This is from 1979. The Soviet Union had invaded Afghanistan and word spread that soldiers would come the next day to burn down houses in his family’s village.
Not knowing what was happening or where she was going, Bibi and her 12-year-old family set out on an arduous two-day journey on foot to Pakistan.
“We didn’t want to leave the house. We didn’t know where we were going,” Bahrami said. “It was a lot of uncertainty.”
Given the news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it turned out well for him once again. Reading the headlines and seeing the lines of Ukrainian refugees brought back bad memories.
“When I saw that destruction, damage, bombing and killing of human beings, I felt very sad. There are so many memories. When people also say ‘Russian’, my body was trembling about how cruel and how much damage they do. It is done for the Afghan people.”
As the world recognizes International Women’s Day, it is women like Bahrami whose work strives to make life better for women. International Women’s Day celebrates the progress of women in the pursuit of equality and calls for more progress around the world. This is something to which Bahrami has devoted his life.
After being evicted from their home, Bahrami and his family spent the next six years in a refugee camp in Pakistan. Life was tough, but she said her family made the most of it. They began living in a tent but eventually built a “mud house” of sorts. Like life in Afghanistan, however, girls in the refugee camp did not attend formal school.
“Due to security, there was no girls school there. But my brothers did, and I looked forward to reading and learning and studying with my brothers.”
Despite all the difficulties, this camp brought a new light in his life. It was here that she met her future husband, an Afghan student who studied in America and who would eventually help her move to America.
a reawakening
Bahrami and her husband, Saber, moved to Muncie, Indiana, raised six children, and eventually brought their parents and other family members to America. Being out of Afghanistan, Bahramis experienced many times that they could not return home.
“I attended GED classes, and I was very inspired by the opportunity. I had daycare for my kids, and I can still read and go to school. I was very inspired by those opportunities. And I would say That I want to do it. For the girls I’ve left behind.”
Being inspired and now empowered to help women and children in Afghanistan, Bahrami had a dream, but now with her sixth child, she wanted to wait until the right time.
Then, the events of September 11 happened.
“I said, ‘Now, I have to do something.'”
“We were working on rebuilding Afghanistan. The Taliban are gone; We had some hope for a bright future. Education was our goal. Education and health care. To be educated you (you) have to take care of health.”
Her goal was to start in the same village she had left behind—where she says about 80% of the infrastructure was destroyed by the Soviet invasion. The first projects were building a clinic and a school that both boys and girls could attend. Then in 2005, AWAKEN created a vocational center for women that taught reading, writing and sewing. Upon completion of the sewing class, each woman received her own sewing machine.
“These women had nothing—maybe they had clothes on, and getting a sewing machine was such a big deal for them. It was one of my dreams.”
Since receiving her education, Bibi knew to provide other women that opportunity would transform the entire community.
“I think education of women is very important. A woman can educate her children and then society because by raising and educating good children we will have a better tomorrow.
In 2016, AWAKEN opened a Maternal and Child Health Center. Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. But memories of the refugee camp itself hold the issue close to Bahrami’s heart.
“I died in a refugee camp while giving birth to my own sister-in-law. She was hurt by me from the refugee camp. I can still hear his voice and difficulty.”
Now open for more than five years, the center has helped give birth to more than 500 babies.
Hope for all refugees
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Break by Bias”. Bahrami has broken prejudice against hundreds of women in Afghanistan by providing them with education and health care. In return, she headed to the district of Besud, where she had once fled in fear.
Although she still lives in the United States, Bahrami is proud of her old village, whose population has more than doubled since 2002.
“When we started school we had 220 students. Now we have over 2000.”
But an old conflict has resumed in Afghanistan: the Taliban. In August 2021, the Taliban gained control of the country, forcing many to flee in fear. As refugees began to make their way to the United States, Bahrami saw another opportunity to support Afghan women. Only this time, it will be in her adopted hometown of Muncie, Indiana.
Bahrami and AWAKEN started a new project, MARRC: Munsi Afghan Refugee Resettlement Committee. It is an all-volunteer group that helps Afghan refugees find housing, jobs and support. He has adopted around 28 families so far.
26-year-old Frima recently reached Munsi with her 2-year-old son. Her life was in danger because she worked with other women at a family-focused nonprofit – something that is strictly prohibited by the Taliban. She dropped her husband off at Kabul airport, not knowing when he or her child would ever see him again. But thanks to Bahrami, the young mother is hopeful for the future.
“I really appreciate Bibi and am very grateful,” Frima told CNN.
As Bahrami sees millions of people now fleeing Ukraine, she sees her community as accepting refugee families and a worldwide acceptance of a better tomorrow for all.
“I mean, anywhere, in any country, in any part of the world, I think this system should be represented by women and men in all walks of life, from leadership and education to humanity and a sustainable Till the need of the society. Benefit will be there,” she said.
She points to the important role played by women.
“In Afghanistan, and in many countries including this one, women are not paid equitably and are not paid equally. It is time for the world to recognize the values of women,” Bahrami said. “I feel that sometimes (women) are deprived and not respected in the society and those things hurt my heart. God created us all with equal rights and opportunities. There can be obstacles. But we have rights and this should be appreciated.