Written by Tahera Rezaee and translated by Rohina Sediqui
Soraya Hosaini, 25, is a high school graduate who has become a beacon of hope for the women of her community. For the past seven years, she has been teaching literacy and other classes in a remote area of Daikundi Province where many girls are deprived of opportunities for education. It all started when she turned her house into a home school, after she realized that there were no schools in proximity to her community and other nearby-villages.
At the beginning of every academic year, Soraya visits families residing in her village and the villages nearby, to persuade them, specially the men, to allow girls to attend school. She often succeeds in this work. Now even the mothers of her students come to be part of her literacy classes. Many of her students are mothers who bring their young kids when they come to study, so one of the rooms in Soraya’s house has been turned into a day care center. Sometimes Soraya looks after her students’ children so that they can do their studies and homework peacefully. Soraya’s dream is that one day every woman and girl will be able to read and write so that she can have a chance at a bright future.
Soraya is a model of strength. She is an unsung shero. Her determination is lighting the way for many other women. With her perseverance, she is leading the women in her village towards a better future for themselves and their children.