Elderly Soraya urges govt to open girls’ schools

KABUL (Pajhwok): Soraya, 50, a resident of Afshar locality in the capital Kabul, says her dream and only wish is to see her daughters become educated and urges the government to promptly open schools for girls above sixth grade.

A widow, Soraya spent two decades of her life baking bread. She has erected a small bakery in the corner of her yard and daily bakes tens of bread for her customers.

Talking to Pajhwok Afghan News, she said: “The hardships of life forced me to do the difficult work of baking bread from dawn to dusk.”

Soraya is living in a small house against 3,000 afghanis monthly rent with her two daughters and two disabled sons. She makes 500 afs daily but due to the high prices of commodities, she can barely meet her family’s needs.

She hadn’t seen a good day since she lost her husband; her elder son is mentally ill while her second son was disabled in an accident, her only hope is her two daughters.

She said: “I accepted all the hardships of my life because of my daughters to study for their brighter future, not like me.”

She hoped the schools would resume soon and her daughters would attend their lessons.

Calling the four decades of wars the only reason for the miseries in the country, she hoped for durable peace and stability in the country.

aw/nh/ma