Big Ideas How a song became a movement for Afghanistan's women and girls — with International Children's Peace Prize winner Nila Ibrahimi
Mar 5, 2026
Nila Ibrahimi, Afghan refugee, activist and musician who co-founded Herstory and won the 2024 International Children's Peace Prize. She recalls how a banned school song became an anthem for Afghan girls. She describes fleeing to Canada, using social media to protest, building Herstory to amplify voices, and practical ways others can support Afghan girls and students.
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Teen Song Became A Nationwide Protest Anthem
- Nila Ibrahimi's 14-year-old song Go to School became an anthem after the Taliban banned girls over 12 from singing.
- The ban sparked a wave of videos using the hashtag I am my song that forced widespread online protest and attention.
Restrictions Returned Gradually But Systematically
- After the Taliban returned in 2021 they initially promised change but gradually reinstated old restrictions, including banning girls from secondary education.
- Nila describes incremental rollbacks: schooling limited to grades 1–6, dress controls, bans on parks, gyms, arts and public singing.
Escape Journey From Kabul To Canada
- Nila's family fled five days after Kabul fell, first to Pakistan as undocumented refugees, then to Canada after a year with help from the 30 Birds Foundation.
- She travelled with hundreds of other students from her school in two evacuation rounds organised by the foundation.