Assembly

We’re so proud of the incredible legacy Assembly leaves behind. 💛 Remember: there is power in your voice.

With 120+ issues and counting, thousands of girls around the world have shared their stories with Assembly. 💛 We asked a couple contributors how the publication has impacted them👇🏾 “I would not be where I am without the support and community at the Malala Fund. Thank you for allowing me to tell the story of brilliance and resiliency of myself and those in my community. Quyana Cakneq.” — @charitieropati , U.S. "After publishing my article on the femicide crisis in Mexico, I realized that my words had an impact on the world and that I could speak for myself and other girls thanks to writing. I found a love for writing that impacted my future goals; I now want to study for a master's in journalism and work at an NGO.” — Mariajose de Jesús Castillo Cervantes, Mexico “Assembly has now become my safe haven where my thoughts are not only embraced, but also empowered.” — @itsmekhwahish , India “Writing for Assembly makes me feel like home. Because of Assembly I have become a part of a space where young women coming from different countries, culture, backgrounds are celebrated for who they are and I’m grateful for that.” — Opshori Nondona, Bangladesh "Contributing to Assembly makes me feel proud of being a girl. I am honored to be a part of the vibrant Assembly community; I wish all girls could read this publication.” — Heidi, South Korea "Assembly teaches us that we don’t have to be afraid to raise our voice and speak up for our human rights, that we have the right to highlight our issues and to demand more justice for ourselves.” — @cry.catta02 , Italy “Because of Assembly, we have become confident and empowered through our advocacy for a better, innovative, sustainable and happy world." — @de_nsentip_twins18 (Eduek Nsentip and Uforo Nsentip), Nigeria

In the spring of 2013, when my family and I left our small town in Afghanistan for the vast city of Istanbul, it felt like opening a completely new chapter in my life — like loading a fresh roll of film into my analog camera. Ten years later, I loaded another roll of film and returned alone to Afghanistan to shoot a documentary film. What led me to this journey was a desire to hold on to the beautiful memories from my childhood, despite the many changes I knew existed in Afghanistan over the years. This journey would also be a confrontation for me; would I find the place I left behind as it once was? Would the fruits still taste as sweet? Was I ready to face what I had only read about and heard over the years? The regime had changed, and girls were no longer allowed to attend school. Many things had become more restrictive and challenging for women. From the moment I arrived, I felt this change with my every breath and tried to adapt to this new experience. Being back in the place where I was born was challenging, but leaving it behind in this state was much harder. Seeing girls my age unable to go to school and sensing the hopelessness in their questions upset me the most. Yet, despite my efforts, it was often them who found ways to make me laugh instead. Playing games with the children again and sharing laughter reminded me of the happiness I felt when looking at old photographs. Now, after washing the roll of film, the images remind me of how unique and beautiful every moment I lived truly was. As I look at the world through the lens of my camera, I see countless stories waiting to be told. Hidden places and times, just waiting to be discovered. Afghanistan was full of hidden stories. From the animals on the street to the bread sellers, everyone had something to teach me. Trying to see the world through their eyes, noticing their joy of sharing, gave me the courage to open my camera and load another roll of film.

Have you ever wondered when the decision-makers in the education sector were last in a classroom? Let alone in one of our schools? Or have you ever wondered how many of these decision-makers come from the places we live, look like us or are even women? I think all these questions are answered in the education systems we see in our countries. My name is Meti T. Gemechu, one of the co-leads — along with Dr. Ayesha Kareem and Tamilore Omojola — for the Girls’ Vision for Education with Malala Fund. This initiative is not just a project; it’s part of a movement to place the voices of girls and young women at the forefront of global education reform. Girls’ Vision for Education is about imagining a world where girls and young women are not faced with barriers to education; a world focused on solutions tailored to their unique circumstances. Too often, girls are sidelined in conversations about their future, despite being the ones most directly affected by the decisions made. We firmly believe that girls are the experts in their own lives. They know best what they need to thrive, and it’s time we all listened. We asked girls worldwide to share their insights, dreams and realities with us. We heard their voices, their stories and their visions for what education should be. This was a chance to truly understand what it would mean for girls if education reflected their specific needs. For me, working on this has been an incredibly humbling experience. I’ve seen firsthand the passion, creativity and resilience that girls bring to the table when they’re engaged in a way that is meaningful and thought out. Together, we can create education systems that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of every girl no matter where she is. 💛

Happy Day of the Girl, Assembly readers. 💗 In this special issue of Assembly, we're celebrating the young women co-leading Malala Fund's Girls' Vision for Education consultation, which seeks to reimagine secondary education to better meet the needs, wants and ambitions of girls. The consultation reached nearly 800 girls from 30 countries, and we expect to share the findings early next year. The leads share more on the consultation process, their reflections and why young women need to be front and centre when creating education policy. Find their stories at the link in bio.🌟

The only people who know what girls want are girls. That’s why Malala Fund has put the voices of young women front and centre since our founding. Now we are partnering with girls around the world to develop Girls’ Vision for Education — a resource that will feature insights and priorities, solutions and recommendations from girls themselves on how they would reimagine their education in a world without barriers to learning. For Day of the Girl, a few of the young women we partnered with share about the project and why girls’ voices must be at the centre of education policy. Find more at the link in bio.

This week marks three years since Afghan girls were turned away from classrooms. But despite the Taliban’s ban on their education, they’re finding innovative ways to keep learning, growing and holding hope for a better future. Swipe through to see four young women reflect on these past three years, how they’ve coped and their demands to leaders. Illustrations: @erinhung_studio — Malala Fund received these stories through our partner Civic Engagement Project, who works with young Afghan women activists to tackle their country’s gender apartheid. Through coalition-building and training workshops, they’re developing bold policy ideas and advocacy strategies to drive real change. Follow @civic_engagement_project for more on their work.

27-year-old Hazara activist Tamana dreamed of getting her master’s degree in law and political science to fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan’s government. But when the Taliban came to power on August 15, 2021, her dream shattered. Banned from university, jobs and public spaces, she, alongside other women and girls, began organising week after week to protest the Taliban’s gender apartheid. Participating in these protests led to her arrest — and she was forced to flee the country to the United States. Now starting a new life in a new country, Tammana still remains hopeful for Afghanistan’s future. She says: “Afghan women and girls are fighting face to face with a terrorist group. They’re brave and I’m sure that one day we will be without the Taliban again. But freedom does not come without sacrifice. You will always have to fight for your rights and that is what Afghan women and I are doing right now.”

The epitome of bravery, courage and defiance — 27-year-old Hazara activist Sorayya Heidary. Sorayya is one of many Afghan girls fighting against gender apartheid in Afghanistan — in her country and now abroad. Swipe to read her story.

Three years ago the Taliban used military power to take over Afghanistan. Since then, Afghan women and girls’ lives have been upended. They’re banned from attending school past grade 6, they cannot work or participate in most aspects of everyday life like going on walks in the park, going to the library or to the salon. But Afghan women and girls aren’t giving up hope. They continue to fight to protect their futures — and that of generations to come. In this special issue of Assembly, we share stories from two Afghan activists Sorayya Heidary and Tamana Rizaei who recount their time in Afghanistan protesting for women’s rights and in Taliban prison following their arrests — and share why they continue to resist. And we also hear from girls in Afghanistan on what keeps them hopeful for Afghanistan's future. Read their stories at the link in bio.

For her birthday this year, Malala visited Harrow High School in London to meet with Afghan girls and their classmates and to speak about girls’ education in Afghanistan. And Sara, 15, a Harrow High School student, documented the day it happened. She shares her and other students’ takeaways after speaking with Malala and their Afghan classmates. She says: “Malala’s visit to Harrow High School was more than just an event; it was a call to action. It reminded us of the power of education and the importance of fighting for the rights of those who are denied it. We left with a renewed commitment to advocate for educational rights and to stand in solidarity with girls in Afghanistan and around the world.” Read her article at the link in bio.

The key to building any movement? Solidarity.💛 When Malala met with Afghan girls and their classmates at @harrowhighs last week, they sat down together and wrote letters to girls in Afghanistan, expressing their solidarity and admiration of girls’ resilience. Swipe to read what some students wrote. P.S. Malala Fund is delivering these letters to girls in schools in Afghanistan. 💌