Lasst uns lernen!: Mein Kampf für Bildung in Afghanistan

by Pashtana Durrani

Pashtana ist Lehrerin mit Leib und Seele. Früh beginnt sie, in der Schule ihres Vaters zu unterrichten. Schützend holt sie ihre Mitschülerinnen von zu Hause ab und begleitet sie zur Schule. Immer wieder erlebt sie, dass Mädchen nicht mehr zum Unterricht dürfen und verschwinden. Später gründet Pashtana eine NGO, sammelt Geld für Tablets, auf denen der Lehrstoff vorinstalliert ist, und bringt sie dahin, wo es keine Schulgebäude gibt. Mit ihrem Engagement wird sie zur Zielscheibe der Taliban, entgeht nur knapp einem Bombenanschlag. Als die Taliban im August 2021 die Macht im Land übernehmen, Schulen schließen und Frauenrechte beschneiden, werden die Tablets zur letzten Hoffnung auf Bildung ...

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, Feminism, Politics, Autobiography, Womens

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2023

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational and incredible how this author decides to give girls a chance at an education as she did. We need more strong women role models for young girls in areas where their education is often seen as unimportant. Pashtana has always lived as a refugee, since so much fighting is occurred in Afghanistan. Yet, she declines a scholarship to Oxford, so she can try to figure out a way to bring education to girls in rural areas of Afghanistan. She tries different ideas and ultimately even figures out a way to start a project with Tablets, that don’t require the Internet. She knows this will be important since many girls will not be able to leave their homes to go to a school, even if one existed.

I think what especially stood out about this book is how important is is to have a woman whose native country is Afghanistan. She understands much better how the government, tribes, and clans work or often fail to work. Her insight and perseverance is why she is successful. Her heart is always with her own people and her family. She just wants girls and women to have a say in their own lives. Education is key, but she understands there are many different ways to become educated and uses her resources to give that opportunity.

Thank you NetGalley, Pashtana Durrani, and Kensington Books for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I read.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pashtana is a modern day inspiring woman. She gave many girls in Afghanistan the exposure to an education they are entitled to have even if the men folk and Taliban says they aren't. She started the nonprofit LEARN in Afghanistan instead of attending Oxford University in England. LEARN gets pens, paper, schoolbooks and tablets to the girls of Afghanistan living in remote areas. Pashtana is a true hero for today. Thank you to Kensington Publishing for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kavitha Sivakumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible journey! Pashtana is such an inspiration. Hats off to the lady 🙇‍♀️

[Quirkyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this through a goodreads give away. Thank you Kensington Publishing and Penguin Random House.

When I first saw the cover, before reading the tittle, it looked like it was a new book by Malala.

What resonated with me the most is don’t underestimate a person because of their gender and where they come from.

This is a story that needs to be read and shared.

[Megan Schleicher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction but wow. My heart aches amidst all of the struggles and compassion. Beautifully crafted, sharing insights that are often missing from this story.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from a Goodreads contest.

Truly a wonderful book. Do yourself a favor and read it. And, if you’re like me, you’ll understand when I say: it has a good smell.

I believe books and a library card are among the greatest gifts you can give to a child. Education, the ability to read and write…I am still in awe that this is not a fundamental right for all humans. I am also in awe of those who give all they have, to help others learn. (I could not imagine having a school running out of my home.)


“To my father, whatever the question, the answer was always education.” - Pashtana Durrani

[Kartik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lost track of the number of times I cried while reading this. What a powerful, brave, and incredible young woman. Please do yourself a favour and read this.

[Arya · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the war-ravaged Afghanistan where women, under the 'new improved ' Taliban rule, stripped of all human rights – their work, visibility, opportunity for education, voice, healthcare, and mobility live in the most inhuman conditions, Pashtana Durrani, daughter of a well respected Afghan tribal chief and Amnesty International Global Youth Ambassador, fights against all odds to help the illiterate girls.

Last to Eat, Last to Learn - My Life in Afghanistan Fighting to Educate Women is an upcoming book in which Pashtana Durrani, a girls' education activist and the Founder and Executive Director of LEARN Afghan (an NGO delivering much-needed literacy and education to Afghan girls via covert community schools, online medium, etc.) portrays her struggles and hardships she faced while setting -up her dream project to educate girls in Afghanistan, her homeland.I received an advance online copy via NetGalley (expected publication time February 2024).

This read is Touching. It is intense, emotional, eye-opening and makes one think about one's blessings in life. The book starts with the childhood of the author in Pakistan as an Afghan tribal refugee. The struggles she faced as an outsider, of being a girl in a pro-male community, of being a tribal, etc., make us deeply emotional. From an early age, she witnessed the cruel and underprivileged condition of women especially, those related to education, and all of these paved the way leading to the formation of her dream NGO. As the daughter of an educated great tribal leader who understood the importance and power of education, one could say she was privileged. Pashtana exploited her privilege to help those underprivileged girls around her no matter what. In a community where girls were considered lower than animals, Pashtana's father ran a school within his home for girls and she took this 'family business' (in the book, she says, "Educating girls was our family business" which melted my heart to no ends) to a whole another level becoming a name of hope for hundreds and thousands of hapless Afghan girls.

The book starts with one of the most touching, intense, and hard decisions Pashtana took in her life: the decision not to go to the preparatory program of Oxford, one of the golden tickets out of the unpredictable life her community was leading in Afghanistan and Pakistan. She felt that she needed to be in the community, in the presence of those poor girls to be able to do something helpful. All of us can agree that not many people will be able to make such a momentous decision and turn their lives upside down. It is this fact, this courage to fight headlong, that made me a fan of this prodigious young woman.

Her never-ending tries to forge a way forward, the ingenious idea of the tablets in education, bravery even in the face of immediate death, and the profound love and support of her family aiding and abetting her in each step towards achieving her dream for her homeland; all of these makes us proud that love for fellow-beings is still a facade of humanity.

The book covers the atmosphere in Afghanistan between the period of 2016- 2021 when once again Afghanistan fell under Taliban rule. The conditions of tribal population in Afghanistan, the anti-tribal attitude of the pre-Taliban government, the government's western-oriented approaches in education that were not helping the population, neglect of rural areas, how the government is looting money in the name of non-existent education, and many such crucial issues are described in detail in this small but matter-of-fact book.

Written in a simple style, in heartfelt language, this profoundly inspiring autobiography will not disappoint the reader at all.

Last but not least, the title of the book. The words ‘Last to Eat, Last to Learn’ are the exact condition of women, not only in Afghanistan but in many such countries where fundamentalist governments rule. The title itself is enough to make one sit and think hard about the condition of women in our ‘ultra-modern liberal’ world.

This will surely be an eye-opener for those who take education for granted. Without a doubt, I will refer this to all those teachers and students out there. I will not be surprised if her book becomes a part of a school curriculum somewhere in the future.

Thank you Kensington Books, Citadel, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this wonderful autobiography.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an insider's view of the Afghanistan and Pakistan border, by a third generation refugee girl, who found Pakistanis called her an Afghani and Afghan people called her Pakistani. Also because she was from a tribal family, city people looked down on her anyway. The real hero comes across as being her father, a big-hearted man of means who happened to have girl children before a boy, and so gave his time and resources to the growing girls. He showed the author how to meet the people in his tribe and care about their problems, speak up for them and help them.

Having been educated at home and schools, the author found it hard to explain to patriarchs why they would be interested in educating girls and women. The obvious answers to give - that women run the home and it's safer if they can read, plus they will educate both boys and girls at home - took her three months to find.

With some unusual choices, and heart-stopping moments - a bomb, deaths, the regular sound of gunfire in Kabul, sitting on a still plane for six hours waiting to get out of the country - the author fought bureaucracy and endemic corruption to bring education to girls in their homes. She's brave and determined, and while I hadn't heard of her, I don't use facebook or twitter so others probably have. The story is well written and highly readable. NGOs should read this book and learn the lessons exposed. For instance, stop funding school building when the locals blow up the buildings and girls are not allowed to go outdoors anyway. Distribute pre-loaded solar powered tablets. Great solution.

I read this e-ARC book from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Risha Eriksmoen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this Goodreads giveaway! #LastToEatLastToLearn by Pashtana Durrani is a thought-provoking read. A contemporary telling of the author's life - her struggles and achievements - in the Middle East. It's easy to forget the limitations on freedoms that are given so easily to most of us in the United States. Pashtana Durrani writes in such a way that it is simple enough to understand or grasp the political and social events going on in her life, yet also colorful enough to paint pictures and hold interest throughout the story. Events not even three years old are described! Coming March of 2024 - be on the lookout! A good read! #BetweenTheChapters

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awe inspiring and fantastic! Pashtana Durrani’s drive and desire to give the women of Afghanistan the education they deserve is commendable and nothing short of amazing. I enjoyed learning more about the country and the issues that face education for women as well as the tribe structure. The end, though not directly related to the mission of her NGO, was no less interesting; the death of her father and the issues related to the US withdrawal were harrowing. A well-written, engrossing read that highlights the need for education for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the review copy.

[rozey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this wickedly brilliant women is a fellow at Wellesley. her journey is incredible, and she has such a creative vision for the world. 😮

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the memoir of an incredible person, Pashtana Durrani. She grew up with her family in an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan. But her circumstances were different from many other refugees because her father was the head of the largest Afghan tribal group. Additionally, her father believed that women should be educated.

From her earliest years, Pashtana Durrani helped her family educate girls in the refugee camp. As a teenager, she started her own NGO to educate girls in Afghanistan. But Durrani would have to contend with the corrupt, US backed Afghan government, and also when the Taliban retook Afghanistan, with their open hostility to education for women.

Despite the difficulties of Durrani’s life, this book is also filled with humor. Her relentless determination to make positive changes in her world is inspiring and gives me hope in what feels like an increasingly hopeless world. Pashtana Durrani’s story isn’t done, she is still quite young, and I look forward with hope to how she will keep fighting the good fight.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and the author also did the narration. I don’t often think authors should narrate their own books, but Pashtana Durrani was perfect. It was especially nice to hear the correct pronunciation of Pashto words and names.

Thanks to HighBridge Audio through NetGalley who allowed me to listen to the book!

[Courtney Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know that the news doesn’t tell the whole story, but the story told by this third-generation Afghan refugee is eye-opening. She fights with fierce determination against threat from both her family and the Taliban to bring education to the ones most forgotten in the country she loves so much.

“You don’t make history simpler by ignoring parts of the population who don’t fit into the narrative.”
“You can rage, and you should, over child labor, but if you condition education on attendance on your terms, you’re simply excluding children that need it the most.”
“Afghanistan was a child of a bitter divorce of cultures, a battlefield where someone else’s principles were printed on the banners of the fighting armies. We lost ourselves.”

The writing style wasn’t my favorite and she sometimes over- or under-explained things. But the story and her intense desire to continue fighting for Afghanistan made me keep reading until the very end.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for the advanced copy of "Last to Eat, Last to Learn" for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

"Last to Eat, Last to Learn" brings the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan to life. Ms. Durrani's passion, determination, and confidence are truly inspiring. There are no words for how touching it was to read about her relationship with her father and how he elevated her - no matter what anyone else said. It is obvious that his complete faith in his daughter is what gave her such passion, determination, and confidence.

After reading about the founding of Ms. Durrani's NGO, LEARN, I look forward to following up on how this innovative organization grows. "Last to Eat, Last to Learn" should have a place of honor in every US school library, and LEARN's tablets would be incredible tools to help educate American students in overpopulated and rural schools that lack broadband access. According to a recent FCC Report, "22.3 percent of Americans in rural areas and 27.7 percent of Americans in Tribal lands lack coverage from fixed terrestrial 25/3 Mbps broadband."

Much can be learned from Ms. Durrani and Ms. Bralo, not only about Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Islam, but also how we could potentially increase educational opportunities in portions of the US. I highly recommend "Last to Eat, Last to Learn."

[Katrina Shawver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last to Eat, Last to Learn is both a coming of age story and a memoir of a young Afghan woman on a personal quest to further girls' education. The book would make a great companion for middle or high school readers, or a women's study program. It expands a view of world history and the message that education can never be taken for granted. This book places us in Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries that are in the news, and yet from which few first-hand accounts have made it out of those countries (for many real-world realities.)

Pashtana Durrani is a remarkable young woman who speaks from the heart, and honestly about being fallible. This book deserves a good audience. My only wish is that we knew more of an epilogue of where she is today, as a result of her efforts and events at the end of the book. I'd say more but no spoilers. A set of discussion questions would add to the conversations this book is sure to generate. As I know little of Afghanistan beyond American news, a map would be helpful for a visual of travel distances, borders and settings.

The book is a recommend. Thank you to Goodreads and the publisher. I won an advance copy in a giveaway.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through a good reads giveaway. I've always had an interest in life in the Middle East. yet doubtful I will ever go there. There are so many strong women who are willing to fight for education which we take for granted. It was a very interesting book about her coming of age with the strong support of her father-her mentor and number one fan. Her father stressed the importance of education to her when traditionally that was not the norm. Her love for learning took her where she is today. Her project LEARN is continuing to help girls receive the education they deserve.

[Meaghan Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so cool!! The perfect read for anyone who has ever liked Malala or Persepolis, or is interested in Middle Eastern politics through the eyes of actual real people! Also the behind the scenes of her grassroots organization and the work she does is not only amazing to read about, but also is inspiring! Like I would have no clue where to start when opening a school, but she provides a guide to how to make the world a better place one step at a time. Literally one of the coolest women ever I'm so glad I read this

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5 stars.

Pashtana’s story is an important one. Her perseverance and fight for social justice are fierce; however, the story focused more on the struggles of being an Afghan refugee than on her mission establishing and keeping LEARN active in its mission to educate young girls. At the end of the book, I wanted to know more about her work from afar in the US in keeping this mission a priority.

Thank you for the ARC!

[Kimberly Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an Arc which has no influence over my review at all.
This was such a great memoir. So beautifully written that I didn't want yo put it down. Pastrana writes her story so eloquently that it sucks you in and creates the picture of the life as an Afghan woman.
I know she will keep fighting and I hope this book helps others not to forget the women of Afghanistan.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading her story. It gave me an insight into what living in Afghanistan was and is like. All the adversities that the author had to face to achieve her goal of setting up education in place for girls in her home country were incredible. She has true strength. I wish a book like this was around when I was younger because she is definitely a role model for women no matter what background they come from and a reminder to be stronger about standing up for oneself. Will definitely re-read in the future.

[Saniya Ahmad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very inspiring memoir. It was also a good narrative on the Afghanistani politics of the last couple of decades.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. I'm not sure it was something that I would have picked up otherwise. It always feels weird to read a book that is during my lifetime (especially one that ends in 2021, less than 2 years before I read it). I thought it did a good job to draw you into her story. I often found myself emotionally attached to Pashtanan (the author and main character), anxious when she was in danger, frustrated with the wrongs, cheering for her successes, and sad amongst all the tragedies.
I would definitely recommend reading this, if nothing else, just to help understand differences from other countries and cultures.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads . I enjoyed it from beginning to end . This was inspirational to read authored by a brave young woman.

[Megan Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book! This book really opened my eyes and reminded me how vital gender equality and education are.

[Cindy]

Didn't want to give this a star rating, because it's someone's life story.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of "Last to Eat, Last to Learn" from NetGalley. Pashtana Durrani, the author of this book. Was Born in Afghanistan for part of her childhood she lived there before her family had to move to Pakistan. She writes of what is it like to be girl growing up in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Girls do not have the same rights as boys. Her father had high status and backed up girls having a right to an education. Pashtana knew the importance of an education for girls. She fought hard for girls to get an education. she faces the tragedy of loosing her father to Covid and shortly after the Taliban forced their way back into power which made it more impossible for females to get an education let alone have any power. She writes a very honest and hard to read book about her struggles to have her voice and to also get more education for herself where she tries leave her country. I was very impressed by her perserverance to try and get an education for girls. A good interesting read that has me want to know more about her and the years into the future.

[KDub · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

Last to Eat, Last to Learn is a nonfiction memoir by Pashtana Durrani and Tamara Bralo. It details how Pashtana started a nonprofit to make education more accessible to girls in Afghanistan, her home country. Despite many hardships, including being targeted by the Taliban, Pashtana continues her fight to this day.

This memoir is raw, heartbreaking, emotional, and above all, inspiring to girls and women everywhere. I loved hearing the author speak about her various challenges and how she overcame them. It was interesting to learn about many cultural differences (and similarities) between the Middle East and my own upbringing. My only qualm is that the story is a little short. I would love to learn more.

Pashtana Durrani narrates the book herself, which I always appreciate in nonfiction titles. She brought emotion to her own story, and the audio quality was great.

Thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the ALC.

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to #Netgalley for a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

My Interest
I’ve written too often about my undergraduate degree in political science with Russian and East European Studies, but it is crucial part of my interest in this book. The USSR invaded Afghanistan my senior year in high school. That was also the year of the Iranian hostage crisis that helped end Jimmy Carter’s presidency. Also in that degree, in a class on Marxist Theory, I read the classics of feminism for my big paper. For once I can use this phrase without cringing–both “inform” my reading of this book.

Adding to my interest was on of the Country Directors in my Peace Corps service. He was among the first Peace Corps volunteers in Afghanistan. On his dining room wall in his diplomatic corps home in the capital city was color lithograph [or at least that is what it looked like to me–my great uncle did those] signed by President and Mrs Kennedy as a Christmas gift. I’m afraid I’d have left that in the USA in a bank vault!

Ironically, he told me about his service just a few days before the [original] Gulf War started. Here we are back at war in that area. Nothing changes.

I would like to give credit for this map–I found it on Pinterest but without credit.
The Story
“The more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that it all starts with education. Lack of education wasn’t a byproduct of poverty; it was a weapon. Denying it was deliberate and served a political purpose. It was meant to keep the girls silent, compliant, and disconnected from the world. It denied them a voice.”

Author Pashtana Durrani grew up in a refugee camp in Pakistan, Her Afghan family had taken refuge , albeit in a priviledged family. Her family ran a school at home while she went to prestigious private school. She came home after school and helped teach other girls.

She returned to Afghanistan at college age to help increase educational opportunities for girls. Along the way she gave up a dream to go to Oxford–even though she secured a scholarship to a special preparatory program. She continued even while going to college in Afghanistan and after her father’s death. Finally, her work via her own NGO Learn Afghanistan won her a two year fellowship at Wellseley College–alma mater of Hilary Clinton.

My Thoughts
Having been burned by the lies in Three Cups of Tea, I approached this book warily. Unfair, I admit, but true. I’ve also seen first hand what happens with foreign aid. While I am still livid that the current administration shut down even the most needed humanitarian aid aspects of USAID, I cannot say that ALL of USAID was worth saving. [That will shock my very conservative friends]. Everything this author writes about rang true. Especially the money for nonexistant schools and the building and blowing up of schools. The only thing missing from her story was promotion of Monsanto products.

But back to the story and my thoughts…. The reason the author got her project off the ground was simple: She knew and understood the culture. Period. She wasn’t seen as “truly” Afghan because of growing up in Pakistan. But nor was she a “hyphen”–an American-Afghan or similar. And, her father was a tribal leader. Say “tribal leader” in America and you get angry flashbacks to the debacle in Somalia [which anyone with any knowledge of the region saw coming]. You also get racism. “Tribe” is an element of brown- or black-skinned populations. It is used in a “less than” way as opposed to ethnicicty. I can recall even Dan Rather saying “These are Bantu peoples” and cringing. Would you say these are “Flemish peoples” in the same tone or with the same connotation? Of course not!

I digressed again. Her father was a Khan–a tribal leader. Turban and all. He had the trust of his people–his vast extended family and others. He wore the lapis lazuli ring. Part Godfather, part best problem solving Congressman or Alderman, part humanitarian aid agency, her father had the trust of the people. Because she had grown up as a virtual son –going places with him and sitting in meetings and tribunals that no daughter would normally be seen in, she carried his authority with her. She became his successor, although the family lost all of her father’s property. In short, in the nicest possible way, she was a local Nepo Baby in the best way. She also learned the lesson he taught her about Afghanistan: “Look past the burka.”

She knew the culture, the way of life, the literature, the religion, the geography, the languages. Best of all she listened. And, unlike the fools from the West, she knew how education could work in the war-torn country. She knew the Western school day would not work. That a building would not work. That online school would not work–no internet. She nailed it. A solar powered tablet that needed stuff downloaded ONCE would give girls more education than they would ever get in a traditional school. Even boys often spent much of their day selling things in the streets–school for them had a split schedule often. Girls didn’t always get to leave the house. The tablet was geninus. No USAID, no Peace Corps, no NGO worker would have seen this.

Finally, this will anger my Conservative friends, but they are used to it. Project 2025 seeks to do to American women a lot of what the Taliban has done to Afghan women. Putting marriage/motherhood on a pedastal, ending voting rights, limiting education and career opportuntities, limiting their participation in national dialogue, removing many forms of birth control and thereby limiting women’s medical care, stigmatizing and withholding things like WIC and Food Stamps and more from single mothers. No–I am NOT saying they are advocating for women to wear burkas and be silent in public, but it is the Western version of this. Sad that though this was spelled out and readily available online too many people believed a man in a red tie when he said he knew “nothing” about this Project 2025. Sad.

You can read about more books dealing with the life of Afghan women under the Taliban here. Thank you to blogger Book Jotter for making me aware of this article.

My Verdict
4.0
Last to Eat, Last to Learn: My Life in Afghanistan Fighting to Educate Women by Pashtana Durrani and Tamara Bralo I listened to the audio version of this book.

[Luis Cuesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodrfeads giveaway. Pashtana Durrani's memoi weaves its narrative through the conflict, societal norms, hierarchy, and powerful tribal system that characterizes Afghanistan while She is striving to provide education to the girls and young women of her country. Raised in an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan, she was secretly educated by her parents who believed that the only way out of the camp was education. Witness to war, hunger, and many other hardships, Pashtana defied all odds, including attempts on her life, to become an Amnesty International Global Youth Ambassador, a United Nations Youth Envoy, and a successful tribal leader. The aspect of her memoir that I like the most is how Durrani reintroduces the legacy of her predecessors, determined to put women of the region into a historical context and to resurrect a period that lost its way in the crisis.