I was born in Tajikistan, a beautiful mountain country rich with ancient Persian culture, where adults are respected, someone’s word and the human code of conduct mean a lot, hospitality and traditions are highly valued, and religion is part of everyday life. Although I love my country and am proud of being Tajik, I understand that there is a lot to be done. I dream of a better future for my country.
When I was 11, I moved to Kosovo, a country in Southeast Europe, with my family. Going through many cultural changes, I learned how different my country is from Kosovo. I realized that women are mistreated in Tajikistan, they have no voice, and they are not taken seriously. This made me open my eyes to the importance of education. In my country, some of the girls in remote mountain areas don’t continue schooling after 9th grade. Like me, they deserve the best future, but they don’t have access to proper education, healthcare, or even their dreams. These girls have to bear a harsh life of running households and are prone to early marriages. I realized how important it is to educate these girls and women and teach them about their rights.
When I was a child, my female classmates told me that a woman’s life goals are early marriage, serve the husband and kids, and lead a religious life. I don’t have anything against this lifestyle, but it is not the one I want for myself. Throughout history, women in my country had almost no access to education while many other women around the world became scientists, philosophers, writers, revolutionists, and artists. Imagine how big our achievements would be as a human race if women were not limited in their actions, thoughts, and rights!
I have to say that my biggest passion is music. I love jazz and music composition. While living in Kosovo, I created an album of songs in which I sing about women’s and girls’ rights and standing up against unequal rights, domestic violence, and women’s discrimination. At this moment, this is the only way to express my feelings and attract people’s attention to these topics. I dream of becoming the voice of Tajik girls and women. I dream of being heard through my songs and delivering strong messages that tell people to stop underestimating females. I dream of proving that Tajik girls and women, including those from remote areas, can run the world!