An Afghan girl’s despair over school ban: ‘We are wilting away at home’

Since returning to power the Taliban have banned secondary school-aged girls from getting an education. Here Farzana*, 16, tells her story

Last year I was in 11th grade, the second highest-placed student in my class, with an average grade of 95%. Now I sit at home all day doing almost nothing. Sometimes I help my mum with housework, but really there are no distractions for me.

I can't even read books, because I have lost the will to continue. After you lose 11 years of effort all at once, you can't hold on to your dreams to make something of your life.