The Power of Perseverance: Wahida and Wajiha’s Story
Story writer: Sheri Lohardjo | Photographer: Sajjad Alizada
“Refugees are like birds who are not able to fly,” Wajiha says. “The birds who are in search of a shelter for safety and the place where they can heal their broken wings.”
Wajiha’s words capture the sense of hopelessness and despair many refugees experience upon coming to Indonesia. Thousands have come in search of safety, yet find themselves facing a challenging reality. Refugees are unable to work or study, live with financial difficulties, struggle with their mental health – and on top of it all, must undergo the long wait for resettlement.
Wajiha, 18, and her sister Wahida, 19, are the eldest out of 7 children. On the cusp of their teenage years, the girls left Afghanistan with their family to come to Indonesia in 2017. Like many, they had heard that it would only take 3 to 4 years to be resettled from Indonesia. They have now been waiting for 7 years.
“Life is waiting,” says Wajiha. “Waiting, waiting for something to happen. Waiting for more than ten years to go to a third country. So all of our lives is just waiting, waiting.”
For the family, finding safety had been the most urgent priority. But another was education, especially as they wait to be resettled to a third country. “In Afghanistan, women usually do not have the rights that they should,” says Wajiha. “They are only allowed to go to school until 6th grade. And then they are not allowed to go out freely and have education, go to university, so everything is banned for women in Afghanistan.”
Pursuing higher education became an important goal for the two sisters. They took basic classes in their free time, even enrolling at an informal school in the hopes that it would open a pathway to tertiary education at an Indonesian university. It was important to them that they secure a formal qualification, so when this did not go as planned, they turned to Roshan.
Wahida, the eldest, was the first to apply. After being on the waitlist for three years, she was finally accepted into the Elite Open School (EOS) program. Seeing her older sister inspired Wajiha to begin her own educational journey. “For me at first I really did not have the courage to start this journey or even to think of getting this GED. But I got this courage from Wahida,” she says. “She was always the one that we looked at [...] and the steps she took, me and my brother also took the same steps. It was the support, her support, the motivation that she was always giving - I think this was the most important point at first starting the journey.”
Once she turned 16, Wajiha began studying on her own to prepare for the GED Math exam. For months she sent messages to the GED Program Coordinator, hoping to get accepted. Once she took the practice exam and sent in her score, she was immediately admitted.
“When I became a teacher, I felt free”
For the sisters, familial support was essential in ensuring their success in academics. Wahida and Wajiha helped each other – as well as their younger brother Navid – to study and prepare. They gave each other tips on what was important to study and shared resources. Wajiha especially encouraged Navid to continue studying while he waited to become eligible to join the GED program.
Soon, the sisters graduated from their respective programs in less than 2 years, earning themselves their formal high school qualifications. Because of Roshan’s help and support, Wahida and Wajiha have sought to give back to the community. Wajiha applied to become a volunteer teacher and now teaches English and Math for Secondary classes in the Foundations program, as well as Math for EOS middle school students. Her favorite thing about being a teacher is meeting students every day. “When I became a teacher, I felt free,” she says.
Meanwhile, Wahida took on the role of EOS Program Assistant. Under the guidance of EOS program staff, Ms. Jane and Ms. Izzati, she was able to learn from the ground up in a professional environment. “As a Program Assistant in EOS for the past 1 year and 5 months, I've cherished the responsibilities entrusted to me,” says Wahida. “It's been an immensely enjoyable experience to witness the EOS team's dedication, working tirelessly to make the EOS program stand out and contribute to its success.”
“I have always referred to Roshan as a miracle that happened in my life, because it appeared in the most desperate moment of my life”
To the sisters, there is no doubt that getting these opportunities have changed their lives. “I have always referred to Roshan as a miracle that happened in my life, because it appeared in the most desperate moment of my life,” says Wajiha. “Roshan got me from nothing to where I can get closer and closer to my future dreams and career. So if I had not joined Roshan, I could have had a life full of darkness and unhappiness. Roshan brought the light in my life and now stronger than ever, full of motivation ready to go for my dreams.”
“Throughout my life I was really hoping for a miracle to happen but it never happened. Like many others I misunderstood the meaning of it. I was hoping for a miracle just not doing anything. Roshan taught me the true meaning of it,” adds Wahida. “Miracles do happen in life. It happens whenever you start working hard for it. It starts whenever you feel challenges and struggles in life. And most importantly it happens whenever you start believing and working for it.”
The sisters’ persistent pursuit of education is certainly paying off, opening doors for themselves as well as for their siblings. This past June, Navid graduated from the GED Program. Two additional younger brothers are following in their footsteps, with one in the Elite Open School program, and another doing GED prep at home.
Next year, Roshan Learning Center will be celebrating its tenth anniversary: a decade of changing lives and inspiring hope among refugees in Indonesia.
As we look to 2024, we are celebrating that the Roshan story has grown deeper, wider, and richer. In 2014, we began with the simple goal of providing a safe space for refugee children to learn and play. Now, the impact of our work is more tangible than ever.
Help us ensure this good work that enriches lives through education and community.