Refugee Voices - Sima

Sima’s family left Afghanistan long before she was born, settling first in Pakistan and later in Iran. In Pakistan, life felt closer to normal, but in Iran, being a refugee came with many unforgiving restrictions: she was barred from having an education and even having a voice to speak up in society. 

When her family returned to Afghanistan, things began to open up. She went to school, studied English and maths, obtaining a bachelor's degree, and started to imagine a different kind of life. Her father found a job that was stable, and for a time it felt as though they would be finally building something secure for themselves. She began working with international organisations too, and there was a sense of pride in what she was contributing.

That sense of stability disappeared almost overnight in 2021. When the Taliban took control, fear spread quickly. The city emptied, workplaces shut down, and people rushed home, unsure of what would happen next. As a Hazara woman, Sima knew the risks were serious. Staying meant living in constant danger, so she made the decision to leave.

With her children beside her, she went to the airport carrying only the essentials. Because there were thousands of others, they were forced to wait there for days and nights, sleeping on the "rock-solid" ground, with little food or water. It was exhausting, but the thought of getting herself and her children to a safe haven was her driving motivation. 

Upon finally arriving in the UK, she was still forced to keep moving between places and the future was never certain. However, with support and over time, things began to change for her and her children. She found people who helped her settle, and from the start, she began helping others too. Today, she is working studying, volunteering and is a member of the HWR Advisory Group, which involves speaking up for refugees and sharing what she has learned. 

Sima wants to keep moving forward, hoping to study more, find stability, get her driving licence, and one day start her own business. She ended by saying that her greatest wish is a life where she and her children can feel stable, safe, and able to plan for the future.