Bobbani is twelve years old and her sister Nazpari is just over one year old. Both her parents have come from Shamali (north of Kabul) and are Persian speaking. She is fluent in both Persian and Pashto. She is very intelligent in spite of never having been to school. She is afraid of going to school.
But why are you afraid?
"There is no school close to our house in Kacha Abadi and the closest school is very far from our house. I am afraid of going there because my father says it is not safe even here and he can't take me there every day. Other girls and I want to go to school but only if it is close to our house. Will someone build a school for us close to our homes?" Her mother sitting on a chair and waiting for her turn to see the doctor, was quick to add, "And a hospital too? We are happy with this hospital and the doctors but we cannot afford to come by ricksha and walking it too hard for someone like me who is always sick."
Though Bobbani was born in Pakistan, she wants to see Shamali and its green and beautiful valleys which were once burnt by the brutal Taliban. Sometimes it is hard for Bobbani's parents to convince her otherwise when she asks, "Why don't we go to Afghanistan?"
