Born and raised in the Baghlan province of Afghanistan where opportunities for youth, especially women, were scarce, Batol Gholami set out to make a change. Fueled with determination and a clear vision in 2019, she co-founded the Afghanistan Youth Leaders Assembly (AYLA) with the mission to empower women and youth across Afghanistan through education, skill-building, and community engagement. Since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, AYLA has pivoted to providing online education, reaching over 3000 students in Afghanistan. Among them, the majority are girls who are banned from receiving education under the regime.
Batol completed her high school in Baghlan and received a full scholarship from the government of Pakistan in 2017 to study computer science at the University of Comsat in Lahore. She was in Pakistan when Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in August 2021. “I've felt deeply lost twice in my life. Once in 2018 when I lost my father, which was the worst day of my life, and again when Afghanistan fell to the Taliban,” explains Batol, describing how difficult it was for her to believe what had happened. She had been dreaming of celebrating her graduation from university back home with her family and friends—a dream that was never fulfilled. “After almost a year, I was able to meet my family in Pakistan, but it was still a tough and unforgettable moment in my life.”
AYLA was first started in Mazar-e-Sharif, expanding its activities to the provinces of Baghlan, Samangan, Bamiyan, and Kabul. Following the fall of the government in Afghanistan, Batol started receiving messages from girls in Afghanistan, “Batol, you’re so lucky that you’re out of the country.”
Afghan girls, including Batol, were afraid of what then turned into a reality: the banning of girls from schools by the Taliban. To help the girls in Afghanistan in such a situation that was starting to happen, Batol and her colleagues at AYLA resumed their online classes in September 2021, only a month following the return of the Taliban to power. Though Batol had the experience of offering online courses before the fall, the demand for such courses was high this time.
"We had almost 300+ students for the first round of classes, including school subjects, computer skills, technical courses, and foreign languages," says Batol, expressing gratitude for the support she has received for AYLA's efforts. Aware of the challenges associated with online education in Afghanistan, AYLA was the first organization to provide internet packages to its students, especially for those with financial barriers in remote areas of the country. "Even after our students graduated, especially those in advanced English classes, they continued their education abroad with scholarships," says Batol proudly, considering it a big achievement not just for the organization, but for all youth who work to empower each other.
In addition to running AYLA, Batol has been an activist and advocate for women’s rights. While in Pakistan, she was invited as a speaker to deliver a speech on the situation of girls and women in Afghanistan, especially about education.
Upon graduation from university in Pakistan, she was neither able to return to her home country like many other international students, nor stay in Pakistan. Feeling restless, she tried reaching out to the embassies of different countries in Pakistan via email, and Spain was the only country whose embassy responded to her. “After two interviews, I obtained a humanitarian visa. However, I left my mother and family in Pakistan,” Batol describes becoming a refugee as a tough experience, especially when someone is alone and on their own. It has been 15 months since she arrived in Spain, building everything from scratch. “Coping with life's pressures is challenging, but I try my best.”
Spain and its people have been welcoming to Batol since she arrived in the country. “Spaniards are kind and gentle, much like in other European countries. Spanish is somewhat like English, which makes it interesting for me to learn. That's one reason why I chose to stay in Spain.”
“I'm eager to learn new skills and stay updated on IT advancements,” she is interested in areas of Information Technology and International Educational Development.
Batol believes in education as the only key to success for Afghans, especially women, not only in Afghanistan but also abroad. “I believe that educated women can reclaim their power. No force in the world can suppress the power of education,” describes Batol, explaining why the Taliban opposes education and her commitment to empowering people through education for the rest of her life.
Deprivation of girls and women from their basic rights, including the right to get an education, is heartbreaking for Batol, but she believes they should not give up and keep their hopes high. “I want to remind them that after every darkness, there is success and light. We often achieve our greatest accomplishments during difficult times. Many of our students at AYLA faced similar challenges but persevered and secured scholarships to the US, Canada, and other countries. Despite the obstacles, they kept their hopes alive and worked hard. I urge other girls to do the same—to never give up. The new regime may restrict them, but there are always alternative paths. Don't wait for opportunities to come to you; seek them out.”
Batol calls on the world to take action to help women in Afghanistan. “We're tired of empty promises and slogans on social media. We need action, especially in the realm of education.”
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