From Books to Bare Survival: A Young Afghan's Story After U.S. Aid Cuts.

My name is Mohammad Mustafa and I am an 18-year-old Afghan who had dreams, education, and a path forward. Now, I feel like I’m watching my future disappear.

I used to study at a private school and attend a tuition center. My father worked for a U.S.-funded NGO, earning about $900 a month. It wasn’t luxury, but it was enough to support our large family — 16 people, including my uncles and siblings. Life was stable. We had books, food, electricity, and a future.

Then the U.S. government cut its aid. And everything changed.

My father lost his job. My uncles became unemployed. We can barely afford food now, let alone tuition. I had to leave my private school and join a government school — a place no longer focused on education, but control. These schools are now ruled by Taliban ideology.

We are forced to wear a lungi (the traditional Taliban head covering), keep our hair completely bald, and grow our beards without trimming. If we don’t obey, we are punished or sent home. It doesn’t feel like school anymore — it feels like prison.

There are barely any teachers — and the ones who are there often aren't trained. There's no lab, no computers, and almost no real learning. We don’t even have proper books or notebooks. The teachers treat us like we are criminals instead of students.

My tuition center — which helped me stay ahead — is gone. We simply can’t afford it anymore. We can’t even afford our electricity bills or house rent. We live off what little food is left in the house. Every day, I feel like I’m falling further behind — and I don’t know how to stop it.

I’m 18 now, and I have no skill to earn money. I can’t even find $100 to cover my school and tuition fees. My father used to provide everything. Now, I see the worry in his eyes every morning.

There’s so much more I could say, but I’ll stop here. I just want the world to know: the people of Afghanistan are suffering not because of something they did — but because they were left behind. Innocent lives are being crushed, not by war — but by the silence of the world.

Please don’t forget us.

Sincerely,
Mohammad Mustafa
WhatsApp: +93 783 660 777
Email: mustafagharanai30@gmail.com