Prior to the fall of the Afghan government and the seizure of Kabul by the Taliban, student X was studying economics, was top of her class and preparing to graduate.
She had selected an outfit for her graduation ceremony and had her thesis monograph finalised and printed to present to faculty members.
However, on a fateful Monday in August last year, she unknowingly attended her last day of education, not even able to say goodbye to her lecturers before the Taliban overtook her city.
Student X, who cannot be named due to safety reasons, is one of several Afghan students who are partnering with peers at Monash University to continue learning post the Taliban’s ban on education for girls and women in the country.
“As an Afghan woman who is no longer allowed to study, to work outside or even go outside without a male companion, I’m imploring leaders around the world, and countries that claim to respect women’s rights: please do not recognise the Taliban government,” she said.
“Afghanistan has been invaded by an inhuman terrorist group, people are being slaughtered, killed and kidnapped. Don’t let us down, don’t let them silence us.”
The Monash Peer Mentoring for Afghan Young Women, an eight-week pilot program that ran from December-February, has connected Monash students with university-age Afghan women to help them continue thinking and writing about important issues.
It aimed to improve the wellbeing and motivation of Afghan women through emotional support and access to useful resources, as well as educational resources and a platform to publish discussion pieces on important political projects.
The program is led by the Monash Gender, Peace and Security (GPS) Centre, supported by Program Officers, Georgia Potter and Zahra Karimi and Director, Professor Jacqui True.
Professor True, Ms Potter and students from the Monash International Affairs Society, along with senior leadership support, were responsible for the evacuation of 11 Afghan nationals last year, including Zahra.
Professor True said Monash had forged strong relationships with students in Afghanistan, previously hosting policy debates with youth-led organisation .
“The Taliban takeover is devastating,” Professor True said. “We hold grave fears for the future of the country that has been at war for more than 40 years, and for the women and girls who have built lives during the past two decades, only to see that all disappear.
“We stand with the people of Afghanistan, especially its women and girls, as they again face the brutality of the Taliban’s rule.”
As part of the program, mentor groups met weekly to develop their skills and work on pieces of collaborative writing.
They recently published their research on topics including women’s rights, trade opportunities, sustainable development goals and reproductive rights in Afghanistan, on the GPS website.
It is hoped the program can be extended with funding support, and reach more students.
Student X said the program made her and her study partner feel “fearless”.
“We went out in our burqas and interviewed people and read so many books. I was struggling with my academic writing and I’m improving it now,” she said.
Monash student and mentor in the program, Isabelle Zhu-Maguire, added: “It is really easy to feel completely powerless to help in these situations, so when an opportunity like this came up where I thought I could create a real, tangible difference, I was immediately drawn to it.
“I had to be a part of this program to help share the knowledge that I have been so privileged to learn throughout my university experience.
“I think these women are also the people who could potentially change the world for the better and I think that engaging with them and helping them reach their potential is not only beneficial to the women in this program, but it’s beneficial to society as a whole.”
