“Girls can do everything!”: An Afghani teen calls for education for all

An athlete and a student, Tahira motivates other girls to pursue their dreams.

When Tahira first took up competitive cycling in her native Afghanistan, there were only three other girls involved in the program. As a Jesuit Refugee Service student studying English, she has encouraged others to join her — in cycling and in pursuing a quality education. Her message to girls in Afghanistan: “We have shown to other people that, no there is no difference between girls and boys, so everyone is equal.”

“Girls can do everything!” she says.