Building Her Will Power | Issue 02.
Stories of Strength, Hope and the Power of the Human Spirit
My Will Power
by Wahida Sadaqat
I have met versions of myself that nobody else knows. The girl who smiled in conversations then cried quietly at night. The one who carried dreams too heavy for her age, yet still held them gently like fragile glass in her hands. People speak about strength as if it is something magnificent a mountain, a fire, a victory everyone can see. But sometimes strength looks like surviving another morning. Sometimes it is brushing your hair with swollen eyes. Answering messages when your heart feels distant from the world. Sitting in front of unfinished work while your mind whispers, “You are too tired for this.” And still you continue. That is will power. Not perfection. Not endless motivation. Just the quiet refusal to abandon yourself. There were moments I wanted life to pause for me. Moments I questioned whether effort was worth the ache it carried. But somewhere inside me, beneath fear, beneath exhaustion, something kept breathing. A small voice saying, “Try one more time.” So I did. Again. And again. And again. I learned that resilience is not born in peaceful seasons. It is shaped inside uncertainty. Inside lonely nights, inside silent disappointments, inside the ache of becoming. And somehow, the people who love us become pieces of our strength too. A friend checking in. A teacher believing in us. A stranger’s kindness. A mother’s prayer. Tiny lights guiding us through our darkest hours. I think will power is sacred. Because even after the world wounds us, even after rejection, failure, exhaustion, there are still people who wake up every day and choose hope anyway. People who continue creating, loving, learning, dreaming. People who carry entire storms inside them and still speak softly. Maybe that is what courage truly is. Not being fearless, but continuing to walk forward with trembling hands. And maybe one day, we will look back at every painful step and realize: the strongest part of us was built quietly when nobody was watching.
Bamiyan Paradise
Acrylic Painting
by Sarwari.Art
I am an artist and educator at Living Wisdom School. I believe in the power of creativity as a path to healing and growth. Through my work, I explore resilience, hope, and the quiet strength that helps us keep moving forward through challenges.
This artwork is a gentle narrative of hope and peace in the heart of Afghanistan, where the Bamiyan Buddha is not seen as a silent ruin, but as an awakened guardian of history—a symbol of continuity, memory, and rebirth. Within the stone and silence, a quiet story of cultural revival unfolds. The clear blue sky feels as though it has washed away the wounds of the past, while flowing water softly whispers of life continuing and the healing of suffering. This harmony between sky and earth creates a sense of calm and balance across the canvas.
In the foreground, a young girl stands as a symbol of a new generation and a hopeful future, her gaze filled with dreams as she stands on the edge of possibility. Beside her, white unicorns form a bridge between imagination and reality, suggesting that dreams can move closer to truth. Here, history, nature, and imagination come together to create a vision of peace and harmony—where the past is not denied, but reimagined, opening the way toward a more compassionate future.
Kowsar
by Elin
Let me say that I am the daughter of this land, Not a withered branch captured by the winds. I am rooted in pain, yet I stand strong, From a generation of women Whose hearts are seas. They said, "Be silent, the times are dark." They said, "Dreams are not meant for you." But through the coldness of endless nights, I learned that dawn is not born on its own. Sometimes, my heart breaks for my homeland, Sometimes I burn from the people's silence. But no, I am not that silent girl Even at the heigh of defeat, I rise and shine again. A day will come when history will write Of a girl who did not surrender to her pain. Of Kowsar, who among these dark nights Fell down, yet rose again and sang, "Kowsar".
A Collection of Short Essays
by Farukhlines
The Challenges of Silent Offenders: Are We Also Guilty?
In today’s world, everyone talks about women’s rights, but a question has arisen for me: “Have you ever reacted when you witnessed a girl in danger, being harassed or abused? Have you ever had the courage to stand up to those with malicious intentions and support those women?”.
If you haven’t done this, can we still talk about women’s rights and feminism?
Now, imagine the pain and challenges that younger girls endure.
For example, if I raise my voice, I face repression from all sides, but I will never give up. Even when I face obstacles, I will continue to fight and defend my rights.
You, too, must accompany this path with a clear conscience. I know that everyone is at risk, but women, especially, face greater dangers. When they step outside their homes and secure environments, they are subjected to inquisitive gazes and vulgar remarks, and facing this is extremely difficult.
But let us remember that the strength of an Afghan woman surpasses all these challenges.
The Power of Hope: The Story of an Afghan Girl’s Resistance
Two years ago!
You might ask, why two years and not three years? Because, secretly, we studied for one year.
The day we came to realize what had happened, we discovered that a female staff member had secretly entered the school as a guardian and taken pictures of us, sending them to the authorities.
When I learned about this, a sense of insecurity took over me, and I realized that women too can be cruel to their own kind, in a deep and merciless way.
The school principal was deeply concerned but still told us that she would not let us be deprived of our education. Little did we know what fate awaited us. Days passed, and they came repeatedly to check on the school, and we would hide in a small room. Every time I heard they were coming, I would think of the story of the mouse and the cat; they wanted to trap us and shut down our school for breaking the rules.
Finally, after they left, the principal called all the students of the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades into the meeting room. I remember feeling a strange fear overwhelming me; my hands were shaking, and I couldn’t bring myself to enter the room. When we sat down, she began to speak, and with great respect, she finally said: “I tried very hard, but it really didn’t work. I can’t see you hiding every day with fear and terror. I can’t bear this pressure and stress any longer.” In the end, she announced, “It is better if you don’t come to school from tomorrow, as your lives, as well as ours, are at risk. More importantly, your lives and dignity are at risk.”
After hearing these heavy words, I returned to my class, feeling as though I had no sensation in my body. Suddenly, my eyes filled with tears as I thought about what would happen next. Would I never be able to study again? Would all the dreams and goals I had set for myself be destroyed? I had always complained about staying home on holidays; how could I survive without school? And so, I returned home, my tears dried, and a deep silence took over me.
Seeking Light in the Heart of Darkness
Today, I want to share the story of an Afghan girl who was forcibly removed from school at gunpoint.
A girl who, despite all the obstacles, never gave up. From a young age, her only concern was that she should not play with boys on the street, and she had to accept this reality. As she grew older, she was told that she must stay at home, and whenever she went outside, she had to cover herself in a veil. She accepted this too. But the society in which she lives is incredibly unjust and cruel, and each of its problems burdens her shoulders.
Eventually, some individuals or movements succeeded in closing the doors of schools to girls. But did she and her peers fall into despair after that? Never. They will never give up. Our destiny may not have unfolded as we wished, but we will continue to sprout from the rocks and problems, and in the end, we will succeed. Even in the darkest of our evenings, dawn will break. All we need to do is remain hopeful and move forward with determination.
A Note for the Readers
The stories you will read are completely real, but their purpose is not to upset you, rather, to foster mutual understanding. After these incidents, did I accept defeat? No, certainly not. With an iron will, I persevered, studying language day and night and practicing writing. This is how I became the Farkuhlines of today, and I never considered failure as an option for myself. I know every strong Afghan girl has a story like mine and will never be defeated.
Cinematic Nature Video
by Heela
I filmed this video in Chemtal Sai, a place that felt peaceful and inspiring to me. Traveling there gave me time to enjoy nature, clear my thoughts, and appreciate the beauty around me. The quiet atmosphere and beautiful views reminded me to stay positive and keep working toward my goals even during difficult times. Through this video, I wanted to share not only the scenery of Chemtal Sai, but also the feeling of calmness, motivation, and hope that I experienced while being there.
Dove of Peace
by Wiha
I want to be a dove, not a tired person in this world. I want to be a dove, not afraid of tomorrow or anything. I want to fly in the sky, go wherever my heart wants. Have no worries about food or home, just go and go , sometimes in the wind, sometimes among the clouds, between green and beautiful trees, maybe over the sea. I want to be a dove, when I want to go freely, No one calls my name, no one says: Where are you going? What are you doing? Come back soon! I want to be free, maybe because my dream is to travel around the world easily, without a cage, without fear. I will be a dove of peace, and you will only see my shadow passing by the sun.