Nila's initiative, HerStory, aims to connect Gen Z in Canada with Afghan girls’ struggles, emphasizing shared humanity while promoting awareness about the dire conditions faced by Afghan women.
"Teen Refugee Nila Ibrahimi: A Voice for Afghan Girls in Exile"
"Teen Refugee Nila Ibrahimi: A Voice for Afghan Girls in Exile"
Nila Ibrahimi, 17, emerges as a symbol of hope for Afghan girls silenced under the Taliban, winning the International Children's Peace Prize.
In a remarkable journey from exile to advocacy, 17-year-old Nila Ibrahimi has emerged as a powerful voice for Afghan girls silenced under Taliban rule. Having fled Afghanistan as the Taliban regained control, she sought refuge in Canada where she launched HerStory—a digital platform aimed at sharing the untold narratives of Afghan women and girls.
Ibrahimi was recently honored as the winner of this year’s International Children's Peace Prize, an award previously granted to influential figures like Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. The accolade recognizes her advocacy and efforts to elevate the stories of her Afghan peers, many of whom face extreme oppression—the United Nations has labeled their plight as "gender apartheid."
Reflecting on her mission, Nila aims to bridge the gap between her experiences and the lives of her Canadian peers. "I want to remind them that we are not so different," she explained. "We all have music we love—Taylor Swift is universal." This understanding is crucial in making Afghan girls relatable to younger generations living in comfortable circumstances, making the stark contrasts easier to comprehend.
The circumstances in Afghanistan remain dire: bans on female education, restrictions on travel without male guardians, and silencing demands imposed by the Taliban. “It’s difficult for young people in Canada to relate to these challenges, which is why HerStory exists,” she notes. “We want to show that despite our differences, we share many similarities, particularly our experiences as young women.”
Nila's advocacy journey began in March 2021, amid protests against a decree that sought to silence girls from singing in public. Although she and her peers managed to overturn the proposed ban, the subsequent rise of the Taliban forced her to flee with her family, who are members of the Hazara minority. Following a year in Pakistan, they resettled in Canada, allowing Nila to flourish and pursue her mission of amplifying Afghan voices.
HerStory, launched in 2023, features interviews and stories from young Afghan women and offers a platform for narrative-sharing both from inside Afghanistan and among refugees. Nila emphasizes the importance of collective emotion and shared experiences, arguing that it's essential to maintain awareness about the realities facing Afghan girls, even when fear and anger bubble beneath the surface.
"The award is not just for me; it’s for all Afghan girls who need the world to remember them," she reiterated, urging recognition of the alarming numbers of girls currently barred from education. Marc Dullaert, founder of the KidsRights Foundation that runs the award, praised Nila's commitment to advocacy, asserting that her work underscores the urgent need for change.
Nila encapsulates the spirit of her generation, conveying that age should not limit the ability to advocate for justice and equality. "Change doesn’t always need to be a monumental shift," she states. "It can be about making small, meaningful progress as Gen Z. We can take action, even little steps, to make our voices heard."
Ibrahimi was recently honored as the winner of this year’s International Children's Peace Prize, an award previously granted to influential figures like Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. The accolade recognizes her advocacy and efforts to elevate the stories of her Afghan peers, many of whom face extreme oppression—the United Nations has labeled their plight as "gender apartheid."
Reflecting on her mission, Nila aims to bridge the gap between her experiences and the lives of her Canadian peers. "I want to remind them that we are not so different," she explained. "We all have music we love—Taylor Swift is universal." This understanding is crucial in making Afghan girls relatable to younger generations living in comfortable circumstances, making the stark contrasts easier to comprehend.
The circumstances in Afghanistan remain dire: bans on female education, restrictions on travel without male guardians, and silencing demands imposed by the Taliban. “It’s difficult for young people in Canada to relate to these challenges, which is why HerStory exists,” she notes. “We want to show that despite our differences, we share many similarities, particularly our experiences as young women.”
Nila's advocacy journey began in March 2021, amid protests against a decree that sought to silence girls from singing in public. Although she and her peers managed to overturn the proposed ban, the subsequent rise of the Taliban forced her to flee with her family, who are members of the Hazara minority. Following a year in Pakistan, they resettled in Canada, allowing Nila to flourish and pursue her mission of amplifying Afghan voices.
HerStory, launched in 2023, features interviews and stories from young Afghan women and offers a platform for narrative-sharing both from inside Afghanistan and among refugees. Nila emphasizes the importance of collective emotion and shared experiences, arguing that it's essential to maintain awareness about the realities facing Afghan girls, even when fear and anger bubble beneath the surface.
"The award is not just for me; it’s for all Afghan girls who need the world to remember them," she reiterated, urging recognition of the alarming numbers of girls currently barred from education. Marc Dullaert, founder of the KidsRights Foundation that runs the award, praised Nila's commitment to advocacy, asserting that her work underscores the urgent need for change.
Nila encapsulates the spirit of her generation, conveying that age should not limit the ability to advocate for justice and equality. "Change doesn’t always need to be a monumental shift," she states. "It can be about making small, meaningful progress as Gen Z. We can take action, even little steps, to make our voices heard."
