Jaya Drolma* was born and raised in Afghanistan, in a province where Pashto was predominantly spoken. Encouraged by her father, she pursued higher education, breaking societal norms. In a country where the doors of knowledge for women remained closed, she attended a small school exclusively for young girls. 

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Fuelled by her passion for storytelling, Drolma embarked on a journalism career immediately after completing high school. Keeping her family in the dark, she joined a news station, confiding only in her brother. However, navigating the world of journalism proved challenging in Afghanistan. Described as a nation of patriarchy by the United States Institute of Peace, the societal structure draws its strength from Quranic interpretations. 

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“In my job, I faced many warnings from people who didn’t want girls like me to show their faces on screen,” Drolma said.