Afghan Refugee Fled Taliban at 13, Built School for Displaced Children in
Afghan refugee Eda Tegin fled the Taliban at 13 and built a school for refugee children.
Eda Tegin grew up in Kabul, facing civil war and massacres targeting the Hazara ethnic group, including the devastating Afshar massacre. At 13, she fled to Quetta, Pakistan and continued her studies and started working with refugees.
Eda Tegin started Kawsar, a nonprofit educational centre. It offered free classes to refugee children and adults.
Within months it was teaching hundreds of students. In 2002, her family moved to Australia.
She has spent the past 24 years supporting education for girls and women in Afghanistan. On Saturday, October 24, she told an Illawarra audience that she turned her loss and displacement into purpose.
She said refugees carry dreams, skills, resilience and the ability to contribute meaningfully to society.
- 13 years old
- Age when fleeing
- Hazara
- Ethnic group
- 24 years since 2002
- Years in Australia
- Hundreds within months
- Kawsar student growth
Why it mattersHer story shows how refugees rebuild lives and create chances after trauma. It shows the real impact people can have on their communities.
AustraliaTegin's work reminds Australians of the ongoing challenges refugees face and the ways they can support education and rights for vulnerable populations, especially in Afghanistan.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
