“Then Suddenly it All Feels Right, So Right. . .” Nuzhat Shahzadi

 

It was a brilliant day armored with fiery heat. I decided to venture out. Life is simple––I step out to buy one avocado, or 2 tomatoes for salad, . . . a bunch of Cilantro to garnish the pasta for dinner. Walking helps me to process emotions that stir my mind, wrench the heart . . . Wholefoods store is only ten minutes’ walk from our house.

 

Our House

I had received an email from David Hogg, the young man whose life was changed forever by a school shooting in Parkland, Florida (USA)––a 19-year-old killed 17 people (students, teachers, staff) and injured another 17 with an assault weapon. David took a year off before starting college, travelled around the country raising awareness against gun violence. This young-activist graduated from Harvard in May, 2023.

Sadly, adults in authority have failed/are failing. Young leaders, I believe, are our only hope. Our focus, investment in them could be the only solution to expel the status-quo.

As I neared the Wholefoods, my attention was captured by a group of girls shouting, cheering and dancing in the street with banners, pompoms. And I met with this amazing 9th grader, Melanie. The girls were attracting passers-by to a car-wash across the road.

“We’re trying to raise money for charity,” she said. Fascinating! The girls’ ecstatic zeal flooded my world––all skepticism were almost washed away.

Melanie

 

Carwash Girls

We spoke a bit. Surprisingly, she pronounced my name correctly (Oh, Abba––why did you pick this name for me??). She told me about herself, the cause she supported. I told her about my work with UNICEF.

“I’m so proud of you.” I was genuine.

“Together we can change the world!” She beamed. (Oh, optimism!) “Yayyy, girl power!” We high-fived and I was on my way.

A lion’s share of my professional life I spent working with young people, especially girl-leaders. Most of them have become a part of the ‘grand plan’ in our vast universe. Some have kept in touch . . .

I/we hired two young adults in Herat to support youth programs––girls’ education, girls’ empowerment. Tahir, about 21, was initially hired as a manager of the Herat-youth center under the deputy ministry of youth affairs, sponsored by UNICEF. The center was geared to provide skill development education (to girls, boys) including computer literacy, English language learning and vocational training. He was having difficulty to function in an extremely corrupt government system. I liked him.

Tahir resigned and instantly he was with us (UNICEF) directly responsible for promoting the girls’ programs we funded. With his assistance we established the girls’ sports forum in 15 schools in Herat city––the result of my many months of discussion with adolescent-girls and female teachers. This was an essential approach to prevent older girls from dropping out, to support their rights to recreation and identity as “girls.” (More on this later).

Fariha, 19, was hired to address menstrual hygiene in schools. I secured the funds from education, child protection and WASH sections for the two initiatives. We also built a strong partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent youth volunteers’ programs.

Nuzhat with Girls' Sports Forum members in Herat

 

After I left, both lost their jobs due to change in management in UNICEF-Herat. Tahir and Fariha got married eventually and established an institution to protect girls and women––victims of domestic abuse.

The years rolled on. They migrated to the US and moved to Stafford County––about an hours’ drive from our house. We continued to keep in touch. We tried to meet several times, unsuccessfully, and then covid happened. I wanted them to meet Izara and her parents––to hold them again, and their two beautiful daughters, Diana and Dunyia. Finally, last month they came over. I never thought I would see them after 12 years, and in America!

We laughed and talked. They shared many stories . . .

“Only two people in my life explicitly told me regarding proper behavior. One was my mother, the other was your mom,” Tahir said to my son.

We walked through the memory lanes and streets and highways and alleys . . .plucking out the most ingenious, outrageous, hilarious, fond moments of our shared existences . . . at the time of hiring I had warned Tahir that he had to be at his best while working with girls.

“ . . . any reports of hanky-panky and I will fire you on the spot––Nuzhat had laid down the rules.” Tahir roared with laughter. (Tahir used to drive a red convertible sports car and was handsome––a lethal combination to trouble the girls’ hearts).

“No short sleeves, formal pants . . . politeness. I still remember her words. She reigned in Herat.” He added amidst fresh laughter . . .

“So proud of you both!” I hugged them goodbye. Our investment-gamble in young people fruited in good rewards, often.

“We learned from the best,” Fariha teased.

Izara loved playing with the girls (had some conflicts with Duniya who is closer to her age).

Fariha, Tahir and Family

(Note: Tahir works with a counter-terrorism organization, Fariha with a federal contractor- agency.

In 2022, the Parkland school shooter was sentenced to life in prison without parole.)

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Nuzhat may be contacted at: nuzhatshahzadi@gmail.com