Afghan Teenage Girls Turn to Sewing as Education Ban Persists

Afghan Teenage Girls Turn to Sewing as Education Ban Persists
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In a small sewing workshop in the mountains of central Afghanistan, dozens of teenage girls spend their days stitching garments after being barred from school under Taliban rule, according to a report by Amu TV.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, girls above the sixth grade have been prohibited from attending formal education — a restriction condemned internationally for denying millions of Afghan girls their right to learn. For many, sewing has become one of the few available means to earn an income and find limited social interaction outside their homes.

Inside the workshop, some girls sew traditional and modern women’s clothing, while others sell finished dresses in local markets. They describe tailoring as an act of survival rather than ambition, expressing frustration over their inability to continue their studies. Many say they joined the workshop out of financial need and a desire to remain active while waiting for schools to reopen.

Aid organizations and education advocates estimate that millions of Afghan girls remain out of school. Although some families have turned to informal learning spaces or online classes, most girls — especially in rural provinces — have been left without access to education.

Despite growing calls from the international community and Afghan activists to lift the ban, the Taliban maintain that their policy aligns with their interpretation of Islamic teachings — a position widely rejected by Muslim scholars and neighboring countries. For these girls, sewing has replaced classrooms, but hope for education endures.