Last to Eat, Last to Learn

My Life in Afghanistan Fighting to Educate Women

by Pashtana Durrani; Tamara Bralo

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Pub Date Feb 20 2024 | Archive Date Mar 05 2024

Kensington Books | Citadel

Biographies & Memoirs | Nonfiction (Adult) | OwnVoices

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Description

A Ms. Magazine Pick for Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023

From young Afghani activist and Amnesty International Global Youth Ambassador Pashtana Durrani, a deeply inspiring memoir about the power of learning and the value of educators in their many forms – from teachers, mentors, and role models, to fathers, mothers, and any one of us with the drive to stand against ignorance…

“Pashtana’s story highlights the resourcefulness and bravery of young women in Afghanistan. I hope readers will be inspired by her mission to give every girl the education she deserves and the opportunity to pursue her dreams.”—Malala Yousafzai

Inspired by generations of her family’s unwavering belief in the power of education, Pashtana Durrani recognized her calling early in life: to educate Afghanistan’s girls and young women, raised in a society where learning is forbidden. In a country devastated by war and violence, where girls are often married off before reaching their teenage years and prohibited from leaving their homes, heeding that call seemed both impossible and dangerous.

Pashtana was raised in an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan where her father, a tribal leader, founded a community school for girls within their home. Fueled by his insistence that despite being a girl, she mattered and deserved an education, Pashtana was sixteen when, against impossible odds, she was granted a path out of the refugee camp: admittance to a preparatory program at Oxford. Unthinkably and to her parents’ horror, she chose a different path. She chose Afghanistan.

Pashtana founded the nonprofit LEARN and developed a program for getting educational materials directly into the hands of girls in remote areas of the country, training teachers in digital literacy. Her commitment to education has made her a target of the Taliban. Still, she continues to fight for women’s education and autonomy in Afghanistan and beyond.

Courageous and inspiring, Last to Eat, Last to Learn is the story of how just one person can transform a family, a tribe, a country. It reminds us of the emancipatory power of learning and the transformational potential that lies within each of us.

A portion of proceeds from Last to Eat, Last to Learn will be donated to LEARN (LearnAfghan.org), the NGO dedicated to providing quality education and healthcare to communities in conflict zones.

A Ms. Magazine Pick for Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2023

From young Afghani activist and Amnesty International Global Youth Ambassador Pashtana Durrani, a deeply inspiring memoir about the...

A Note From the Publisher

Ms. Durrani is available for interviews and select speaking engagements. For more information, please contact apryor at kensingtonbooks dot com.

Advance Praise

“Riveting...a story of determination, triumph, and loss in the battle for girls’ and women’s rights...[Pashtana] is an exceptional role model for girls around the world, exemplifying the power of determination and passion in achieving the nearly impossible.” -- Mursel Sabir, Founder, Afghans Empowered

"As an American, I meet many who know little and feel no likeness to the land where so many of our sons and daughters gave their lives. Idealistic yet logical, Pashtana serves as a portal between two seemingly divergent worlds, illuminating the shared human values that connect us. The relevance of her story has no bounds. It belongs in the hands of the politician as much as the soldier, the parent, or the child. While we may characterize Pashtana as an activist, or educator, let us first characterize her as a leader." -Major Jessica Yahn, Cultural Support Team, U.S. Army Special Operations Command

"Uplifting and optimistic...[Pashtana’s] story is testimony to how one determined leader, with irrational passion and a deep commitment to educating young girls, can make a lasting difference." - Alan Stoga, Chairman, Tällberg Foundation

"Pashtana's story is not only one of gender empowerment, it is one of communal pragmatism and realization that together - men and women in Afghanistan, for the sake of their community - can transcend barriers and transform their society for long-term prosperity and peace." - Dr. Victoria C. Fontan, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and Vice President of Academic Affairs at the American University of Afghanistan.

“The breathtaking story of a young Afghan activist who will make history. . . . Pashtana shares an acute and clever insight into the origins of the Taliban, a moving childhood story in an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan, and an incredible journey... She understands Afghanistan and Pashtun society as well as Western culture. She brings an enlightened view of these two worlds that do not understand each other.” --Marina Wutholen, Director of dev.tv and Founder Young Activists Summit

"With a spirit that echoes through these pages and a voice that rises above the din, Pashtana Durrani shares her compelling story and mission to empower women in Afghanistan.... This book is a reflection of her spirit--bright, passionate, driven." - Tanya Qadir, Director of Partner Success, Rumie Initiative