Resisting Oppression: The Role of Creative Writing and Storytelling in Empowering Afghan Women
Today, young women in Afghanistan are subjected to oppression and humiliation in various ways, everyday. For more than three years now, they have been living under the desolate shadows of despair, experiencing nothing but pain, agony, misery, and a sense of hopelessness. From facing harsh penalties for not complying with dress codes to being excluded from accessing higher education and employment, the status of women rights in Afghanistan is very dire. The discrimination they face is among the worst in the world. This is mainly because the current regime is built around a mindset that demeans women’s identities as independent human beings, justifying their treatment according to unwritten social norms. The young women who stand against such norms and defy them are considered foreign puppets and are punished accordingly.
In response, Afghans for Progressive Thinking (APT) provides educational programs – Leadership, Mentorship, Advocacy, Debate, Trauma Healing, Networking, and more – for women and girls in Afghanistan. These programs aim to help them gain the necessary abilities, mindsets, and skills to increase their knowledge, to advocate for their rights and generate ideas for change in these challenging times. Through these programs, APT ignites hope by supporting them to reclaim their voices and providing them with a platform to address the current barriers they are facing, by writing articles and policy briefs to present recommendations for sustainable change and advocate for their rights.
Additionally, by bringing youth, particularly young women, together to present their views and recommendations in response to current human rights violations and crises, and by mobilising support for policies and actions, APT aims to help them pursue their potential to self-determination and encourage their active engagement in all areas of life—political, social, cultural, and economic. Most recently, to further contribute to empowering women in Afghanistan – stemming from the critical need for them to tell their own stories from their unique perspectives, Ajmal Ramyar, the Head Executive of APT, started a new Creative Writing and Storytelling program for young women and girls in Afghanistan. This initiative aims to inspire them to believe in themselves, help them convey narratives from their own lenses, and raise their voices against the oppressive social norms and political structures.
Storytelling has always played an important role in the narrative of women and girls, helping them convey intricate societal issues, such as right-violating social norms, gender-based violence, child and forced marriage, and women’s empowerment. Storytelling is not only limited to raising awareness; it can lay the foundation for societal progress. Most importantly, it conveys that each girl and woman matters, helping shape positive perceptions, and fostering empathy among others, both inside and outside of the country. The stories written by the young women in Afghanistan allow readers not only to learn about their situation and struggle for empowerment, but also to feel the plight of these women, leading to greater empathy for their experiences.“The creative writing and storytelling program by the APT organisation has been one of the most amazing experiences I have had,” writes Husay Jalil, one of the participants.
“As the world is forgetting us, leaving us alone in this heart-wrenching sense of hopelessness, we were provided with an opportunity and a platform to rise again from the depths of despair, portray the abuses and restrictions that are normalised in my country through our stories, and share about our numb feelings of the future stolen from us.”
The program teaches young women how to stimulate their creativity and use their experiences in inventive ways. Participants are divided into groups to share their stories about the impact of restrictions on their lives, engage in interactive exercises, and exchange contacts to further build their networks. During each cycle of the course, as a final assignment, participants work on a first-person narrative. From the submitted stories, the APT team provides feedback and comments, which participants can work on either individually or in groups. The final drafts are then edited and published on APT’s website and social media pages.
One of the stories, written by Horia, a young woman who wrote about her experience of the fall of Afghanistan, captures the overwhelming sense of being powerless, and the feeling of peace slipping away while not fully understanding what is happening. Here is a paragraph from her story portraying her feelings: “Suddenly, there was a commotion up ahead. People were running in all directions, shouting, and screaming that the Taliban had come. Within a few minutes, all the shops’ doors had closed, and people had run away. My heart raced as I tried to make sense of what was happening. Panic set in as people scrambled to get away. I froze in fear, unsure of what to do next. Should I run? Should I hide? My mind raced with questions as chaos erupted around me.”
Horia’s story is among the dozen first-person accounts written by participants in APT’s programs, showcasing their talent in storytelling and the impact of APT’s training. Other stories can be accessed here. Most importantly, our creative writing and storytelling program not only puts the feelings and experiences of the oppressed young women into writing, but also provides a new ray of hope for the women. It equips them with the skills to present bold female characters who are trying to resist the unprecedented restrictions and right-violating policies. By developing their writing skills, these women can gain the strength to fight back by sharing their stories and raising awareness of the injustices inflicted upon women in Afghanistan.
About the author
Ajmal Ramyar serves as the Executive Director of Afghans for Progressive Thinking (APT), a youth-led nonprofit organisation in Afghanistan. Under his leadership, APT has been at the forefront of addressing human rights crises and promoting girls’ education. Ajmal also led the Afghan Youth Representative program to the United Nations, advocating for Afghan youth on both national and international platforms. His dedication extends to managing an elementary school for internally displaced children in Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of education in challenging circumstances. After the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Ajmal relocated to Canada. There, he continues his efforts to empower Afghan women by connecting them with international mentors and advocating for their educational rights. Ajmal is also a member of SDG4 Youth Network, a global platform for students and youth education advocates to take action on SDG4 and engage in shaping global education policies. In Canada, Ajmal utilizes his expertise in communications and workshop facilitation to raise awareness about the educational and human rights challenges faced by Afghan women. He organizes events aimed at empowering young individuals, especially women, to effect social change through education.
