Afghanistan: Use for girls rights
Jalila* lives in the north of Herat province in Afghanistan. She moved here with her family from another province. She joined youth clubs and began volunteering herself in a project run by WASSA, a partner organization of Terre des Hommes . It was there that she participated in her first futsal tournament. She enjoyed it, improved steadily, and definitely wanted to continue playing.
It was a different time. Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021, the already difficult situation for the population has deteriorated rapidly. In December 2022, the de facto government banned all girls in the country not only from any schooling beyond the sixth grade, but also from participating in social activities and sporting events. For many women, even holding down a job has become impossible.
"I want to continue going to school. And I want to continue playing futsal and become a unique footballer. In doing so, I also want to help my community, especially the girls. I hope that all girls in Afghanistan can go to school and continue their education, play sports and participate in sports tournaments."
For Jalila, it's a catastrophe, and not just because of the sport: her parents are old, and her five siblings are still young. Jalila has to provide for her family on her own. She is 16 years old.
Nevertheless, she tries to provide for her family as best she can. With the help of friends from her youth group and the support of her family, she started baking sweets and selling them at the local market. Currently, her monthly income is about 5,000 Afghanis, the equivalent of about 64 euros. It's better than nothing, even if it's not enough to cover her family's needs.
Jalila says she wants to expand her small pastry shop and sell more to support her family financially. She dreams of building a better life for herself in the future, and perhaps one day being able to participate in sports tournaments again.
*Name changed. The editorial staff knows the real name.