Announcement
Rahila is one of the 67 women who evacuated Afghanistan and came to Phoenix, Arizona where she is continuing her education at Arizona State University.
Photo: Nisha Datt for the IRC
It was an ordinary day in Afghanistan when Rahila received a call at her place of work from her cousin telling her to, “leave your job, come to our home – the Taliban is coming to Kabul.”
After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Kabul University, a prestigious university in Afghanistan, Rahila stayed on as a full-time instructor teaching subjects like, Chemistry and Biology. “Teaching was one of my favorite things. I was happy because I was thinking that yes, I am training a generation for my country,” she expressed.
While safety still remained a concern, with bombings and explosions occurring almost everyday where she lived and not knowing if she would return home, Rahila still felt a sense of independence. She shared, “before the Taliban, we had a little bit of freedom. I was able to work, I was able to plan everything for myself – I was supporting my family, which gave me good confidence and happiness that I can do everything that I want.”
The unexpected happened
Rahila did not want to believe that the Taliban would return. She had heard what life was like over 25 years ago, and how their regime directly affected women and young girls. “They didn’t allow women to go to school, pursue their education, or go to work,”she said. Amidst the uncertainty of what was to come, Rahila prepared for her next steps as she was accepted into a masters program in India.
On August 15, 2021, the Taliban arrived, altering Rahila’s plans and leaving her in fear of her future. “The Indian embassy and everything closed [due] to strikes in Afghanistan,” she remembered. Being the sole supporter of her family, she knew she needed to find a way to leave. Luckily, the Asian University for Women, based in Bangladesh, was offering scholarships to students like Rahila. Her decision to leave was not made lightly knowing that she would be leaving her family behind. “I had to do this… It was not easy, it was so hard, but I decided if I leave Afghanistan, it would be for my family — from outside I can support them better,” she said.
In a matter of a couple weeks, on August 29th, Rahila and a group of 148 young women made their way to the airport in a total of seven buses. With important legal travel documents in hand, they waited in the buses outside of the airport for three days before they were let in. Rahila recalled, “during this time, we were not allowed to get off the bus, we were not allowed to eat or drink anything – I saw everything [with] my eyes.” Gunshots were fired, non-stop, throughout the day and night. Rahila added, “Iwas just so scared that I didn’t feel anything.”
The women were granted permission by the Taliban to enter the airport on the third day, which would be the start of their long journey to the U.S. with brief stops in Saudi Arabia, Spain, Virginia and Wisconsin. It was in Wisconsin where 67 Afghan students, including Rahila, were selected to be a part of a unique co-sponsorship program with Arizona State University (ASU) and the IRC in Phoenix. Take some time to watch this 10-min video that delves deeper into how this partnership was formed. You will even get to hear from Rahila!
A warm welcome
On December 16th, 2021, Rahila and 66 other Afghan women arrived in Arizona where they were welcomed by ASU faculty on campus. “We landed around 7:30pm… got off the buses and walked with Ms. Pamela and other ASU colleagues, and there were a lot of people who cheered us and welcomed us. I was surprised how big the University is – how beautiful the campus is.” Dr. Pamela DeLargy is the Executive Director of Education for Humanity at ASU. She and her team worked tirelessly, for months, in collaboration with the IRC to coordinate the arrival of, welcoming of, and enrollment of these women as students at the University.
When she was in Afghanistan, Rahila had heard of California and New York, but had little understanding of the culture in the U.S. So, when she arrived in Arizona and got settled at the ASU campus, she noticed some differences in the way people dress and communicate. Additionally, she mentioned, “how they are peacefully like with good confidence walking around the street – they don’t feel danger. I have never experienced walking after 7pm in Afghanistan.”
Rahila is grateful for the support she had from the IRC and the new community they introduced her to. “They helped me with everything, but the best thing they did was they helped us to adjust with a new environment,” she shared.
Better days to come
As a student at ASU, Rahila is studying Data Science and has a full-time schedule that keeps her busy. She said, “I am working [on campus] at ASU, working at two restaurants [off campus], and also going to classes doing my assignments.” She loves her classes and it brings her a lot of joy to be able to safely continue her education. “They give hope for me. When I am inside the class I’m in a group of students from different countries, different cultures,” she expressed.
With a bright future on the horizon, Rahila would like to pay the help she received forward by pursuing a career in Immigration Law. She said, “One of my dreams is to graduate from Law school, and work with people around the world – especially those people from Afghanistan. I want to be a positive, useful person for the community that I am living in.”
Leaving Afghanistan was difficult. Rahila misses her family and her home, but maintains her hope for a more peaceful Afghanistan. “One day, I hope, my people can live in peace, that they can realize the real meaning of peace, security, safety – women have their freedom and girls have their freedom to go school without any fear. This is my hope for my country,” she shared.
Photo: Nisha Datt for the IRC