I am Tahera, a Hazara woman from Herat, Afghanistan. People of my ethnicity have faced long-standing systemic discrimination and persecution in Afghanistan. My identity as a Hazara woman also subjected me to socio-economic discrimination. But education has always played a central role in my life. My life and experiences are a testament to the fact that education is one of the most powerful tools we can give young girls, especially those from minority communities like mine, who face systemic persecution on account of their gender and their ethnicity.

From a young age, this belief fueled my efforts to help young girls and women in their pursuit of opportunities. I was in the final year of high school when I began volunteering as a teacher at Besat, a private all-girls school, where I strongly advocated for girls' education, especially for Hazara girls like me. At just 20 years old, I was appointed Principal of the primary section.

Later, I graduated with a diploma in Nursing from the Ghazanfar Institute of Health Sciences. During my three years of study, I worked tirelessly to fund my education while balancing long hours between academic commitments and jobs to pay for my education. After graduation, I focused on gaining hands-on experience, driven by my passion for health care and my desire to help others. Eventually, I became a nursing instructor at Kahkashan-e-Sharq University, where I strived to empower people, including young women, to keep learning and growing.

But being of Hazara ethnicity in Afghanistan came with risks. My family and I began receiving threats because of our identity and associations. The situation grew increasingly dangerous until we had no choice but to leave. In 2016, I moved to India with my parents and siblings, seeking safety and a chance to start over. We were registered with UNHCR that year and recognized as refugees in 2017.

Coming to India

Life in India presented new challenges. Despite my nursing qualifications, I was not allowed to practice professionally because my degree was not recognized. As a refugee, I had limited rights and no access to higher education or legal employment. But I remained committed to supporting my community. At the same time, I was the eldest in my family and felt responsible for supporting my parents and siblings. Finding ways to help them while living under so many restrictions was not easy, but I kept going. I knew that every bit of experience mattered and that even small steps forward could lead somewhere.

So, I volunteered with refugee-focused organizations and provided compassionate care at the Neem Tree Clinic. I also completed a caregiving internship with Win-Age, specializing in geriatric patients, and earned a certification in Geriatric Care through a program supported by UNHCR. Beyond health care, I continued advocating for women’s rights by teaching English to Afghan women and girls in my community in New Delhi. I understood how critical education was, especially in exile, where opportunities are scarce but deeply transformative. I took every opportunity to gain experience, contribute, and support my family.

The fall of Afghanistan in 2021 brought deeper despair. The Taliban’s return cemented the oppression of women and minority groups like the Hazara. The hope of returning home faded completely. Like many others, I realized that I had to look elsewhere for a future.

Yet, in the midst of uncertainty, a life-changing opportunity arrived. It felt like this was the moment I had been working toward for years. After almost ten years of perseverance, hope, and unwavering ambition for a better future, I have been selected for an employment pathway through Talent Beyond Boundaries and MAP, for a job in Canada as a Personal Support Worker with Southbridge Healthcare.

A New Journey

Moving to Canada for this job will be a turning point in my life. I will finally be able to begin a new chapter of my life. It will allow me the freedom to live my life on my terms, something I have yet to experience. I now have the chance to pursue higher education, contribute meaningfully to society, and shape my life on my own terms. I know life will still bring challenges, but I feel grounded and hopeful in a way I have not in a long time.

Experiencing life as a refugee, being uprooted, and struggling with invisibility and daily uncertainty, is often difficult to endure. We face immense worry and the emotional strain is overwhelming. Yet, amid these hardships, there are moments of unexpected hope that hold the power to transform our lives and reshape our futures for the better.

To my fellow refugees, I say “do not lose hope. Embrace even the smallest opportunities, as each one holds the potential to spark meaningful change. Keep learning, keep dreaming, and hold on. With perseverance and resilience, the right opportunity will come and often when it is needed the most”