I am Zohal, a displaced Afghan woman. I received a  good education in Afghanistan as a Medical Technologist and now I am independent and able to contribute to my society. But today in Afghanistan girls and women over the age of twelve cannot go to school, by order of the government.
I have received many, many letters from school-age girls in Afghanistan who long for their futures to be as bright as mine. All they want is to continue to learn, develop and finally to contribute to their country and their society. Freshta is one of these girls, and her letter appears below.

If you agree with Freshta and so many others like her in their sincere desire for education, please endorse the letter with the name of your organization; if you are an unaffiliated individual, please give your name and address. Kindly respond to: afghanwomeneducation@gmail.com 
  
 PLEASE JOIN IN MY PUSH TO STAND UP FOR THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS WHOSE VOICES FOR ADVOCACY ARE MUTED AND AT RISK.

LETTER TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS

H.E. Antonio Guterres
Secretary General, United Nations
760 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017

To A World That Should Be Concerned   

Your Excellency:

I am a young Afghan girl sitting at home when I should be in school learning about the world, learning about my country, learning about my people, learning about my life. My school is closed to me, and only because I am a girl over twelve years old. I long to know about the world. I want to serve my country and my family, to make the world a better place, to be part of a bright and promising future for all. I could be a doctor, a scientist, an engineer, a teacher, a mentor and a guide. I could be an entrepreneur, a financier, a lawyer or a politician helping to create the laws that benefit us all. But these bright futures are closed to me and to all girls and young women by the new rules that tell us an education beyond the basics is not for us now. We can’t go to school. That limits our activities, narrows our hopes, and destroys our dreams.
We appeal to the authorities: Please listen to us and let us learn again. Let us hope. Let us dream. Let us serve.
Freshta