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Sharifa (Eagle Online Academy Student)

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Ever since the Taliban seized control over Afghanistan in August of 2021, Sharifa has waited and anticipated for the green light to be able to go back to school. When that time finally came, she was so excited she ironed her uniform, went to bed early and double checked with her parents to make sure they would wake her up for the first day back. She excitedly texted her friends to make plans to walk together. 

Leaving home that next morning her feelings were a mix of excitement to be back in school, yet nervous and fearful of the changes in her country. Upon arrival her heart sank. The Taliban were there, and they were instructing all girls above 6th grade to return home. Tears immediately filled her eyes and all her hopes and dreams crumbled right there. 


Sharifa is the oldest daughter in her family and was only 2 years away from becoming the first person in all of her family to qualify to attend college. Her father has always been her biggest cheerleader, telling her, “You are going to be the first doctor in our family! There’s no need for you to even think about marriage until after you’ve finished all your studies.” Anytime anyone wanted to discuss a marriage arrangement for Sharifa, her father immediately shut it down. 


However, that too changed just a month after Sharifa was turned away from school. Her father accepted a proposal from a cousin for Sharifa’s hand in marriage. Shocked and completely taken aback, Sharifa never thought she would be married at such a young age. However, within that same month Sharifa had also heard about Eagle Online academy and shared that news with her father. In the end both her father and her now fiancé was both incredibly supportive of her continuing her studies!


 “I’m so incredibly lucky to have a family that strongly supports my educational goals and pushes me to them. There aren’t many girls in Afghanistan who have that. Thank you Eagle Online for making a way for me to let my dreams soar again.” 

By Eagle Online Academy 21 Dec, 2023
Yuliia embarked on a journey to Virginia with her husband and two children, a son, and a daughter, who were on an official trip. Having recently settled in the USA a few months prior, their lives took an unexpected turn when Russia envisioned Ukraine. As the conflict escalated, Yuliia's husband, a member of the Ukrainian army, made the courageous decision to return to defend his homeland. Yuliia, hailing from a military family background with her grandfather having served, wholeheartedly supported her husband's resolve, understanding the gravity of military responsibility, especially during times of war. Remaining in Virginia with her children while her husband ventured back to Ukraine, Yuliia faced the challenges of not being fluent in English. Undeterred, she resolved to learn the language to better support her family. Amidst her language learning journey, Yuliia discovered Eagle Online Academy on Facebook and enrolled in their English classes, successfully completing the grammar and writing class. With the eventual recapture of Kyiv by the Ukrainian government, Yuliia made the decision to return to her homeland, eager to contribute to the country's reconstruction. Despite acknowledging the difficulties ahead, such as the destruction of infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, damaged electricity factories, and a shortage of essential services, Yuliia was determined to play her part in rebuilding. Upon her return, Yuliia found her home in Irpin destroyed, limiting their residence to Kyiv. She shared the numerous challenges faced, from electricity shortages to a scarcity of schools and jobs, especially for older individuals. During these struggles, Yuliia took on a role as a program assistant in a development project. Simultaneously, she decided to pursue a TESOL certification program with Eagle Online Academy, aiming to contribute her language expertise to her country by teaching English. To pay it forward, she was inspired by their work and contributed as a translator for Eagle Online Academy's mental health video script. Yuliia believes that Eagle Online Academy's free and online services can greatly benefit Ukrainian women and girls, both in the country and among the refugee population. To pay it forward, she was inspired by their work and contributed as a translator for Eagle Online Academy's mental health video script. In a message to others, Yuliia encourages resilience in the face of uncertainty. She urges people to persevere, work hard, and support their communities. Her story stands as a testament to the strength that emerges from facing unexpected challenges and the importance of supporting one another.
By Eagle Online Academy 17 Sep, 2023
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