شریک سازید:

By: Bahara Sediq

Farzana, a 20-year-old girl from Herat, grew up surrounded by colorful threads and fabrics. She learned the art of embroidery from her mother at a young age, and today she designs and sews traditional Afghan dresses—each one a vivid reflection of the country’s rich cultural heritage. “Sewing gives me a sense of purpose,” she says. “I spend my entire day with colors, beads, and fabric pieces. Every dress tells a story.”

Despite her passion for this craft, Farzana carries the burden of a deep deprivation: she was able to complete school only up to grade 12, but after the return of the Taliban to power, she has been banned from continuing her education. “Nothing can replace learning,” she says with sorrow. “The Taliban must lift restrictions on women and girls. A country that deprives half of its population from education and economic participation will never progress.”

Farzana believes in the value of preserving cultural traditions, yet she stresses that this should not come at the cost of excluding women from society. “Yes, these crafts are part of our heritage,” she explains, “but they should not be the only path available to young women who have the motivation and ability to contribute to the country’s development. Women were not born only for handicrafts.”

Under the Taliban’s strict restrictions and the shutdown of educational institutions, thousands of Afghan women and girls have been forced to turn to handicrafts to earn a living. While these arts carry deep cultural significance, they cannot fulfill the suppressed dreams of a generation that yearns for higher education, progress, and freedom.

Farzana is one among many young women whose dreams go beyond stitching patterns into cloth. In her heart, she longs to return to school, to be part of society, and to build a better future for her country. Her voice echoes the hopes of a silenced generation—one that refuses to let its future be reduced to a thread and needle.