Realizing the dream of an education

BOULDER - She was 8 years old when they broke into her family's home looking for her father. He wasn't there, but they nearly beat her grandfather to death trying to get information from him.

This is the story told by a young woman from Afghanistan. She recounts the story of when the Taliban rule began. For five years, the Afghans had no music, no television, no radio and no electricity. The greatest loss to her was an education.

Girls were no longer allowed to go to school. She says it was her dream to be educated and to speak English.

Her father supported that dream and risked his life to help her attain it. When they learned about an underground school, he would put her on the handlebars of his bicycle and take her to the school. Unfortunately, the school was reported to the Taliban and quickly destroyed.

In December 2001, with the help of U.S. forces, a new government was formed and girls could once again go to school.

Most of the school buildings were gone, but the learning began again.

"We were sitting in the sun, in the heat, and there wasn't any classroom, any chair, any desk to use, but still they were very happy that at least we had opportunity to go to school and it's not against the law," she explained.

9NEWS is not sharing her name, because this young woman still fears for her safety in Afghanistan and for the safety of her family.

These days, she is a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder where she hopes to earn a degree in International Affairs. She would like to return to her country and help women and girls, and possibly work for the United Nations.

This woman got the chance to meet someone very special this week: former First Lady Laura Bush. Laura Bush is active in the efforts to improve the rights of women in Afghanistan.

The Boulder student from Afghanistan says the meeting was "unbelievable."

"I told her because of the program she has for women, Afghan women, and she provides a scholarship for women to come to the U.S. and attend college here, that's a huge help for Afghan women," she said.

You can help this woman and others like her by supporting the University of Colorado's School of Arts and Science Afghanistan Scholarship.

Checks can be sent to:
The CU Foundation - Scholarship 0123354
Attn: Processing
4740 Walnut St.
Boulder, Co. 80301