KABUL, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Amid unrelenting challenges and shifting powers, Afghan women stand as indomitable warriors, resolutely weaving resilience into daily survival alongside their families while their stories on this year's International Women's Day illuminate a profound humanitarian tapestry of communal solidarity and unwavering hope.
Frozan Azimi, a 26-year-old nurse at a state-owned hospital in Kabul, works together with nearly 400 female colleagues, and finds solace in a supportive environment that honors their contributions.
"Our colleagues treat us well. We do not fear harassment or abuse, and we feel comfortable in our workplace. In different departments, we are treated with respect," Azimi shared with Xinhua inside the hospital.
She added with quiet pride, "The Ministry of Public Health values female professionals and treats them appropriately." For Azimi and her peers, this role is more than a job, it's a lifeline, fostering healing not just for patients, but for the healers themselves.
Salma Aslami, 30, has channeled her entrepreneurial spirit into a handicrafts workshop she established over four years ago.
"I am very happy that we have been able to create job opportunities for 15 other women. It is a significant achievement for girls who have been deprived of attending school," Aslami reflected, her voice laced with emotion.
"I feel good knowing that our workplace is safe and free of problems." Financial independence, she emphasized, has liberated her from dependency: "In addition to covering my own expenses, I also contribute financially to support my parents and family."
Aslami's workshop stands as a testament to how one woman's vision can ripple outward, mending the wounds of exclusion and poverty.
Across the city, in a modest workshop in western Kabul, Zarmina Khaterzai is teaching more than just art. At 24, she has established a painting workshop where 50 young women gather not only to learn but to heal. "I feel very good, because we have financial independence and motivation," Khaterzai said, her enthusiasm palpable.
"Here, I not only work with the other girls, but also spend time talking and sharing stories with them," Khaterzai told Xinhua.
Though her earnings are only sufficient for essentials like food, clothing, internet, and shop rent, she derives deep fulfillment from engaging girls sidelined by educational bans. "Most of my students are girls who have been deprived of attending schools and universities," she noted, highlighting how creativity becomes a salve for lost opportunities.
At present, Afghan women entrepreneurs, such as Aslami and Khaterzai, serve as vital anchors for their communities, fostering employment, transmitting vocational skills, and continuously affirming their presence in public life. Nevertheless, in the absence of expanded educational access and consistent international backing, the space they have managed to secure remains vulnerable to further contraction.
For Ghazal, a 22-year-old teacher at a private school in Kabul, the classroom is a sanctuary. "Working is very good for me; it has reduced the stress and pressure I feel," she confided.
Each day, she spends four to five hours teaching, describing the time as deeply pleasant. "The income I earn helps cover household expenses," she added matter-of-factly, though her contribution speaks volumes in a nation where economic survival is a daily battle.
Reports from Afghanistan's Ministry of Industry and Commerce indicate that tens of thousands of women are now flourishing in diverse sectors, ranging from agriculture and livestock to health, industry, logistics, and services, their contributions serving as a poignant testament to human endurance.
Twenty-year-old Mozhgan Faizi, who suspended her education in the seventh grade, recounts a story of quiet desperation, heading to a painting workshop each morning for mental relief amid closed school doors. "Many girls come here out of necessity, just to breathe more easily," she shared. Fighting tears, she added, "Schools are shut to us. This is our small joy, I meet friends, and it lifts our spirits."
She called on authorities to expand women's opportunities via vocational centers in tailoring, beadwork, painting, drawing, and embroidery, sparking empowerment and healing.
Due to restrictions set by the Afghan government, girls are not allowed to attend classes above grade six, and females are prohibited from attending universities until further notice.
As the world marks International Women's Day on Sunday, these Afghan women's stories compel people to recognize their plight not as distant tragedy, but as a universal call for empathy and action. ■