Is This the Life for Afghan Teenagers?
Posted on 26 April 2009 by MHotaki
by Maryam Hotaki
Photo By David Shaw
After the Taliban regime, many Afghan immigrants wanted to come back to their homeland, but now things have changed. No one wants to come back. Even the ones who have already come, plan on going back from where they came. “Why?” Is the first thing that comes to our mind after thinking about this fact. There are many people who don’t have jobs, and can’t support their families. This makes them think of going to other countries in order to get jobs. These people don’t care about the problems they could face, the only thing they care about is making money to support their families. Among these people are some teenagers who face many problems, but still accept to go. Sometimes, deciding to go out of country even results in death.
Around two weeks ago, ninety five afghan teenagers (from the ages of 16-18) wanted to go to Iran for jobs. These teenagers, who could not attend schools or colleges because of financial problems, were the only ones who could financially support their families. They had lost all hope of getting jobs in Afghanistan and they didn’t have any choice other than thinking of going to Iran in an illegal way. The teenagers where put in a big container attached to a car. Then, the doors to the container were closed. After a while, they realized that there was no oxygen inside that container. They screamed and hit the doors hoping that someone would open the doors for them. But unfortunately no one heard their voices and screams. In the middle of the trip, the driver needed something inside the container so he went to open the door. After opening the door, he saw a horrible view. He realized that most of the teenagers (45 of them) had died. Fifty of them, on the other hand, were alive, but unconscious. He, who I think can barely be called a human, left them all and escaped. He knew that what happened was somehow his fault and did not want to shoulder the blame. After some time, the residents of that place found out about the container and the people inside it. They called the police, and they carried the people who were alive to hospital. One of the teenagers who is in the hospital right now says: “We wanted to help ourselves and our families. We had no choice. Right now I am not worried that I am in a bad situation in the hospital; I am worried what to say to my little four and six year-old siblings when they ask for food.”
I heard about this tragic news about two weeks ago, but I am still feeling really upset. Compared to the rest of the world, conditions for teens in Afghanistan is despicable. Teenagers should be out enjoying life and focusing on their studies. They are the ones that need special care and attention from a responsible adult yet in Afghanistan most of them are the ones responsible for making ends meet for their families. I want to ask something, an unanswered question: Is this the life for afghan teenagers?
Tags | Teenagers, Unemployment in Afghanistan
In my point of view, Afghan teenagers are really competent, only if facilities are provided to them.
I can promise you all, that Afghanistan is becoming better and better.
Nice article. It’s thought provoking and the points that are raised here have merits worth considering by the Afghan government.
I agree with the author that the government must do more and that teens,
“should be out enjoying life and focusing on their studies. They are the ones that need special care and attention from a responsible adult yet in Afghanistan most of them are the ones responsible for making ends meet for their families”
Perhaps… perhaps the government is just too focused on the insurgency in the south and east, and so, in the process, resources meant for education and the welfare of the youth are diverted for the afghan security forces.
It’s the same situation actually anywhere else in the world, especially in places where there are also internal conflicts. So, this situation is not unique to afghanistan alone.
The concerns raised in the article are legitimate. I hope that it will be addressed soon.
Wonderful writing, seriously it graped my attention.
Unfortunatly, Afghan teenagers are facing more horrible things like; drug addiction, pority, moreover, brain washed to do suicide attacks. I agree that the situation is terrible but what can we do?
Thanks for liking the story.
Well, it is right that we can’t do anything noticeable for the problems teenagers are facing.
But we all should try and do the smallest things we can because these small things help make big and noticeable changes.
Thanks Maryam for the support.
This is a big problem in our country that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. If the government doesn’t do anything, more teenagers might lose their life for finding food for their families.
Yeah. The government MUST do something in this regard.
When hearth feels the pain, change starts. The ones who are feels beath of the hearth are the ones who are changing the world.Keep THINKING with a LOUD voice…!!!
I really am disappointed by reading this!
I would love to read more articles written by you.
Hi
yeah. true
they are living in a bad situation and working and they don’t have opportunities to study
Of the 6 comments that are posted in response to the article, 5 are complimenting the writer instead of commenting on the issue that is addressed. That only further supports the fact that we, Afghans, as a nation, are nothing but ignorant towards our country, our people and our culture.
Not everybody is as blessed as those studying at the American University. Mind you that blessing can be taken away as easily as it is bestowed upon us. If we can not help the impoverished with material goods, the next best thing we can do is to sympathize with them and realize the fact that their pain is for REAL.
Mr. Kakail,
What you said is exactly true.
I completely agree with you.
Dear marayam jan
i am soo happy to see your article hare and i found many many thing on it.
wish you all the best
hafizullah hasif
Salaam Maryam Jan,
I got the link of your university’s site from your weblog.
Your english writing is as good as your persian.I will keep coming here.
Dear Maryam Jan!
Inspite of being the youngest student you write great.
All the best!
What the hell!
Who cares what.
Afghan teens should work and study so that they will not face this kind of thing more.
Hi
your article was fantastic. i am agree with you. afghan teenagers are living in a really bad situation.
keep it up Maryam jan.