Afghan Girl Who Escaped Taliban to Get to MIT

Help Maryam Succeed at MIT and Keep Her Family Safe From the Taliban

Hi, my name is Pascale Harter and I’m a Boston resident. I've spent my life as a journalist for one of the most trusted broadcasters in the world. But sometimes reporting the news is not enough. Sometimes we have to help...Let me introduce you to Maryam, whose hard work, intelligence, and grit have taken her from the stranglehold of the Taliban all the way to MIT. With a monthly donation we can make sure Maryam thrives at school and keep her sisters safe, so that they too stand a chance of making something with their lives.

How I Met Maryam

I first got to know Maryam’s family when they reached out from Kabul to tell me that the Taliban was targeting girls more than ever. They told me of beatings on the streets and threats of life imprisonment if girls weren’t completely covered. Maryam’s family was deeply afraid. They are Hazara, a minority the Taliban singles out for the harshest treatment.

A Secret Education

As we spoke more about their lives under the Taliban, I became impressed by the sisters’ determination and courage; they carried on learning in secret despite knowing they'd be brutally punished if they were caught. Whatever online course they took, they quickly shared the knowledge with other girls, as if it was food for survival.

Maryam taught herself coding and dreamed of studying at MIT. Her elder sister wanted to become a surgeon. She had just been accepted into Kabul’s University of Medical Sciences when the Taliban seized power, robbing her and countless other Afghan girls of a career. With no school to go to, younger Afsar kept up her art in secret, and 16-year-old Smira held onto her dreams of being a reporter, like the women she'd seen on TV before the Taliban returned.

But suddenly, the girls were forced to prepare for marriage to men they did not know. Their mother protested. She was beaten, badly.

A Dangerous Escape

When Maryam told me she was going to flee Afghanistan with her mother and siblings, I was afraid for them. There was a real risk that they would be stopped at the border and tortured for trying to escape. When I got the call, on a wintry Boston morning in 2024, that all ten of them had arrived safely in Pakistan, it was a huge relief.

Tools to Teach Refugee Children in the Local Park

But their struggle isn’t over; life as a refugee in Pakistan is hard. Organizations that help, like the UNHCR, are overwhelmed and underfunded. Gangs in Islamabad prey on vulnerable refugees. Police regularly harass them. Maryam’s mother hopes the family can start a new life in a safe country. They’re on a list waiting for resettlement. In the meantime, Maryam needs to send money back to cover the rent of their tiny apartment, basics such as food, power, and medicine, and things that make a difference to their lives – an internet connection so they can keep studying, paper and pens for their little brother. In Pakistan, refugee children aren’t allowed to go to school. They spend their days with nothing to do or play with. Maryam’s sisters started teaching them in a local park.

These girls deserve our help!

This is a family that loves learning. Their future was snatched away by the Taliban but it’s not too late for them to get back on track and live their potential. Maryam has proved her academic ability by being accepted at MIT. She sat her calculus exams just after her escape, despite the chaotic circumstances around her. At MIT, she’s studying hard and acing her first year. But her family’s situation weighs heavy on her mind. Any money and effort we spend helping this family is well-spent, allowing Maryam to concentrate on her studies and get the odd Dunkin' with her classmates. I believe these girls will achieve great things given the chance they deserve.

Thank you for a Monthly Donation

Setting a monthly donation really helps, is easy to do and is guaranteed by gofundme. Together Maryam and I will forward funds to her family using Western Union. We are happy to show receipts to all donors upon request. I have changed Maryam's name in this story as a precaution, but you can look me up online -- and get in touch!

We know there's a lot of need out there right now and we greatly appreciate you taking the time to read and consider this. Every little bit helps!

We are looking to reach a monthly goal of $800 for:

$600 to cover the family's rent, food and basic needs

$100 to cover their visas in Pakistan

$100 for Maryam's expenses that aren't covered by her scholarship, such as a phone subscription and for her to enjoy a small slice of student life.