The Voice That Changed a Nation: Afghan Teen Honoured Globally for Her Courage
Neela Ebrahimi, an Afghan teen, gained international recognition after her activism forced the Taliban to reverse a ban on public singing for girls. Awarded the prestigious International Children’s Peace Prize, she continues to advocate for Afghan girls' rights from her new home in Canada.
The Voice That Changed a Nation: Seventeen-year-old Neela Ebrahimi of Afghanistan has won the international Children's Peace Prize. She joins the likes of Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Nkosi Johnson as one to be reckoned with globally. Neela continued to campaign for girls' rights in Kabul even when silenced in her country by the Taliban. She received the prize in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Neela was interviewed and spoke of her activism that began at the age of 13 or 14. She said she first started when Kabul's education directorate banned girls over 12 from singing publicly. Neela led protests and recorded a song as part of the #IAmMySong campaign, which went viral. Her efforts forced the authorities to revoke the ban within weeks. Neela observed that the instance in one corner of the world was a challenge to all women across the globe.
Neela is among those who flee the government of the oppressive Taliban regime to take refuge in Canada through support from the 30 Birds Foundation. There, she continues to advocate for the rights of Afghan girls in extreme conditions and shows that one voice can be enough to make a change.
