KABUL (SW) – Amid the vast and decisive changes in Afghanistan that have affected various segments of society, in a land where dreams have been silenced under the weight of transformation, the story of four distinguished young individuals unfolds.
Three of these young people hold master’s degrees, and one holds two bachelor’s degree, yet they have turned to freelance work.
Abdulrab Rahimi, a resident of Parwan who holds a master’s degree in Dari language and literature, says that he has worked for years to build his future; however, due to the lack of job opportunities in his field, he has turned to tailoring.
“I have seven children, each of whom is in their educational and learning stages. As a father, I am responsible and must work; I have no other choice,” he lamented.
Rahimi adds that the way people view his status in society is painful for him. “I have been studying since I was six years old; I also learned tailoring, but today the way people look at me hurts, especially when they see a well-educated person turning to tailoring out of necessity.”
This young man emphasizes that despite all the difficulties, he continues to strive toward achieving his dreams. “I hope to earn my doctoral degree, teach at a university, and serve my people through that.”
Similarly, Ahmad, a resident of Kabul, says that although he earned a master’s degree in Islamic jurisprudence five years ago, he still hasn’t been able to find a job in his field. “Despite having higher education, there are no job opportunities. After completing my studies, I spent five years looking for work, but I couldn’t find any job, neither in the Republic era nor during the Emirate.”
Ahmad adds that the harsh conditions in Afghanistan have forced many young people to abandon their dreams and reluctantly turn to freelance work. “We have no choice. Many young people can’t find jobs in the fields they studied.”
Rohid Ahmad, another resident of Kabul who holds bachelor’s degrees in Law, Political Science, and Graphic Design, says that after the collapse of the republic and losing hope of finding a job in his fields of study, he turned to selling vegetables. “When the regime changed, I worked for a few months in a job, but they didn’t pay me, and I had to leave the job and turn to freelance work. My friends and close ones look at my life differently, and this situation has affected me.”
Bashir Forogh, a resident of Bamyan who holds a master’s degree in Communications, says: “The path to education has its challenges. My advice to young people is to take the initiative ourselves, not wait for the government or for overly idealistic opportunities, and create opportunities for ourselves.”
Sardar Mohammad Saiee, a professor at Kabul University of Education, says that reviewing educational programs can help address the unemployment issue in Afghanistan. He adds: “Designing curricula based on the real needs of the job market, strengthening social skills, providing career counseling, academic guidance, promoting entrepreneurship, and enhancing the connection between universities and industries can help improve the link between the education system and the job market’s needs.”
Shaker Yaqubi, an economic affairs expert, says that the employment of educated youths in freelance jobs is one of the major social and economic challenges, and continuing this trend will have negative consequences. “Continuing this trend will have negative consequences for society and the economy, including strengthening the informal economy, reducing economic efficiency, and increasing youth migration.”
Samiullah Ebrahimi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, says that job opportunities for educated youths have been announced through free competition. “Our efforts are to reduce unemployment and create job opportunities alongside the Emirate’s administration in the private sector, providing the necessary facilities to create opportunities,” he shared.
In recent years, with the political and economic changes in Afghanistan, unemployment has become one of the biggest challenges. Many young people, despite having higher education, cannot find employment.
