A New World
Having been part of the massive U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan, the women found themselves not only under unfamiliar skies and above foreign soil but also united with thousands of fellow Afghan immigrants, according to Kamal Ahmad, the founder of AUW.
Yet this same unity caused critical problems, according to Drolma. In an environment without the typical physical boundaries between men and women, a group of ex-Afghan soldiers took issue with the 148 women. Their crime? Breaking “traditional” Quranic values. The ex-soldiers sneered at the women, calling them shameless and filthy while uttering death threats towards them, according to Taylor.
“The camp authorities intervened quickly, and the women were moved,” said Ahmad. “The camp commander and his staff were sensitive to the matter and took the right precautions.”
The students were moved into their own block and given a singular guard in case of emergencies, according to Ahmad.
This relocation didn’t solve the main problem these women faced, however. All 148 women still had to apply for asylum in the U.S.—a process which had over 1.1 million applicants in the backlog, as of 2021.
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“AUW lawyers representing them have finished most of the cases. Now, some of them have been processed fully and have been awarded asylum, but others are still in the process,”
Kamal Ahmad,
The Founder of AUW
Drolma was among those fortunate enough to be awarded asylum. However, recognizing the need for continuous support, AUW paired each and every one of the 148 women with a dedicated mentor. These mentors played a vital role in not only boosting morale but also providing unwavering support throughout the women's transition, according to Kamal.
Drolma found a mentor in Malini Subramanian, the senior director of cybersecurity at Visa. While Subramanian wasn't a therapist or a doctor, their weekly one-hour meetings became a lifeline for Drolma.
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“Whenever I had troubles or problems, I could share with her. There wasn’t anybody I could confide with at the time, so Malini knows everything about me. She’s like one of my family members,” Drolma said.
In the absence of familiar faces, Subramanian became a pillar of support, offering a space where Drolma could freely express herself.
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“Let’s not forget the dream. The dream they all came here for, the dream they fought for: the right to education and the pursuit of happiness,”
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With the collective support of AUW, lawyers, family, mentors, leaders, and fellow students, the 148 women have triumphed, finding placement in some of the finest institutions and universities in the nation.
Now a thriving university student, Drolma’s face lights up with a radiant smile, reflecting on the resilience that brought her from the sunrise above Afghanistan into a new life across the world.
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With a resolute tone and unwavering resolve, Drolma expressed her unwavering ambition: “I will become a journalist. And everyone will know who I am” she said.
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As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. These women embody that truth: resilience, passion, and that first courageous step, marking a path of triumph that lingers in the heart.
Malini Subramanian,
Mentor to Drolma
*This source’s name is changed to protect them and their family from various repercussions. For more information on Carlmont Media’s anonymous sourcing, check out Scot Scoop’s Anonymous Sourcing Policy.
Photo taken with permission
Photo taken with permission
