The spicy scent of henna used to bring back memories of Eid, weddings, parties and all the happy occasions. Now, the only thing henna’s smell brings me is the image of my mother and me crouched in the far corner of the kitchen, crying. The smell of henna brings back anger and sorrow, a sense of helplessness and weakness.

The Dari teacher is late / We call it time to have some fun / We close the class door, taahp / We take the chalk from the desk and start hitting each other

It requires a lot of guts to fall in love in Afghanistan. This was particularly true during the Taliban era, when the separation of male and female societies was taken very seriously and often enforced with violence. My mother’s 25-year-old cousin, a dentist, certainly had guts. He proved it by falling in love with S, one of his patients.

Growing up, I refused to accept I was anything less than my brother or any other man. But there were things I could not do simply because I was a girl. One of these was swimming. Every time I passed a river, realizing that I could not swim disappointed me. But deep down inside, I always knew I would learn how to swim someday.

Ed’s note: Below is the transcript of a speech that Meena gave to a church in the United States that hosted a group of Afghan children being treated for a variety of medical issues.

Dear All,

Mother Teresa once said, “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love,” so please let me thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of all my Afghan

Meena’s Note: In March 2009, the Afghan parliament and president signed a law concerning Shias, a minority that makes 15 percent of the population. This law permitted marital rape along with other laws violating basic human rights for women. For the first time in the history of Afghanistan, women poured on the streets of Kabul protesting the law and demanding their rights. I was fortunate enough to be a part

What I want to say about my father is that he is my comfort in times of pain, my courage in times of defeat and my hope in times of despair. Fathers are those precious gifts of God whose fingers we hold as we learn how to walk, someone whose arms give us a sense of security and whose smiles give us hope.

In a country where girls are forced into

For many Afghans, fear is not a part of life, but the heart of life. I have grown up seeing the fear of war, death, rape, poverty and life in the faces of those around me and those close to my heart. It wouldn’t be exaggerating if I say that I have seen people living and dying in fear. Whenever I look at an Afghan child with dirt on his

A heroine is officially defined as a woman who is endowed with great courage and strength in the fight for her country. We always look for heroines in our history books while forgetting to look for them around us. A heroine is not just someone with a sword in a battle or a political leader leading a revolution, but is anyone who sacrifices her life for the service of others.

It was 8:30 pm. My brother and I were sitting playing cards when I heard my parents talking in the other room. “Why can’t we go back to Pakistan? What if the attack starts?”

“Look, there is no way Auntie jaan can travel in this kind of medical situation. We have to wait till she gets better,” said my dad.

“But….” said my mother. Then there was a long silence.