
EducationisahumanrightthatyearsofwarinAfghanistanhavereducedtoaprivilege.Scoresofpovertystrickenyouthhavenounderstandingofwhatitmeanstolearnsomethingbeyondthebasicstreethustlingskillsneededforbegging,selling,orpickpocketing.Thisistheresultofthedecade-longfightingthathasleftthecountrydestabilizedanditspeoplephysicallyandmentallycrippled.ForchildrenlikeMina,theoustingoftheTalibandoesnotsignifyfreedom,butanewfoundresponsibilitytoentertheworkforceinordertosupporttheirfamilies.Withwomennolongerprisonersoftheirhome,MinawandersthestreetsofKabulpaddlingcheaptrinketstogovernmentworkersandforeignershopingtosecureenoughmoneytofeedherAlzheimerstrickengrandfatherandherheroinaddictedfather.RelyingonMina'sincometofuelhisaddictionandherpresencetonursehergrandfather,Omar,Mina'sfatherforbidshertoattendschool.ButMinaisanimpulsivetwelve-year-oldand...WrittenbyYosefBaraki
