Maryam Mehr and her friends held bake sales to raise money for the people of Afghanistan.

Courtesy of family

Help From the Heart

With Afghanistan in trouble, this Afghan American girl is stepping up to help.

December 20, 2021

By Karen Kellaher

As You Read, Think About: Why is the situation in Afghanistan personal to Maryam?

In August, trouble in Afghanistan made headlines worldwide. The nation’s government had collapsed. An extremist group called the Taliban had taken control. Many Afghans feared for their lives.

For 10-year-old Maryam Mehr of Carlsbad, California, the situation felt personal. Maryam’s family is from Afghanistan. Many of her relatives still live in the country in Central Asia. Her grandmother, who lives with Maryam, was visiting Afghanistan. She wasn’t able to return to the United States. Maryam and her parents watched on the news as the Taliban replaced the Afghan flag with a flag of its own.

“It made me feel shocked and sad,” Maryam says.

Maryam made it her mission to help.

In August, trouble in Afghanistan made headlines. The nation’s government had collapsed. An extremist group called the Taliban had taken control. Many Afghans feared for their lives.

For 10-year-old Maryam Mehr, the situation felt personal. Maryam lives in Carlsbad, California. But her family is from Afghanistan. Many of her relatives still live there. Her grandmother, who lives with Maryam, was visiting Afghanistan. She wasn’t able to return to the United States. Maryam and her parents watched on the news as the Taliban replaced the Afghan flag with a flag of its own.

“It made me feel shocked and sad,” Maryam says.

Maryam made it her mission to help.

What Is a Refugee?

Watch a video to learn about immigrants and refugees.

A Painful Past

The Taliban first took control of Afghanistan in 1996. The Taliban oppressed the Afghan people. Women were forbidden to work outside the home or show their faces in public. Girls weren’t allowed to attend school.

The U.S., along with other countries, invaded Afghanistan after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The planners of the attacks were hiding there. But the Taliban refused to turn them over to the U.S.

The U.S. helped force the Taliban from power and set up a new government. But fighting continued as the Taliban tried to regain control.

In April 2021, the U.S. announced that it would remove all its troops from Afghanistan. Taliban fighters quickly took control of many cities. On August 15, they took over Kabul, the capital.

The Taliban first took control of Afghanistan in 1996. The Taliban oppressed the Afghan people. Women could not work outside the home. They could not show their faces in public. Girls weren’t allowed to go to school.

The U.S. helped force the Taliban from power. They helped set up a new government. But fighting continued as the Taliban tried to regain control.

In April 2021, the U.S. said that it would remove all its troops from Afghanistan. Taliban fighters quickly took control of many cities. On August 15, they took over Kabul, the capital.

A Helping Hand

Denis Poroy/AP Images

Maryam holds a photo of her grandmother.

Before long, many businesses shut down. Food and supplies ran low. Many people tried to flee, including Maryam’s grandmother. Relatives took her to the Kabul airport many times. But she—and thousands of others—were turned away. On August 26, the airport was bombed two hours after Maryam’s grandmother left it. Thirteen U.S. soldiers and at least 170 Afghans were killed.

Maryam became determined to help. With friends from school, she organized two bake sales in her neighborhood. The kids raised almost $6,000.

Maryam gave some of the money to a group helping Afghan refugees in the U.S. Other funds went to a group providing food and supplies to people in Afghanistan.

“I’m hoping it’s making a difference in people’s lives,” Maryam says.

Many businesses shut down. Food and supplies ran low. Many people tried to flee, including Maryam’s grandmother. Relatives took her to the Kabul airport many times. But she—and thousands of others—were turned away. On August 26, the airport was bombed two hours after Maryam’s grandmother left it. Thirteen U.S. soldiers and at least 170 Afghans were killed.

Maryam became determined to help. She organized two bake sales. Friends from school helped. The kids raised almost $6,000.

Maryam gave some of the money to a group helping Afghan refugees in the U.S. Other funds went to a group providing food and supplies to people in Afghanistan.

“I’m hoping it’s making a difference in people’s lives,” Maryam says.

An Uncertain Future

Maryam misses her grandmother, who was still not able to leave Afghanistan when Scholastic News went to press. And she worries about her family in Kabul. Maryam hopes that someday she’ll get to safely visit them—and see the Afghan flag she loves flying high once again.

Maryam's grandmother was still not able to leave Afghanistan when Scholastic News went to press. Maryam misses her. And she worries about her family. Maryam hopes that someday she’ll get to safely visit them. She wants to see the Afghan flag flying high once again.

What You Need to Know About Life in Afghanistan

Life was hard for most Afghans before the government collapsed. Taliban attacks were common, and a drought had caused a food shortage. Now things are even more unstable. Countless Afghans have fled their homes. Many are still in Afghanistan, living in grim camps (below).

Others became refugees. Those are people who are forced to leave a country because of war or for religious or political reasons. Afghans have fled to dozens of countries. Since the Taliban took over in August, more than 50,000 Afghans have arrived in the United States.