From Kabul to Smith College: Nadira’s Journey
Born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nadira’s early experiences with physical activity were limited. The only acceptable form of exercise was playing tag outside with friends—a “noncontroversial form of running” for young girls. However, as soon as girls reached 8th grade, social norms in her community discouraged them from running and playing outside. Despite these limitations, Nadira’s love for sport persisted.
Nadira first heard about Free to Run through friends and acquaintances who were participants in the program. Initially, she was more interested in soccer, but when she learned about the opportunities Free to Run provided—like traveling to other parts of Afghanistan for races and hiking—she knew she wanted to join. For many Afghan girls, life was limited to school and home, so the prospect of exploring new places was an irresistible pull.
Nadira’s journey with Free to Run was supported wholeheartedly by her family. Her mother, who worked as a cook for Free to Run, already understood the program's positive impact. Nadira’s brother, who had traveled to China for school and sports, also encouraged her.
Nadira says being part of Free to Run transformed her life. The confidence she gained through sport helped her secure a scholarship to study in the United States, where she now studies data science. She admits it’s a difficult subject, but the perseverance she learned from running pushes her to continue striving, even when things get tough.
Being far from Afghanistan has not been easy for Nadira. She felt a deep sadness when thinking about home, especially after losing touch with Free to Run when she moved to the United States. However, one day, while reflecting on her experiences, she decided to visit our website to see if Free to Run programs were still active despite the Taliban’s resurgence. She was excited to hear about our Ambassador program and felt compelled to reconnect, sharing her story and experiences. Connecting with other Ambassadors and reuniting with Afghan program alumni brought a sense of community and purpose back into her life.
The Role of Running Today
In Afghanistan, Nadira used to wake up at 4 a.m. to run in secure locations with Free to Run. Despite the early mornings, those runs were the highlight of her day. She recalls how she and other girls ran in flip-flops or school shoes—black leather ones they had to wear when it was too cold for flip-flops. Reflecting on this, she laughs, thinking about how different it feels now that she has proper running shoes. She remembers receiving her first pair of Free to Run shoes—a black and purple second-hand pair brought over in a suitcase by a friend of the program. It was a small but significant moment for her, and she cherished them so much that her mother even crafted new insoles from carpet to make them last longer.
Now, in Massachusetts, Nadira has brought her passion for running to her college community. She helped grow her school’s running club from just five members to 26, providing an inclusive space for students who want to run casually and unwind from their studies. She enjoys participating in 5Ks and regularly attends 6:30 a.m. weekday runs, as well as longer runs on weekends.
These days, wanting to be a life-long runner, Nadira runs mainly for fun (including a 40-mile race this past August)! But she also dreams of one day competing in major marathons, like the New York City Marathon or the Boston Marathon, now that Massachusetts is her home.