Lala

Lala comes from Nuristan, one of the most remote and forgotten regions of Afghanistan. Cut off from the rest of the country—without proper roads, schools, or hospitals—life there is marked by deep poverty and isolation. Families like Nasima’s struggle to survive, and as a young girl, her days were spent gathering firewood in the mountains just to keep her family warm.

In Nuristan, girls face even greater dangers. For decades, the Taliban and ISIS have imposed their rule, enforcing strict laws that strip girls of their freedom. Many are forced into marriage while still children—traded for a few cattle—or even trafficked across borders. This was the future awaiting Lala and her younger sister, Nasima.

But through extraordinary courage, the sisters escaped. They found refuge at one of AFCECO’s safe and loving homes, where they are finally free from fear. Today, Lala is thriving. She attends a private international school in Islamabad, studies English online, and dreams of a future filled with opportunity—a future she never could have imagined in Nuristan.