Fifi & Tabby’s Fight for Freedom

Fifi and Tabby were born into a world of possibility.

They grew up believing in the power of education,

in their own potential, and in a future where women could lead, achieve, and dream without limits. They worked tirelessly—excelling in school, representing their country in cultural exchanges, and giving back to their communities.

But in an instant, everything changed.

When Learning Became a Crime

Fifi was just 14 when she built a library for the children in her village. She knew firsthand how difficult it was to succeed without access to books, and she wasn’t willing to let the next generation struggle the way she had. Scouting had taught her leadership, problem-solving, and resilience—qualities her parents, a businessman and a scientist, had always encouraged. She dreamed of becoming a doctor, of serving rural populations who had little access to healthcare.

Tabby, an exceptional student and talented singer, had already traveled internationally as a representative of Afghanistan’s cultural exchange program. She was on track to become a neurosurgeon, standing at the top of her class at one of the country’s largest schools. Her family was full of educated, accomplished women who had built careers in government and leadership. Their world was expanding, and Tabby was determined to be a part of that future.

Then the Taliban came.

Hunted for Being Educated

The day Kabul fell, the Taliban sent every girl home from school. For girls over ten, education was no longer necessary—it was forbidden. But for some, the danger was far greater than being locked out of a classroom.

Fifi and Tabby weren’t just girls who had gone to school. They were girls who had dared to dream too big.

The Taliban came looking for Tabby’s family immediately. Her relatives—educated women who had worked in high-ranking positions—had to burn their diplomas, erasing any trace of their achievements. If the Taliban identified them, they would cut off their hands. For Tabby and her sister, the threat was different: forced marriage. A life sentence of submission, designed to strip them of any remaining freedom. The moment an escape could be arranged, they fled to Pakistan with an aunt, leaving behind everything they had ever known.

Fifi’s family was in no less danger. She had relatives who had served in the U.S.-backed Afghan military, making her an enemy by association. The Taliban didn’t just want to silence her—they wanted to make her an example. A forced marriage to a Taliban fighter would send a message to her entire community: resistance was futile.

She knew she had no choice. She had to run.

The Cost of Survival

Leaving home was not a choice. It was survival. Fifi and Tabby sacrificed everything—their families, their friends, the futures they had spent years working toward—just for the chance to stay alive. They escaped the fate that had claimed so many other girls, but survival came with a heavy cost.

Now in the U.S., they have been given a second chance at the dreams that were nearly stolen from them. But the road ahead is not easy. College tuition, books, and living expenses stand between them and the futures they fought so hard to keep alive. They shouldn’t have to fight alone.

How You Can Help

Fifi and Tabby have risked everything for the right to learn. They are survivors, fighters, and future leaders who deserve the chance to continue their education.

Your support can make that possible. Every dollar brings them closer to rebuilding what was taken from them. Every donation is a stand against injustice and a step toward a future where girls like Fifi and Tabby never have to run just to learn.