A young woman’s journey to becoming an aid worker in Afghanistan

“Education means equality and freedom to us,” said Mahsa.* “Without it my friends and I don’t have a future.” 

Mahsa is in her early twenties, and despite the considerable odds against her she achieved something rare in Afghanistan: a professional career with a humanitarian organization while still pursuing her undergraduate degree. 

Mahsa was born in Afghanistan during a time of great hope and opportunity. But almost everything she enjoyed is now off limits for women – social gatherings, music and, most importantly, education.

Born in Herat Province, Mahsa moved to the country’s capital, Kabul, with her family as a child. As the youngest, she felt well protected by her siblings and was encouraged by her parents to pursue her goals. However, since the takeover by the de facto authorities in August 2021, Mahsa’s educational journey has been full of obstacles. 

Back then she had just started a bachelor’s programme in business and was determined to continue her studies.  But in March 2022 the de facto authorities banned girls in the sixth grade and above from studying and returning to school. In December of that year, they also banned women from attending universities. Mahsa had completed about half of her studies at that point; she was initially distraught but quickly began looking for ways to continue her education. 

“My father showed me how to stay positive and to work hard for my dreams,” she said. “He is my inspiration.”

Fortunately, Mahsa was able to transfer her credits to an online degree programme run by the American University of Afghanistan, operating in Qatar. The programme offered her and other Afghan women the chance to complete their studies despite the ban. As one of the top students in her class, she was selected for a remote-study programme funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through a special scholarship. 

Mahsa attends online classes every day while also working full time, and she often wakes early to attend morning classes before work. She also dials in to classes during her lunch break and stays up late to finish assignments. She is often tired but is willing to go the extra mile to obtain her degree in a context where so few women have been given a similar opportunity.

Mahsa first heard about humanitarian assistance when she was in the sixth grade (around 11 years old). Some fellow students could not afford school materials and received supplies from a UN agency. When the teacher explained where this assistance came from and why it was so important to some families, Mahsa felt inspired and gave all of her notebooks to classmates who had none. Years later, during her first semester of university, she took a human rights class and studied the UN system in detail.

Mahsa enjoys working in her field. She said proudly: “I feel really good about my work and the contribution I can make to the team, but sometimes I wish I could do more.” 

She regrets having to often stay “behind the scenes” because of the de facto authorities’ restrictions on women’s movements. But she hopes obtaining her degree will allow her to apply for more senior positions in the sector and take on a more front-line role. 

She explained: “I want to grow and have a career in a field where I can genuinely help people and make a positive difference in their lives. For me, access to education and the right to work are key. I wish that not only for myself but all other women in Afghanistan.”

Note: In January 2025, the US Government announced a pause in US foreign assistance. This immediately affected USAID’s global work, and Mahsa’s scholarship and the remote-study programme. Overnight, her progamme and all online classes were suspended. To date, Mahsa does not know how and when she’ll be able to complete her bachelor’s degree. 

*Name has been changed.