… I have to believe she will do it. She’s a miracle girl.
Let me begin at the beginning. Almost exactly three years ago, I wrote a blog post about a girl from a deeply conservative family in Herat, Afghanistan, who secretly took up golf and opened a whole new world for herself.
It was through the radio show “Only a Game” that I learned about Shagufa Habibi and how she had gotten herself to a golf competition in Bangladesh and then bravely applied to college there and matriculated without the knowledge of either her family or the abusive husband she was forced to marry at age 16.
Fast forward to early 2020, when I get a message at the blog from Shagufa thanking me for my 2017 post. Turns out she now lives half an hour away from me in Massachusetts.
This is a young woman who makes things happen for herself. After a few emails, she asks if I could help her prepare for the graduate record exam (GRE). She wants to go to grad school to acquire the tools she needs to set up a South Asia foundation for girls in sports that will empower them to break free of traditional constraints and dangers.
Shagufa’s vision combines access to sports (which poor South Asian girls usually lack), education in skills such as leadership, and a stipend to help the young women financially so their impoverished families will be less pressed to marry them off for the bride price.
I know. Pretty far out, huh?
But when I consider all she has already done, including being accepted for fall 2021 at a top grad school and awarded a generous scholarship, I know she will do what she sets out to do.
But here’s the rub. Despite the generosity of the scholarship from Brandeis, Shagufa still can’t afford to go. She has no family here to help her, and they definitely do not support her goals. In fact, if she returned to Afghanistan right now, her life would be in danger because she is regarded as having “dishonored” her family.
Read her description of the situation and her ambitious dream in the GoFundMe link below and consider whether you want to help her with a donation or just cheer her on. Maybe you’d be up for telling someone you know about her.
I have been speaking with Shagufa via What’s App once or twice a week since we met. We alternate between work on advanced vocabulary (you wouldn’t believe how she studies and retains the most difficult words!) and GRE-type essay topics, because even though Brandeis waived the GRE for now, Shagufa still plans to take it. Often we spend part of the hour just chatting and learning about each other’s culture.
The GoFundMe site for Shagufa is here.
Shagufa Habibi, Afghan miracle worker.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
What an incredible story, and one to make a certain blogger proud!! I’m not in a position to donate, but will share her story on Facebook in hopes some of my friends will. Go Shagufa!
Thanks so much, Hannah. Sharing her story is just as important, maybe more so.
🙂
Thank you so much dear Hannah. I am very glad that you found my story interesting. I am thankful for the great help of dear Caroline. Please keep sharing my story. Your help means a lot toward my journey.
Hannah shared it on Facebook, Shagufa. I forgot to make it “public” on Facebook, so will go back and do that.
What a life story and she is so young. Thank you for sharing. She must have been great to work with.
Yes, and continues to be. She is always working on something I can help with over What’s App. (Did I mention her book?) I really look forward to the calls.
I appreciate your comments. Thank you and dear Caroline for your help. You are a great mentor toward my goals.
Milford Street was one of your donors, Shagufa. He has a different everyday name.
What an amazing story! She’s a great inspiration, too.
Thank you so much dear Michelle. I am glad you found my story interesting. Please help me promote my campaign by sharing my story.
Glad to see from your GoFundMe site that the word is steadily spreading.
What an inspiring young lady! All the best to her and her aspirations!
Thank you, Tiffany. She is determined.
Thank you so much dear Tiffany. Your support and motivation gives me strength to see my present and future rather than past.
When the past threatens to discourage a person, looking forward is so important.
Reading all what Shagufa is doing, I really bask in praise to see one of my previous students pursues her huge gigantic dreams. I am proud to witness such an extraordinary accomplishment.
She is a gallant girl who never gives up.
Please, don’t let her be alone.
Wonderful to hear from you, Mir. Sometimes things get discouraging for her, but you are right: she never gives up.
Thank you so much dear Mir. I appreciate your great words. To let you know that dear Caroline has a big role toward my week plans. She emotionally and academically inspires me to move forward. I am very grateful for her help. Thank you all for inspiring me to go ahead and never stops.
Generally known here as Suzanne’s Mom!