Junior School "HerStory" Assembly May 1

We are excited to host a junior school assembly on Thursday, May 1 with Nila Ibrahimi '25, women's and girls' activist and co-founder, alongside her brother Murtaza, of HerStory, an organization that empowers and advocates for Afghan women. Nila is the recipient of the prestigious 2024 International Children's Peace Prize (previous recipients include Greta Thunberg and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai, whom Nila interviewed this morning as part of her WPGA Global Studies thesis). Her journey has been one of heartbreak, courage, and hope. In many ways, we take our freedoms for granted: going to school, having a career, pursuing dreams and living a full life. HerStory strives to amplify the voices of Afghan women and girls, who currently do not have these opportunities.

RSVP to Assembly - Open to All WPGA Parents 
We encourage all WPGA parents to attend this inspirational assembly, which will take place in the Upper Gym at 9am. The assembly will include a Q&A. To RSVP, click here (coffee provided from 8:30am). 

 

At the assembly, you will hear about how in March 2021, the Kabul Education Directorate issued a discriminatory order banning girls over the age of 12 from singing in public. Facing such discrimination for the first time, Nila, who was 14 at the time, decided to raise her voice against the order. She recorded herself singing a popular song encouraging girls to go to school and get an education, concluding with, "This is my voice and the protesting voice of all schoolgirls against the discriminatory decision of the Kabul Education Directorate. Eliminating our voice is eliminating us. We stand in unison against this decision." Murtaza Ibrahimi, Nila's brother, who had a significant number of followers on social media, posted the video on his pages. Joining the widespread #IAmMySong movement, the video quickly went viral and attracted the attention of international media outlets. Soon after, the order was reversed.

 

Nila has continued her academic and advocacy journey. In May 2023, Nila delivered a compelling speech at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, where she outlined in vivid detail the day her life changed. Nila has also presented at the UK House of Lords, Canadian Women for Women of Afghanistan Montreal Summit, and TED Conference Vancouver.

Join us on Thursday, May 1 to learn more and hear the unique story of Nila and Murtaza’s truly exceptional lives and their charity HerStory.