When teacher Shukriya Droni asks a question, every hand shoots up. “We know the importance of education,” says Zohra Wali, thirty-eight, who, growing up during decades of war and repression, has never before sat in a classroom. When she completes the CARE literacy training, Zohra will be qualified to enter regular school at the fourth grade level. “This week alone, 850 women graduated from the program,” Shukriya says proudly.
The visitors are deeply impressed at the dedication they see. “We think that you are very brave,” Patti tells the class, through a translator. Susan encourages the women to continue with their education despite hardships. “It’s important to be respectful of your traditions, but you are the most important person in the world, and you should always follow your dreams,” she says, as many in the room wipe away tears.
In a week of visits with Sahera, Sadiqa and Zohra, Patti and Susan are experiencing many such emotional moments. They will never forget the women they are meeting here. But then, in a sense, they already knew them—they are sisters.
Sidebar:
New documentary captures 9/11 widows’ life-changing trip to Afghanistan
Susan Retik and Patti Quigley were accompanied on their journey to Kabul by documentary film producer Beth Murphy and cameraman Sean Flynn of Principle Pictures. Their film, Beyond the 11th, was shot over a two-year period and chronicles the extraordinary story of these two suburban mothers who discover a powerful bond with each other, an unlikely kinship with widows halfway around the world, and a profound way to move beyond the tragedy of that day.
Despite being victims of global terror, Susan and Patti refuse to let fear stand in their way and have themselves transformed into true citizens of the world. A sneak preview of the film was shown in New York and Boston on the fifth anniversary of September 11th, and the film will be released to film festivals in winter 2007.
Related story: Beyond Belief
.gif){kind=icon}
