Muska's Story

My name is Muska, and I’m 22 years old from Herat province, Afghanistan. As an Afghan girl, my life has been marked by pain and hardship. When I was 11, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and I became her caregiver. The emotional trauma was heavy, but the biggest challenge was the lack of money for her treatment. She fought for six years, and her last words to me were to study and take care of my siblings.

After my mother passed away, life became even more difficult. My father took a second wife, and I lost my chance to continue my education when the Taliban took power. I had been a medical student and a teacher, but now I’m confined to home. Out of necessity, I turned to handicrafts, specifically embroidery, to help support my family.

There are nine people in my family, and we are struggling to survive. My younger sister, my stepmother, and I do embroidery to meet our basic needs. If this project continues, I can devote more time to sewing and potentially earn a stable income. My dream is to finish my education and become a successful doctor. I believe education is the key to escaping our problems. I will spare no effort to achieve my goal.