KABUL (SW) – In an exclusive report, Salam Watandar has spoken with a number of inspiring young Afghans who have faced numerous hardships due to disabilities but have never ceased striving towards their goals.
Life is a road filled with ups and downs, where we start our journey, run, chase our goals, and sometimes fall. On this path, some surrender to failure, while many continue to move forward, overcoming obstacles to achieve success.
One of these inspiring individuals is Robaba Mohammadi. Despite being paralyzed from hands and the waist down, Robaba’s strong motivation and indomitable spirit have allowed her to become a skilled painter. Grasping a paintbrush with her mouth was one of Robaba’s biggest challenges, yet she overcame it and gradually became proficient, transforming her visions into beautiful paintings.
Born in Ghazni, the cultural capital of the Islamic world, Robaba says her solitude drove her to express herself through painting. “My loneliness and isolation at home, away from school and social interaction, led me to find solace in art. Painting became my only friend, bringing me peace and fulfillment.”
While her community saw her merely as a person with a disability, Robaba defied these perceptions. With a clear goal in mind, she worked tirelessly and is now recognized as a determined artist within the community. “Being a woman on a wheelchair in Afghanistan is incredibly difficult. I faced negative comments and prejudices on social media and in society. However, I wanted to live like everyone else. I am the first person on a wheelchair to dare go outside, as many people with disabilities in Afghanistan shy away from public life due to embarrassment and ridicule.”
Now residing in Canada, Robaba credits having role models as crucial to overcoming her limitations. She was inspired by Nick Vujicic, an Australian author born without limbs, whose success motivated Robaba to focus on triumphing in her own life. “His story deeply resonated with me. I aimed for my paintings to achieve the same level of impact and found immense motivation in his example.”
Many other Afghan youths who have achieved success also attribute their progress to emulating successful role models. This report features interviews with 7 successful young individuals, all of whom consider role models essential to their success.
Mahdi Nawrozi, the captain of the Afghan national futsal team, is one such youth. By emulating Cristiano Ronaldo, the football superstar, Mahdi has achieved significant success in national and international competitions. “I started playing football on dirt fields. My father used to play football on such fields, and one day when he was injured, I took his place. This marked the beginning of my professional journey in football.”
Mahdi explains that Ronaldo’s hard work and perseverance inspired him greatly. “Cristiano Ronaldo’s relentless hard work and dedication made him my role model. His refusal to give up and continuous effort are qualities I admire and strive to embody.”
Achieving academic success and gaining entry into a desired field of study through rigorous preparation is another goal for many youths. Qais, who excelled in the university entrance exam (Kankor) with a score of 354 out of 360, describes the arduous path he took. “My year-long preparation for the entrance exam was filled with challenges—minimal sleep, lack of recreational activities, and separation from my family. Despite these hardships, I persevered and succeeded. Sometimes I spoke to them just by phone call.”
Qais, though not seeing his success as extraordinary, hopes to become a role model for others through his relentless efforts. “Those who succeed often don’t seek to be role models, but others see them as such. I hope my efforts will inspire others to follow suit.”
The young individuals featured in this report emphasize that choosing role models has played a critical role in their success.
Social experts agree, highlighting that impactful youths serve as motivation for others. Shafiqullah Ansar, a social issues expert, says, “Influential youths not only excel in their fields but also inspire and encourage other young people to pursue higher education and personal growth. They are role models who spread enlightenment within their communities.”
The young Afghans interviewed for this report, despite facing economic challenges, lack of family and community support, limited job opportunities, and insecurity, have not surrendered to life’s difficulties. Their stories are testaments to their resilience and determination.
