A country in turmoil
As a person born and raised in Afghanistan – a country that is constantly in turmoil – my early life was full of challenges and difficulties. In 1992, after spending two months in a basement seeking shelter from rockets and missiles without enough food and drinking water, my family and I left Kabul for the northern provinces of Afghanistan due to the civil war.
Despite challenges and difficulties, my parents’ primary goal was to return me and my brothers to school. We all made it, and we all made it together. My father got a position with the local government, and my older brother started a small business – a vehicle spare parts shop – to help support his and our education.
We wanted to get over poverty, stand on our own feet, and be self-reliant. And the only way to accomplish this was through education. ‘Your education is a treasure,’ my father constantly remarked. ‘It’s a never-ending wealth.’
Flight to Pakistan
When the Taliban rose to power in 1996, we sought safety in Pakistan. I endured four years of the most trying times of my life. I had to skip two meals a day to save money for rent, utilities and schooling. By the end of 2000, I had completed high school, an English language programme and a computer course.
We returned to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. I was working as an English teacher in a small private school/ Alongside this I had various roles with embassies and foreign agencies in Kabul. In 2009, I began working for the Afghan government’s Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development full-time.
I was determined to continue my studies too. In 2011, in addition to my challenging job, I began an online Masters degree in public administration and international development with the University of York.
Studying in the UK
I had always wanted to visit the UK and to experience student life on a campus. In 2014 I was awarded a Chevening Scholarship to pursue a second Masters degree at York, this time in international relations. Obtaining that scholarship was one of my proudest accomplishments. I learned a lot in terms of academic skills and life experience. It was life-changing, and I’ll be forever thankful for the chance.
My MA thesis focused on the issues of Afghan security sector reform, including police corruption. My thesis received a distinction, but it left me with many unanswered questions. I knew I wanted to pursue a PhD in order to further examine and uncover the issues.
Returning to Afghanistan
Knowledge, it is true, is power. Returning to Afghanistan after my MA, I felt empowered. I was in charge of overseeing the work of 28 national and international non-governmental organisations helping to rehabilitate and develop the country, with a total contract volume of US$80 million.
In 2018, I joined CARE International as Chief of Party for a job creation programme that served over 3,500 people. By early 2021, we had expanded the programme into three more provinces with another US$10 million in funding. We targeted some 3,000 additional people, primarily returning refugees from Iran and Pakistan.
The fall of Kabul
Then, after 20 years of fighting, Afghanistan surrendered to the Taliban. Chaos, fear, and worry were prevalent throughout the country, particularly in Kabul. Over 150,000 people were evacuated from the capital in ten days. However, thousands of others were left behind.
My family and I were among those who didn’t get out. I felt absolutely confused and hopeless. I was certain that I would not be able to leave Afghanistan, relocate my family, and begin my PhD at York.
Then I received a message from the University of York’s Graduate Research School, offering information and assistance to safely depart. It wouldn’t have been possible without their help. We drove from Afghanistan to Pakistan in mid-September 2021, passing through many Taliban checkpoints. Making the journey and leaving all of our loved ones behind was a stressful experience.
A city of sanctuary
After several weeks’ journey, we arrived safely in York, a City of Sanctuary. The University provided us with every possible support. If it hadn’t been for the Equal Access Scholarships, my PhD would not have been possible, and my children would not have been able to return to school.
Building a life in the UK has not been without difficulties. It hasn’t been easy adjusting to a new community with significant social and cultural differences. However, with the help of the University and our local communities, we were able to settle in and make a new home for ourselves. My children receive a high-quality education which they appreciate. Learning, interacting, and networking with a diverse community has been a good experience for them.
Continuing my research
I’m now in the second year of my PhD, and the experience has been incredible and rewarding. My supervisors are subject experts and provide me with amazing assistance. The entire Department is fantastic, collaborative and kind.
Studying at York has been more than just finishing a degree. I’ve had fresh opportunities to conduct research, network, and develop new skills. I consider it a privilege to attend seminars, workshops, and conferences. I hope that my PhD study will allow me to investigate the problems and discover the opportunities of governance in post-war countries.
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