Muhaddesa is a 25-year-old Afghan woman. Just before the Taliban took over, she was in her final year to finish a university degree in medicine in Kabul. She was heavily involved in campus life as a leader in her university’s student parliament, while working full time as a surgical assistant in clinics and hospitals.
Muhaddesa has always been a strong advocate for women’s rights. In 2018, she joined a non-profit organization where her work focused on two main issues: combating violence against women and putting an end to early and forced marriages. Muhaddesa organized awareness campaigns, led peer support groups and held seminars that promoted gender equality. She also organized and hosted workshops for Kabul’s Women’s Association from 2019 to 2021.
The Taliban’s increasingly restrictive policies have turned her world upside down. Her suffering has only increased her determination to speak out and raise awareness. However, her efforts put her in great danger. In hiding, Muhaddesa continues to volunteer at medical clinics and help Afghan families. She gives them free injections and blood pressure checks that they otherwise could not afford.
Muhaddesa hopes to continue her studies in nursing. She especially wants to help those patients who cannot afford treatments by offering them free care. Dr. Ghaffar, for whom she worked at a hospital in Kabul, is a true inspiration for her. His dedication to providing free surgeries and services for disadvantaged children made her realize how valuable learning these skills could be to her community.