In this episode of The Afghan Times Podcast, we welcome Sana Siddiqi, a young woman from Kabul, Afghanistan, who shares her journey of resilience in the face of adversity.
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Born and raised in Kabul, Sana completed high school in 2020 and successfully passed her Kankoor examination (the university entrance exam) in 2021. That same year, the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Despite the turmoil, she was overjoyed to be accepted into the Environmental Science program at Kabul University—a dream she had cherished since childhood.
However, her joy was short-lived. On December 20, 2022, the Taliban banned women from attending universities in Afghanistan, forcing Sana to stay home. Refusing to give up, she enrolled in online courses, determined to continue learning despite the barriers.
She vividly recalls the heartbreak: “I cried a lot. I kept asking, why us? Why must women sacrifice so much?”
Finding Alternative Paths
Undeterred, Sana sought alternative ways to pursue her education. She took online leadership and public speaking courses, taught English to her classmates, and developed new skills like drawing.
A Glimmer of Hope
When Sana discovered that medical institutes were among the few educational avenues still open to women, she made the difficult decision to switch fields and enrolled in a private midwifery program.
“It wasn’t my dream, but I had no choice,” Sana explains. Yet, even in this new chapter, she found joy in connecting with her classmates, who shared her pain and struggle over being denied access to education.
Hope Shattered Again
In early December 2024, the Taliban issued a directive banning women from enrolling in nursing and midwifery training programs across Afghanistan.
One morning, as Sana arrived at her institute, she saw girls weeping outside the gates. Sana describes the moment as one of her darkest: “It felt like Afghan girls and women had no future. Studying became a shame for us, just because we were women.”
Unwavering Determination
Despite the challenges, Sana remains steadfast. “I will never give up. If I find even one way to continue my education, I will pursue it and achieve my goals. I know the power of Afghan girls—whatever we want, we can achieve.”
