Hello!

My name is Aalia Toufiq, and I live in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. Before the Taliban came to power, like thousands of other girls, I used to go to school. I was in 10th grade and had big dreams for my future. There were only two years left until graduation, and I was preparing for the university entrance exam. The field I was most passionate about was psychology. My goal was to complete my studies at a good university and someday become a successful psychologist. I was always working hard to achieve this dream. But suddenly, everything changed. When the Taliban took control, our dreams were shattered overnight. Schools and universities were shut down, and girls across the country were denied access to education. I kept asking myself: What will happen to our future? How long will this situation last?

Amid all the questions and pain, I turned to art, something I had loved since childhood. I began taking painting classes in 2017 and over the years, I developed my skills professionally.

Art became my refuge and savior. In a country where life becomes harder for girls with each passing day, painting gives me peace and helps me escape from all the pain. When I paint, the world around me falls silent, and I find calmness within.

One of my main reasons for sharing my artwork is to show the world that in a small corner of this earth, in Afghanistan, there are still girls who are talented, creative, and full of hope. Despite facing extreme restrictions and hardships, we still hold on to our dreams like precious treasures in our hearts. Whenever someone supports me or when my artwork is sold in countries beyond Afghanistan, I feel proud and grateful. It gives me the sense that I have succeeded in sharing my message with the world.

This year marks the fourth year that my classmates and I have been denied our basic right of education. My biggest dream is to once again live freely, to have the right to choose our own paths, and to continue achieving the dreams that were left unfinished when the Taliban came to power.