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	Photo by Beverly Solis
	After series of personal tragedies, Najiba moved to the U.S. to raise her children.
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Living in Afghanistan while the Taliban controlled the cities, women were to be invisible, seen by no man. Penalties for breaking the “laws of the land” would result in death.

Najiba, who wishes to have her last name withheld, is a refugee from Kabul, Afghanistan. She moved to the United States four years ago. Having lost the men in her family to violence in Afghanistan, she is absorbed in building a dream around the future of her three children. She now lives in a U.S. Departmnt of Housing and Urban Development project in the Palomino Square.

Reflecting on the life she once lived, tears fill her eyes as she remembers the tragedies of her past saying, “ It is so hard I just want to forget and be happy.”

Before the Taliban invaded Afghanistan 11 years ago Najiba says that she was very happy and at peace. At 14 years old she was married to a 21 year old engineer. In Afghanistan it is customary to marry young and although it was arranged by her family, Najiba was pleased her father picked a hard working handsome man.

Najiba went to school for a year to become a nurse. She would work at a nursing home for three hours then go to school for three hours then go back to work for the remainder of her day. Najiba was paid $ 20 a week while she was in training and $ 50 when she started to steadily work. Najiba said she enjoyed helping people and worked as a nurse for 10 years.

When Najiba was 25 the Taliban raided her city and attacked her family. Storming through the streets they took what was not theirs and murdered anyone that might pose a threat to their cause.
The Taliban believed they were true Islamists and their extreme beliefs would bring honor to their god. As a Muslim Najiba does not believe the Taliban are Islamic, just men who wanted control and power.

Women and young girls were no longer allowed to attend school and had to cover their entire bodies with layers of clothing. The schools were teaching young men the ways of the Taliban and taking control of the cities in Afghanistan. Najiba described it as a small government filled with evil men.

In the midst of an attack on the city, Najiba’s family sought shelter in the basement of their home. A fire missile landed directly on her family’s home killing her husband, father, brother and her newborn daughter.

Feeling helpless and alone, Najiba knew she had to escape to save her three remaining children, her mother and her own life. A friend of her husband lived in Pakistan and invited Najiba and her family to stay with him where it was safe from the Taliban’s control. Najiba fled with her family taking little food and bringing nothing more than the clothes they were wearing.

In Pakistan Najiba found it hard to find good work. She worked as a janitor at a local school. The pay was small but with no other option she found comfort in knowing her family was safe.

Najiba’s oldest son, Som, fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. The cost of the medicine to cure him was expensive and Najiba knew that she would not be able to pay for it. Najiba sat in the waiting room with her head to her knees and cried. An American woman came to her asking why she was so upset. When the American women heard of Najiba’s situation she told her not to worry and that she would take care of her. The woman paid for the expenses of the hospital bills and medicine, then exchanged information with Najiba.

Two months later Najiba got a phone call from the Catholic Refugee Office with news that she was going to America.

Four years have passed since Najiba first came to America. She says, “God helped me, Americans and my mother, too.” Najiba says although her country is better since the American soldiers have gone to Afghanistan and the women and children are going back to school, she will never go back to her country.

Najiba learned to speak English while working at The Best Western Hotel as a server’s assistant. She is currently working full-time while also attending PVCC as a full-time student. Najiba is taking English and grammar classes this semester to perfect her communication skills. She is hoping to continue her education and become a doctor.

Najiba’s children are also going to school. All of her children speak and write fluently in English. Maitran, 14, is attending North Canyon High School. Her son Saghar, 12, and daughter Yalda, 9, are attending Palomino Elementary School. Both of her sons have aspirations of becoming doctors and her daughter a journalist. Najiba says, “I will do everything for my children to succeed in school. I want my children to grow up like American kids.”

Next year Najiba will apply for her citizenship. When she is a U.S. citizen, a job with the government waits for her. She will be a translator of Persian and Pashtu. She wants to help other refugees like herself and give them the same opportunities that have been given to her.

Najiba says, “This is all my life. This was my dream and I am so happy for that.”