HAKIMA
Living in the U.S is undoubtedly very different and better. I am amazed by how much this society is more facilitated and open to education, new ideas or inventions, and very accepting of differences. Life in the U.S. can definitely provide the right circumstances for one to investigate and improve in a special/specific field of interest. Being who I’m inside is not dangerous anymore. That is what like the most about this society. read more…
MAH BEGUM
I am the girl from the cliffs of the mountains, whose world is always as high and steady as the mountains that were in my village. The mountains are steadfast and nobody can move them. I told the mountains that I'm not able to move you, but I can easily climb up at your highest point. I feel like I'm racing towards the top today. read more…
MANIZHA
Manizha is the 13 year old daughter of Sayed Abbas. Her father was working on a construction site when inadequate and faulty safety equipment caused him to fall to his death. Now Manizha is living with her older brother, two younger sisters and her mother. Her mother supports the family by doing laundry at neighbors places. Manizha feels lucky and thankful enough to get reconnected with education from all the support given from Espalo.
JAWED AND JAWAD
Since my father was killed we both started working in the bakery full-time to support ourselves as well as our family.
I never thought of school since then but now with your support we are able to go to school part time. Going to school is fun. I have friends who we can play during the break. We both still work in the same bakery but when I go to school my brother takes care of the bakery in the morning and when I am back he is goes to school in the afternoon.
I am really thankful of all those who supported me and my brother. learn more
NASRIN
Nasrin is daughter of Ali Juma who is a laborer. She is 11 years old and she has three sisters and three brothers. The brothers and two of the sisters are older than Nasrin. She has one younger sister.
Nasrin’s family left Afghanistan 17 years ago and moved to Quetta- Pakistan. She recently was able to enroll in school with the support of Espalo. She loves school and very much wants to become a teacher one day.
AFSHIN
Afshin is 13 years old. His father, Hussain, is a coal miner who has been working in the mines to try to support the family. The family fled Afghanistan in 2017 and settled in Quetta, Pakistan.
Afshin works many hours as a tailor but he was just recently able to go to school thanks to support provided by Espalo. He believes that education will help him eventually make a better life for himself and his family.
ZAHRA
Twenty years ago, Zahra’s family fled Afghanistan as the result of war & discrimination. She is a coal miner's daughter and her father has since passed away. She has one older brother and one sister younger than she.
She wakes up early in the morning to get ready for school. When she is back home, she does her homework and crafts. Zahra dreams of one day being a policewoman.
MASOOMA
18 year old Masooma is the eldest child in her family. She had to abandoned school when she was in grade 5 so she could begin to work full-time to help the family survive financially. She has four brothers and one sister. Her ambition is to become a doctor so she can help all of those around her who are desperately in need of medical care.
The support from Espalo was critical is helping her begin to obtain an education and pursue her dreams.