Hanifa's Journey from Afghanistan to the Berlin Marathon
In September 2024, Hanifa, an Afghan refugee now living in Berlin, will take on the challenge of running the BMW Berlin Marathon. But for Hanifa, this marathon is far more than just a race—it’s a tribute to the women and girls in Afghanistan who have lost so many of their fundamental rights under the Taliban’s rule.
Hanifa was born in Afghanistan, but her life took a drastic turn when her family fled to Pakistan in 2004, escaping the rise of the Taliban. Growing up as a refugee in Pakistan presented significant challenges, particularly when it came to access to education and freedom of movement. Despite the restrictions, Hanifa was determined to stay active, even if it meant finding unconventional ways to participate in sports.
Her family’s return to Kabul when she was in the 9th grade marked the beginning of a new chapter. It was here that Hanifa first discovered Free to Run. “I was already playing football,” Hanifa recalls, “and when Hasina from Free to Run came to my school in 2018, I immediately wanted to join.”
For Hanifa, Free to Run was an opportunity to connect with others in a country that still felt unfamiliar to her. Her classmates teased her for her accent, and Free to Run became a safe space where she could build friendships, discover new places, and develop skills in leadership and discipline. “We made commitments and dreams together—about running, about life. Free to Run taught me how to make a commitment and stay committed.
Leaving Afghanistan
In 2021, Hanifa was working with Afghan Youth Peacebuilding and Empowerment as a volunteer, promoting peace initiatives and working to inspire younger generations. But when Kabul fell to the Taliban, her life was suddenly at risk. Thanks to her peacebuilding work and her involvement with the Afghan National Snowboarding Team, Hanifa’s name was added to an evacuation list.
The night she was called to leave, Hanifa was washing dishes while her mother prayed nearby. She knew it was time to go, but delaying the inevitable departure was heart-wrenching. “I wanted my mom to keep praying just a little longer,” Hanifa recalls, “because I knew once she stopped, I had to tell her and leave.”
Without saying goodbye to her father, who wasn’t home at the time, Hanifa rushed to the airport. The scene was chaotic and dangerous, with crowds pushing against each other, gunshots ringing out, and the overwhelming uncertainty of whether she would make it out alive. “We spent the night outside the airport, and the next day was even more terrifying. Just after we managed to get inside, an explosion went off near where we had been. People were killed. It could have been us.”
After boarding a US military plane, Hanifa endured a grueling 5-hour flight, packed tightly with other evacuees. “We were sitting on the ground, knees to chest, no toilets, babies crying. It felt like the longest flight of my life.” From there, she was transported to Qatar, where she joined tens of thousands of other Afghan refugees, camping out on what felt like football fields full of people.
Eventually, Hanifa made it to Germany, where she began the process of rebuilding her life in a refugee camp. Despite the uncertainty and heartbreak of leaving her family behind, she found solace in running.
Finding Peace in Running
When Hanifa first arrived in Germany, the idea of running was far from her mind. She was emotionally and physically exhausted. But with little else to do—no internet, no work, no sense of home—Hanifa eventually laced up her shoes and went for a run.
“I went to a park nearby, and at first, I just cried. I ran and cried,” she says. “But something about the running reminded me that no matter how tough things get, they will eventually pass. Running has taught me that even the hardest challenges have an end.”
Running soon became her coping mechanism, a way to process the trauma of her escape and the uncertainty of her new life. "Running is more than just a sport for me. It gives me a sense of control and peace."
Training for the Berlin Marathon
Now, as Hanifa prepares to run the Berlin Marathon, she’s not just running for herself. "I’m running for my mother and my sister, for all the women and girls in Afghanistan who can no longer participate in sports or pursue the dreams we once shared," she says.
Hanifa’s goal is not just to finish the race in under five hours but to raise awareness of the plight of Afghan women and girls, who have been stripped of their freedoms. “This marathon is for the girls back home who are feeling weak because they can’t run. I want to inspire them to stay strong, even when it feels impossible.”
While training, Hanifa has also been trying to create a running group for other refugee women in Berlin. “Running helped me, and I want to share that with others who are going through the same struggles of being far from home.”
Looking to the Future
Hanifa’s life in Berlin is still in transition. She lives in refugee accommodations, sharing a floor with people from all over the world—Vietnam, Ukraine, Syria, Afghanistan, and beyond. Hanifa says she’s focused on learning German and preparing to apply for university, where she hopes to earn an MBA.
Running remains a constant source of strength. “When I run, I feel connected to the people I’ve left behind, to my friends and family in Afghanistan. It reminds me that no matter where I am, I can still push forward, one step at a time.”
As Hanifa stands at the start line of the Berlin Marathon, her journey will be about much more than the 42 kilometers ahead. It will be a testament to her resilience, her dedication to Afghan women, and the unbreakable bond between sport and freedom.
If you’d like to support Hanifa as she takes on the BMW Berlin Marathon on September 29, you can donate and leave her a message on her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/hanifa-berlinmarathon-1708253107759