of their life with happiness.
Royesh: Thank you, Weda jan. We wish you success, happiness, and joy. May you always remain Weda, happy and fulfilled.
Weda: Thank you so much, dear teacher, and thanks to all the viewers who are watching this video, and to all those who will publish it—thank you. Maybe others will learn something from this video.
