Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
All across the world children leave their homes to go to school. It is a normal part of life. But for a group of girls in Afghanistan, walking to school is a dangerous thing to do. Today's Spotlight is on the Mirwais Mena School for Girls and the dangers its students face every day.
Voice 2
On November 12, 2008 a group of girls in Kandahar, Afghanistan walked to school as usual. But this day would be different. The girls left their homes in the morning and walked together. As they walked, they heard the sound of motorcycles. Three motorcycles drove toward them. Each vehicle had one man driving and one man riding on the back.
Voice 1
The men wore cloth on their faces. And some of the men on the motorcycles carried containers of battery acid. This liquid is so dangerous, it can destroy metal. The men rode in circles around the girls. Then they moved closer.
Voice 2
One of the men jumped off the motorcycle and ran toward a girl named Shamsia. He asked her, "Are you going to school?" The man pulled off her cloth head scarf. Then he threw the acid in her face. Shamsia shouted. Her face and eyes felt like they were on fire. The man reached for Shamsia's sister, Atifa. He pulled off Atifa's scarf. Then he covered her back with acid. The man ran to another group of girls. He left Shamsia and Atifa lying on the ground, crying in pain.
Voice 1
The men on the motorcycles were members of the Taliban. This religious group attacked many schools in the past. The Mirwais Mena School for Girls is only a few miles from the birthplace of Mullah Muhammad Omar. He was the creator of the Taliban. The school was in the center of a Taliban controlled area. The Taliban has strong rules about what women are permitted to do. Members of the Taliban do not approve of teaching girls to read. This is why they attacked the girls walking to school.
Voice 2
The Mirwais Mena School for Girls does more than teach girls to read. The school teaches many subjects. Girls study chemistry, English, geography, and math. Girls from six years old to twenty three [23] all study at the school.
Voice 1
Mahmood Qadari is the leader of the Mirwais Mena School for girls. After the attack, he closed the school. He decided it was not worth the risk to the girls. But one week later, the girls and their parents were at the door of the school. The girls asked why the school was closed. They wanted to know when classes would begin again. The girls and their parents wanted the school to continue, no matter the risk. Mr. Qadari was excited to see how much the girls wanted to go to school. He told the girl's parents:
Voice 3
"If you do not send your daughters to school, then the enemy wins."
Voice 2
Dexter Filkins is a writer for the New York Times. After the attack, he wrote about what happened to the girls. He told the story of Shamsia. People from all over the United States and Europe read the article. They felt sad about what happened. Mr. Filkins received many emails and letters. They wanted to help Shamsia and the other girls at the school.
Voice 1
When Mr. Filkins went back to the school he saw that the school was filled with smiling girls. They all came back to school. And most of the girls who were burned with acid returned as well. Even Shamsia was in school. Her injuries were not fully healed. Her face was damaged. Her eyes did not work well enough to read. But the teachers still encouraged her to come to school. They wanted her to learn, even if she could not read.
Voice 1
Shamsia spoke with Mr. Filkins. She told him:
Voice 4
"I cried a lot after the attack. But my parents told me to keep coming to school even if I am killed. The people who did this to me do not want women to learn. They want us to be stupid things."
Voice 2
When Mr. Filkins returned to New York City, he had many letters to read. Many people sent thousands of dollars to give to Shamsia and the school. Other people offered their time to help. Doctors offered to treat Shamsia's injuries for free.
Voice 1
Mr. Filkins was happy that so many people wanted to help the girls. He wanted to help too. Usually, newspaper writers do not get involved in the lives of people they write about. But Mr. Wilkins knew he had to help the girls at the Mirwais Mena School. He knew that these girls deserved to go to school and be safe.
Voice 2
Mr. Filkins brought the money people sent him to the school in Afghanistan. All the teachers and parents gathered together at the school. Mr. Filkins asked the people how the money should be used. The teachers and parents said that most of the money should go to help Shamsia. Because she was the reason people sent money. They heard her story.
Voice 1
The group said that the rest of the money should be used to purchase a bus with a driver. The bus could carry the girls to and from school safely. It would also make the Long walk to school much shorter.
Voice 2
The school purchased a bus shortly before school started in the autumn. They used any money that was left to purchase gasoline. Mr. Filkins spoke with Shamsia's parents. He asked them if a doctor in the United States could treat Shamsia's injuries. Her parents were not sure if they wanted to let Shamsia leave Afghanistan. Shamsia has not yet received treatment.
Voice 1
The Mirwais Mena School for Girls continues to hold classes. And many girls continue to attend. One teacher tells the girls in his class an important message.
Voice 5
"A woman can do whatever she attempts. But she needs skills, she needs effort and learning. This school, for example, was built by humans - people with skills."
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