Stories from Afghanistan in 2023
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, millions of girls and women lost their access to fundamental rights and freedom.
Despite this heartbreaking setback, through our Omid "Hope" program we have implemented indoor, trauma-informed mindfulness and strength training sessions in clandestine spaces, taught both in-person and virtually where needed. These sessions are a critical tether to other young women and a source of strength for our participants - hope in a context of desperation.
These are the thoughts of a group of young women who have participated in the Omid program this year.
“I am one of the many brave and sports-loving girls of Afghanistan. I must remember those years when we had the right to study, play sports, and work. As everyone knows, the Taliban is a misogynist government. All the women of my country are under house arrest, and this situation has had a really negative impact on us, but we are doing our best to survive.
One of the methods that helped us to improve our mental and emotional state was this program, which means we can do our exercises at home now that we don’t have the right to exercise outside. The Omid program helped me get rid of my severe depression, and helped me think about myself, my body, and my mind again, and to find myself. The Omid program gave us hope to live, a way to find our way. Thank you.”
“When the Taliban collapsed my country I was in shock for almost a year. I had been told about the Taliban since I was a child so I was afraid, knowing they would ban me from attending courses or any other education. I always dreamed of becoming a stronger version of myself, someone who can play a crucial role in improving Afghanistan - turning it into a place with artificial intelligence skyscrapers, a safe country far away from war. But when the Taliban came to power, everything turned upside down. I was dealing with stress, depression and hopelessness.
By joining the Free to Run Omid program, I was able to stay connected with my friends. Meeting them once a week, even just for an hour, reminded me of better times when we could go to school or university, and helped me laugh after a long time. And when I laughed, everything felt good.
I learned to never lose hope. After every cloud there is a shining moon. Now I feel I can endure tough and unexpected times because I feel safe mentally."
“Life is hard for Afghan girls in the current situation, but this program helped me physically and emotionally. I wasn’t able to do any exercise and couldn’t even get out and communicate with anyone, but when I came to this program I met many people to talk and spend time with and it helped my mental health.
Although it is not easy to get rid of stress in the current situation, the Omid program helped me start controlling myself and my body - to not react easily and to build my mental health as well as my power of thinking. Thank you to everyone who made this program happen here in Afghanistan.”
“Before the Free To Run program started I spent most of my time at home, without any physical activity. I was stressed - about what will happen to us in the future, and whether we will be able to go to university again. And then during this program, I found out how to control my stress. This program ended up being great for me and I learned a lot of things. Doing this had a great effect on my body and spirit.”
“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the impactful sports program you have created. The positive effects of the Omid program are truly remarkable. Your dedication to creating safe spaces where everyone feels welcome is commendable. The impact you have had on communities is evident in the smiles on participants’ faces and the stories they share about personal growth and newfound friendships.
My mother also is happy about my participation in this useful program. She believes a healthy person has an active mind. Thank you for your tireless efforts in making this great online class. Your program has undoubtedly made a lasting impact on countless lives, and I am grateful for the positive change you bring to our society.”
“I used to exercise all the time but through this program, I found new motivation to persevere in this difficult situation. I felt hope in me. I arranged time for myself and learned how to control my stress. I got to know different sports movements at home.
The reason for my participation in this program was to show girls' endless love for sports. No one can take away our dreams, we try to use the opportunities we have. Let's make a change within the extent of our own personal power - I ask all the girls in Afghanistan to never despair, because the greatest enemy of man is despair.”
Will you be part of this important work? Donate to Free to Run today to ensure that girls and young women in Afghanistan continue having opportunities to feel a sense of community, and to improve their physical and mental health in this time of existential crisis.