Stories
Hava Rezaie
Founder of Alzahra Support Association
I was the youngest child in the family, and I was the only one who could continue my education successfully due to the sacrifices of other family members. However, I was deeply concerned about the education of my nephews and nieces. They were need to attend to schools, which led me to search for a solution. In our neighborhood, there were other children facing the same problem. All of this motivated me to rent a small house and teach these children, despite the challenges. But the problem didn’t end there; the children needed books and other supplies. During the summers, when public school students were on break, we gathered used and second-hand books from nearby public schools, even though it was extremely hot. We also needed a blackboard, and we managed to acquire one. Simultaneously with the start of public schools, our small and humble school began. It didn’t take long for many more immigrant children to join us, eagerly waiting for its opening. In the cold winter days, they huddled together in classrooms to endure the harsh winter cold. Despite their strong desire to learn, most of these children spent more than half of their day working to support themselves and their families. I remember when we went to public schools during the summers to gather unusable textbooks, which we then converted into usable desks and benches for our students, often with the help of my brother. The years passed quickly, and with every difficulty we encountered, we never gave up our search for new teaching methods to benefit our students. Alongside recruiting educated immigrants to teach our children, we also invited experienced teachers who had a successful history of teaching in exemplary schools to collaborate with us to provide the best education possible. This was one of the ways that our students benefited from new educational methods. Every year, our students made more progress than the previous year. Not only did our students receive a diligent education in elementary school, but also middle and high school. Immigrants from other regions who had heard about our school, named Alzahra, approached us and requested to establish branches of Alzahra in their own areas. This led to the expansion of Alzahra, which eventually had four branches. Several years later, English language classes, computer classes, sewing classes, painting classes, sports activities, and an adult literacy program were added based on the needs of Afghan immigrants, all under the umbrella of Alzahra.
Kobra Mohammdi
Principle of Alzahra School in Iran
“I remember taking my students to a science competition in a top-tier university, where they had to build macaroni structures and robotics. Most of the students came from wealthy and privileged areas of society, and those wealthy students ordered chicken kebab with drinks and excellent desserts for themselves that afternoon. However, our hungry students won the competition that day, and as a manager, I had no resources to buy food and meals for the students. It was a very difficult day for me, but thank God the kids succeeded, and it was a bittersweet experience for me.”
She also saing: “Many students are interested in computer science, photography, and technical professions, but unfortunately, they cannot fulfill their wishes due to a lack of necessary tools such as cameras, computers, or even personal mobile phones. Although they are talented in these fields, some drop out of school due to a lack of facilities.
As they have a strong need for modern tools for scientific research and learning, we also have remote villages around our school where children would like to come to this scientific educational center, but due to poverty and distance, they cannot pay the car rental fees, and we have a pressing need for a school bus to educate them.
In addition to children, mothers also need education to be able to accompany their children well during their studies. We need to hold literacy classes, educational and psychological workshops, mother’s health workshops, and workshops on anger control and proper behavior with children. Happy children need happy, literate, and informed mothers, and our job is very difficult with depressed, illiterate, and unaware mothers. It would be great if this mission could be accomplished with the help of the community.”
Hasan Mohammadzadeh
The story of “Hasan Mohammadzadeh,” one of the students of Al-Zahra School, Goltappeh Branch, located in the Goltappeh region of Varamin city, Tehran province, Iran.
During the previous Taliban regime, due to poverty and internal conflicts, my family and I migrated to Iran. Unfortunately, during the journey, we lost my younger sister. My father worked hard to provide a better life, and since he couldn’t receive an education himself, he wanted me to study and have a promising future, serving our people. He always told me to strive for education so I wouldn’t end up like him. My father is my sole role model, and I will never forget his honesty, integrity, and efforts.
Finally, at the age of seven, my mother enrolled me in school called Al-Zahra (Branch 1), which was recommended by our neighbors and friends. On the first day, when my mother took me to the school, I was greeted by friendly teachers and students. The teachers at this school were very kind. My teacher introduced me to my classmates and seated me in the front of the class.
As the days passed, my interest in learning and school grew. Al-Zahra School had a calm and pleasant environment. It was an entirely academic and scientific setting, from the beautiful paintings on the walls to the library and classrooms. In addition to regular lessons, the teachers held sessions with parents to address any issues students were facing. Despite the challenges that Afghan immigrants in Iran faced, and the limited opportunities for educated Afghans in the country, the management of Al-Zahra School created a warm and peaceful atmosphere, and students came to school every day with more motivation and hope for a better future. Although far from our homeland, we were still thinking about it and counting down the days to serve our country.
My class was the highest grade at the school, and all the students were united and harmonious. We have a memory related to this; when we moved to the higher grade, the administration appointed a new teacher for us. However, we were accustomed to our current teacher and liked her, so we didn’t want her to be replaced. We discussed the issue with the school administration, but Mrs. Rezai, who was the principal of Al-Zahra School, did not accept our request and introduced the new teacher to us. She was a good teacher. One day, the new teacher came and said that all the male students should cut their hair short. Since we were not happy with the new teacher, all the male students cut their hair. The school principal visited our class, and all of us were standing in line with our heads freshly shaved. Mrs. Rezai came to our class and asked about the reason behind cutting our hair. We all spoke in unison, saying that the teacher had forced us to do so. Mrs. Rezai left our class that day, and we never saw the new teacher again. We heard that Mrs. Rezai had expelled him.
Today, I confess that our new teacher had no issues and was just asking us to trim our hair. She was an excellent instructor, and over the years, we continued to move up in our classes, regardless of life’s problems and concerns.
Then, in the year 1383, the Taliban was defeated, and a transitional government was established in our country. We returned to Afghanistan and to our hometown, my relatives’ secrets. I went to the administration of Al-Zahra School and informed them about my plans to go to Afghanistan. All my teachers and classmates were upset. The school manager, Ms. Rezai, said that the educational documents must be approved and stamped by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She asked me to come back after a few days when I had completed the educational paperwork. In that year, I was in the second year of middle school. After a few days, I got all the required documents, and I took them with me.
With my family, we faced many challenges as we arrived in Afghanistan and settled in our region. In our area, which was made up of several large villages, there were no signs of reconstruction or development in the times of Sengtakht District and Dykundi Province. After a few days, some elders from our region came to my grandfather’s house and suggested that I become the district’s teacher. At that time, I was quite young and surprised. I told them that I had only studied up to the seventh grade and couldn’t teach others; I needed to continue my education. The elders insisted that I should accept their offer because they didn’t have anyone in the area who had studied up to the seventh grade. After hearing the people’s discussions and secrets, I accepted the role of district teacher. It was a district consisting of several large villages with approximately 700 households.
Deh-e-Sirk Village, our heritage, became the location for the school under the shade of willow trees. I gathered the students, and our school had no blackboard or desk. Even the students didn’t have standard school supplies. I made a large blackboard from several big cardboard boxes and sewed together pieces of old clothing and used a football as a ball.
After assessing the students, I divided them into several groups or classes so that I could teach each group based on their level. Most of the students had never attended school before, so they were illiterate, and only a few had basic reading and writing skills. We continued the whole year with a lot of difficulties and educational deficiencies.
The students came to school with great enthusiasm and interest, which motivated me to put in more effort and dedicate more time to them. Most families couldn’t afford to buy notebooks and pens, but they still sent their children to school. I did my best to ensure that the students learned more each day. The challenges and hardships transformed me; it was hard to believe that I, the boy who used to do nothing in Iran except play with a mobile phone and study, could be a teacher for about 200 students. But you do what you have to do.
By the end of the year, the students had learned the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic. I was content with myself, and the people were satisfied. The next year, the people again suggested that I become a teacher. Once more, I accepted their offer based on their trust in me and my own desire to continue teaching since there was no one else willing to teach the children and girls of our region if I went to the center of the district to study.
In that year, an education delegation from the district office came to our school and, after evaluating the students, placed them in first, second, and third-grade classes. The district education department also sent a few books, blackboards, and chalk to the school. The facilities were better than the previous year, and I managed to complete the school year successfully.
In 1385, I took the educational documents I had brought from Iran to the district education office. At that time, Mr. Ali-Akbar Jamshidi was the district education supervisor. He wrote a letter to the Sengtakht school, the only school where students reached the eighth grade, recommending me based on the same letter. I became a teacher there. During the spring season, I taught in my own village, and during winter, I became a winter teacher. In 1389, I graduated from Sengtakht High School. In the same year, I participated in the university entrance exam (Konkur) and passed it. Then I went directly to the Education Center in Dykundi Province, registered there, and took the entrance exam for Naser Khosrow Private University. I passed and became a student in the Economics and Management field.
I spent four years away from my family, enduring very difficult conditions. During official hours, I worked as an employee at the education office and taught at the university in my spare time from 4 PM to 8 PM.
I completed my studies and, after finishing my thesis, the university and the Faculty of Economics offered me a position as a lecturer. I accepted the university’s offer and served as a lecturer until six years ago when the Islamic Emirate came. With the political changes, everything, including the university, fell apart, and due to the scattering of students, there were no students left, causing Naser Khosrow University to collapse.
I owe all my successes and progress to Al-Zahra School. It was there that I learned many lessons, including life lessons, and I learned to face problems rather than escape from them. I learned to be sincere with my people and country and to dedicate myself to serving my homeland and its people without hesitation. I will remain in my country and continue my path.
Bashir Alizadeh
I am Bashir Alizadeh, born in Afghanistan on 15th July 1986 in Parwan province. Due to the war, my family and I immigrated to Iran when I was just 9 years old, and that marked a turning point in my life.
At the age of 10, I discovered my passion for martial arts, starting with Wushu and later excelling in Taekwondo and Kung Fu.
At 16, I found hope and opportunity at “Al-Zahra Education centre branch 2,” a private institution for Afghan refugees. There, I dedicated 4 years to studying Persian and English.
Al-Zahra Education Centre became a sanctuary for me and many fellow Afghan refugees, providing us with education and fostering our artistic talents.
My sports journey took flight in 2002 when I competed in the Kung Fu World Championship among immigrants and achieved an impressive second place. This success was just the beginning, as I went on to win numerous championships and accolades.
One of the most cherished memories of my life occurred during the World Championship finals. The students and the teachers of Al-Zahra Education Centre surprised us with their unwavering support, arriving with three buses full of children to cheer on the Afghan National Team. Their enthusiastic spirit uplifted us and created an unforgettable atmosphere.
In 2005, I again competed in European countries and won first place in Finland. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a residence permit there and moved to Italy. Due to life’s circumstances, I couldn’t continue my sports career until the end of 2009 when I started training again. In 2010, I became the champion of Milan. I participated in various other competitions, and in 2011, I competed for the Italian Championship and won the title.
In 2012, I won the third place in the World Cup for Muay Thai and became the first-place winner of the European Championship Cup. My life journey even became the subject of a short film called “The Last Hope.”
In 2014, I earned the prestigious title of World Champion, and in 2015, I secured second place in competitions held in France and Switzerland. In the same year, I played a role in another short film called “Iranian Dinner,”.
Today, I am honoured to teach kickboxing in two martial arts clubs in the beautiful city of Milan.
The impact of Al-Zahra Education Centre on my life has been immense, shaping me into the person I am today. I will forever remain indebted to the school’s inspiring environment and encouragement, which played a vital role in my journey to success.
Masoumeh Hosseinni
I was a 19-year-old girl, holding a diploma in mathematics and physics, a testament to the hard work I had put in. But within a span of two weeks, my dreams were shattered. The pleas I made to my mother for a chance to attend university were met with tears instead of permission. My father’s battle with cancer and my brothers’ troubles consumed all of their attention. Desperation and hopelessness overshadowed the pride of my youth.
I entered the realm of teaching the Quran after that, and I started working as a Quran teacher at Al-Zahra School, which was specifically for Afghan immigrants. My students were in the 5th grade, both girls and boys. They were all children who didn’t have identification documents, studying for half the day and working for the other half. It was a very rewarding feeling to have students of my own, and they considered me their teacher. They listened attentively to my lessons and repeated them with complete precision. It was delightful to hear them recite the lessons after me.
In Alzahra school, among the children of my own homeland, I felt a sense of pride and greatness. The sound of recess bells, cooking competitions between classes, Teacher’s Day and Mother’s Day celebrations with classrooms adorned with decorations, cakes, and children’s treats, their laughter, their singing of poems and anthems, the end of the lesson and the farewell of each student with the teacher, the smell of white chalk, the joy and tears of children after exams, the gratitude of mothers towards the teachers, my students sharing their thoughts and feelings with me – feeling that all these kids loved me – those were really good days. All of these helped me forget about not going to university and the difficulties at home. I was happy, and with my first earnings of 20,000 tomans, I bought clothes for myself and my sisters for the New Year’s holiday. It was the most beautiful dress I had. Maybe for many, it’s unimaginable, but it was true that I had only one dress for all occasions, and my other clothes were all old. When guests came, I would sit in front of them with a chador to cover all my clothes.
I turned 24 and returned to Afghanistan, facing even greater challenges in my homeland. Time and memories tainted my past life. This phase of my life was marked by bad memories, hunger, living in a cold room without warm clothing, shelterless, and without anyone’s support. Days when I would wear all my clothes and sleep until night turned into day, so I wouldn’t feel hunger, the darkness of the room, and my loneliness.
Instead of going to a public university, I took the military university entrance exam because it provided the necessary conditions for my life. However, I had no place to stay until I received the exam results. Eventually, I had to ask for money from people I knew and return to my family. However, no one was happy about my return, and I found myself forced to work at a plastic factory for the sake of a morsel of bread in my father’s house until a call from a friend changed everything.
The call informed me that I had been accepted at the military university, so I left home and returned to Afghanistan. The third phase of my life began, but it was marked by the disapproving glances of others and words that stained my honor and dignity. Our group was the first batch of girls to join the officer training program in the Afghan army, and we had to complete all the training at a dormitory next to the boys’ dormitory. This was not acceptable in the eyes of Afghan society. This burden was heavy on my shoulders, but I had to endure it to build my life.
After four years of hardships, loneliness, and countless challenges, I graduated with a degree in civil engineering and a second rank from the Military University. I married and started a family.
I embarked on a beautiful and peaceful life, away from everyone and all the bad memories, with a good job, good people entering my life, two beautiful and sweet sons, hopes and dreams.
But in an instant, everything changed. The brightness of my days turned into the darkness of night. With a blink of an eye, all the beauty I had built for myself vanished. The sweetness of my peaceful life turned into the bitterness of poison. With the arrival of the Taliban, I lost my peace, job, freedom, security, and sense of self. It’s as if the curse of misfortune destroyed my life. The Taliban’s amnesty for soldiers was a mere lie, and for two and a half years, I have been living in hiding, grieving in my homeland, where I am denied the right to live as a human being. My being a woman, my education, six years of work experience, my freedom, being a mother, being a wife, being a citizen, being happy and content – all buried under layers of oppression.
The entire world is witnessing the destruction of lives, breaths, happiness, children, and futures of the women of my homeland, Afghanistan. But we will not lose hope.
We will continue our lives because time and life are fleeting, and nothing in this world is permanent or enduring. I endure this pain and suffering, and we will continue until Afghanistan regains its freedom. This was a glimpse of the memories of an Afghan girl, a girl who left behind a different family and homeland she didn’t know or see, embarked on a journey alone to build a life full of peace, respect, and love, and achieved the successes she deserved.
Masoumeh Hosseini
Dr. Nemat
I was born in a village in Afghanistan. When I was four years old, my family decided to immigrate to Iran due to the ongoing war in Afghanistan. After arriving in Tehran, as a refugee it was not easy to live in that country. However, my father found a job and a please to live for us. I stared from year one to year 12 studding at Alzahra school in Qarchak branch. Which was run by refugee people. Despite facing several challenges, I feel very compostable in my school because all of my class mate were from Afghanistan and there was no any difference among the students. The teachers was friendly with students. When I finished my year 12, I decided to immigrate to Europe illegally. I was arrested by the Turkish government. I eventually returned to Afghanistan and continued my education and graduating from medical university and becoming a general surgeon. I attribute part of my success to Alzahra School, who played a crucial role in my education.
Maria
I am Maria, the visionary founder of Parisma swimwear, based right here in Norway.
My journey started in Afghanistan, where my family had to escape the ravages of war and find safety in Iran. It was a challenging time and I didn’t know where I could go for study.
But life had something special in store for me. The Al-Zahra education Centre opened its doors to me as a refugee, where I was fortunate to receive an education that would forever change my life.
It was during my time at Al-Zahra that I discovered my passion for tailoring, and a whole new world of creativity blossomed within me. I knew that sewing and creating clothes was my calling, and I carried this passion with me when my siblings and I migrated to Norway. My dream was to study fashion design, and so I did, with unwavering determination.
The path to success was strewn with obstacles, but I never gave up. In 2019, the fruits of my perseverance were acknowledged, and I proudly clinched an award in Oslo for my exceptional designs.
But this journey was never just about me and my dreams. As I pursued my studies, I noticed a void in the market – the lack of covered swimwear options for women seeking comfort. Countless women and teenage girls were missing out on the joys of swimming due to the scarcity of suitable swimwear.
It was then that I realized I had a purpose greater than myself. I made a solemn promise to support women from all walks of life, regardless of their reasons for seeking covered swimwear – be it cultural, religious or personal. My swimwear brand, Parisma, is a symbol of empowerment and inclusivity.
But it doesn’t end there. I deeply care about our planet, and I believe in giving back to the environment that sustains us. That’s why Parisma swimwear is crafted from recycled plastic bottles, taking a bold step towards sustainability.
With Parisma swimwear, you are not just getting fashion; you are joining a movement of empowerment, environmental consciousness, and creativity. By wearing our swimwear, you are supporting the dreams of women everywhere who deserve to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin.
Every stitch, every design, and every purchase carries the essence of Al-Zahra education Center, where creativity flourished within me. Join us on this extraordinary journey, and let’s make a difference together. Together, we can dive into a world where style meets purpose, where fashion embraces inclusivity, and where sustainability becomes a way of life.
Thank you for being a part of our mission. With Parisma swimwear, let’s make waves of change, and let’s inspire the world, one swimsuit at a time.
Hasiba Jami
At a time when girls had to work harder to get an education than boys, I went against what society expected of me. Tradition said that girls should get married when they were 17 or 18, but I only wanted one thing: to learn more and go to college. My four sisters and I took on the challenge of learning together, sharing pencils, papers, erasers, and any other tools we could find. We found comfort in the al-Zahra schools, which were run by kind and good people. In al-Zahra schools, where boys and girls sat next to each other in the classroom, rules were broken and our families’ ability to be tolerant was tried.
I wanted to show that my parents’ image wouldn’t be hurt by me studying with boys. I was determined, so I became a flower seller and took on the responsibility of school and English language lessons. My hard-working building worker father already had enough to worry about, so I vowed not to add to them.
My daughter, Fatima, will go on an amazing trip in just fifteen days. She will go to Turkey and then South Korea to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Games, which start on September 6. When my daughter wins the national karate championship for Afghanistan, I am very proud of her. With his strong will, he fights hard for the rights of children and women who are hurt by the difficulties of their home country. Fatima’s appearance proves beyond a doubt that Afghan women can do great things and break down any hurdles that stand in their way.
My daughter, Fatemeh Jami, is a recognised member of the Afghanistan national taekwondo team and a taekwondo champion. When I see how far he has come, I can’t help but feel proud. She is a great example of how strong Afghan women are. She fights bravely for the rights of children and poor women in our country and shows that their potential is limitless. I owe this win to Ms. Hawa Rezaei, the headmistress of Khairbahan School. She was our guiding light and helped us in every way along the long, hard way.
When we won the competition in Tehran, it was a moment we’ll never forget. It was also an event that made a lot of kids and teens in our country feel better. He taught us about different games and gave me a spark of motivation. The thought kept coming to mind: Could I become a hero like those amazing kids? The fact that I didn’t have enough money stopped me from pursuing my own goals. But with the help of Almighty God, my wife’s constant support, and the facilities set up by Al-Zahra Educational School, I was able to get my daughter to the World Championships.
We didn’t give up in our search for information, skills, and greatness, even when things were hard or against the rules. Our stories show how strong the human spirit is and tell everyone that nothing can put out the fire that burns inside us.
Seyyed Zahra
I am Seyyed Zahra. In Afghanistan, I studied psychology and military science at the same time in two universities. But after the fall of Kabul, I came to Iran and now I am working as a teacher at Al-Zahra Educational Center. I have a limited number of classes, but it provides a safe and quiet place away from my homeland for Afghan boys and girls who have immigrated here and started life from scratch. I teach them English.
Class time is devoted to questions and answers. Many of them share memories of Kabul and talk about the dreams they nurtured, which often become a topic of conversation in class.
In the classroom, children talk about their concerns and experiences in Kabul. Issues such as the sound of rockets and constant damage still disturb their lives. When the sound of the explosion echoes in the alley, fear is visible in the children’s eyes.
I talk to them about prestigious universities and inquire about learning English to change their lives. They ask questions like how to go to university, how to manage time and how long it takes to learn English.
I give them hope and answer their questions. I hope I can guide these young people to their dreams. This is a challenge for me, given my own vulnerabilities, but through hope and motivation, I believe in them.
I remind myself of the enormous efforts these children are making. Instead of looking for motivation to play and have fun, they have to work to survive and study hard.
As someone who once aspired to serve and be promoted as a military officer in Afghanistan, my dreams have now been laid to rest. Now, along with teaching, I am giving the hope of a bright future in the light of hard work to the children of my homeland. I hope one day my students will achieve their dreams.