Beyond Words - Maryam from Afghanistan

WHAT I'VE LEARNT

Afghanistan World Literacy Foundation youth ambassador

About N. (Maryam)

She is a young leader from Afghanistan. I have a working background as Senior Human Rights & Gender Officer with the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) in north east region. She worked there until mid July 2022. When working with SCA, she had the chance to connect with students and teachers in rural areas of north eastern of the country, including students with disabilities. Throughout my work, I realized how education affects the life of individuals and communities; in culture, social behavior, domestic violence, and families’ economic situation. Especially the vulnerable people such as young girls, minorities, and people with disabilities. Even medium educated communities' cultures and behaviors are far different from the low educated and uneducated communities. Communities with medium or high number of children (girls, boys) at school are more open, looking happier, and have moderate religious thoughts rather than low educated communities. You can find lower types of hard traditional practices such as, forces marriage and early marriages in those communities too. I observed it and felt it when field visiting different parts of the country.

I have a bachelor in economics with a first class honors degree (2015- 2018). I had the honor of offering a free English course to the young girls and boys who had passion in learning the English language when I was a student at university.

Beside my work at SCA, I established my own coffee shop in 2020 in my city Taloqan, Takhar, which had a small library for children and adults. (the books were collected by a voluntary campaign).

BBC made a report about her coffee shop which you can find its link here: https://youtu.be/J0IrPA97EKY.

I enjoy loving history books and novels. I love Persian poetry. I sometimes write my daily life too. I really love to write a book someday.

As the world spirals the value of literacy education and words is poignant

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/
Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk
Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850