Tarana grew up and went to school in Iran, returned with her family to Afghanistan, was married and gave birth to two children. The youngest had cerebral palsy and other major complications. The difficulties arising from these serious illnesses led to the breaking down of an already fragile marriage.

Tarana faced immense difficulties in keeping her family going after getting divorced.“I found myself completely alone and my own family denied me support”.
Finding a house was almost impossible. No one was willing to trust a single woman with two children who could not offer any sufficient guarantees.

“I had to work, especially for my youngest child who has cancer in addition to being disabled. Besides not helping me, my ex-husband asked me for money for donating blood for our son. I had to pay for the other son’s schooling and a woman to stay with the little one when I was away. The expenses were huge.”

Thanks to the women-only driving courses at NOVE Tarana got her driving licence, became a driver of the Pink Shuttle and was able to gain her independence.“It was the first time in Afghanistan that a woman was seen driving a minivan for public transport. It was a wonderful experience, I was giving women the opportunity to move independently and without danger and I could help those mothers who, like me, were in a difficult situation. Women often stopped us in the street to thank us. We were very proud of ourselves”.

Some men did not appreciate this freedom while many others were happy with the initiative.“I remember a traffic police officer who encouraged us to continue. With us women driving, the men felt safer about their wives and daughters. Words like this gave us the strength to move forward”.
Life was rosy again until the day the Taliban returned.
“NOVE led us through the evacuation. Thousands of us arrived at the airport, the American military threw cold water on us, then tear gas. One exploded next to my son’s leg, burning him. – After two days of apocalypse, without water or food, the Italians found us.”
When she arrived in Italy, Tarana was accepted into the project Oltre l’Accoglienza (Beyond the Welcome). Her son is being cared for in a pediatric hospital. Thanks to psychological support, they are leaving behind the trauma of the evacuation.
‘Here in Italy I finally feel free to be myself. I hope I will soon be able to work, find a house and take care of my family without any more help. I am ready to start again.”

NOVE has been by Tarana’s side since 2019.