"Nila Ibrahimi: The Voice of Afghan Girls Shining Through Adversity"

At just 17, Nila Ibrahimi has emerged as a crucial voice for Afghan girls, utilizing her platform HerStory to share their experiences and foster connections between them and her peers in Canada. Winning the International Children's Peace Prize celebrates her advocacy and reminds the world of the struggles faced by women in Afghanistan.

Nila Ibrahimi, a determined 17-year-old Afghan refugee who recently won the International Children's Peace Prize, has taken it upon herself to spotlight the stories and struggles of Afghan girls silenced under Taliban rule. Residing in Canada after fleeing her war-torn homeland, Nila created a website called HerStory to amplify the voices of her compatriots and encourage young people globally to empathize with their plight.

"Don't forget us," she urges, appealing directly to her peers in her adopted country. Nila's mission is to foster understanding that transcends borders; she points out that, despite their vastly different daily realities, both she and her friends back home share universal experiences as teenage girls. "We listen to the same music, we have the same dreams... I want them to feel that connection," she expressed to BBC News.

The backdrop to Nila's work lies in the dire situation for women and girls in Afghanistan, which the UN has labeled "gender apartheid." Since the resurgence of Taliban power, girls have been barred from attending school and women restricted in their movements, virtually silencing half the population. According to Nila, these realities often seem distant and disconnected for youth in places like Canada.

HerStory aims to bridge this gap through documenting authentic narratives of Afghan women, both those still in Afghanistan and those who, like Nila, have sought refuge elsewhere. This initiative develops from her earlier activism, which began in March 2021 when Nila boldly participated in a small protest against a decree that sought to prevent girls over 12 from singing publicly in Kabul. It marked her first realization of the importance of advocacy through performance.

However, her life took a dramatic turn when the Taliban reclaimed power, compelling Nila and her family—members of Afghanistan's Hazara minority—to escape to Pakistan before eventually finding asylum in Canada. After a year of educational deprivation, Nila embraced her new reality, reconnecting with friends from her singing group and seizing opportunities to speak out about the injustices faced by Afghan girls.

Through her advocacy, Nila seeks to reveal the untapped potential of Afghan women, arguing that when she surprises audiences with her eloquence, it underscores the capabilities of countless others left unheard. In 2023, HerStory evolved as a safe space for sharing experiences and frustrations regarding the current regressive trends in women's rights.

Nila’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Being named the 20th recipient of the International Children's Peace Prize recognizes her commitment to championing women's rights and ensures that the voices of Afghan girls continue to be heard. Marc Dullaert, founder of the KidsRights Foundation, highlighted the gravity of Nila's work, noting that many young women globally remain excluded from education and opportunities.

Encouraging her generation to mobilize, Nila advocates for a more relatable, Gen Z approach to addressing pressing social issues through collective, grassroots efforts. "The world is a very scary place, but we can take little steps and do whatever we can," she reflects, embodying both resilience and hope. As she strives to remind the world of the ongoing struggles faced by Afghan girls, her story illuminates the enduring spirit of youth activism in the face of adversity.