In her first visit to Australia, the International Children's Peace Prize winner shares her inspiring journey of courage and protest with a UNSW Sydney audience.
When authorities in Afghanistan imposed a ban on Afghan girls over the age of 12 from singing in public, Nila Ibrahimi took a stand. Just 14 years old at the time, the Hazara activist posted an online video of herself singing in an act of defiance against the ban, joining other young Afghan girls in the #IAmMySong social media movement.
The peaceful act quickly went viral and gained global attention. The ban was rolled back soon after, and Ms Ibrahimi's life would change forever.
"The 'activism' part of me is an Afghanistan thing," Ms Ibrahimi says. "The things we have to go through change you and make you speak up.
"For me, the courage came from believing that this decision really is going to affect my life and I don't want to let that happen."
Unfortunately, what appeared to be a sign of progress was short-lived. Soon after, the Taliban took back control of Kabul, and Ms Ibrahimi and her family were forced to flee their homeland.
"I'm thinking of writing a book about how we got out of Afghanistan, because it was a very long journey," Ms Ibrahimi says. "It's a privilege for me that I have the right to live a so-called normal life, and they don't.
"I get my strength, I get my power, and I get my inspiration from the girls in my country."
Ms Ibrahimi joined UNSW Vice-President Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement Professor Verity Firth AM in a conversation for this year's Gandhi Oration , exploring how peaceful grassroots activism can empower people of all ages to challenge authority and the importance of a right to education.
Since 2012, UNSW has held the annual event to honour the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi as a champion of human rights. Each year, the Oration focuses on a significant human rights issue of our time.
Storytelling to spark change
Now resettled in Canada, Ms Ibrahimi uses her freedom to continue to advocate for the rights of Afghan girls and women left behind under Taliban rule. Ms Ibrahimi and her brother co-founded HerStory , an organisation that provides a safe platform for Afghan girls both inside and outside the country to share their stories and experiences.
"What I really focus on is the power of words, the power of sharing stories and the power of listening," Ms Ibrahimi says. "I realised I can't carry the responsibility of representing Afghanistan on my shoulders alone.
"It's really important to have a platform where all Afghans can come together and see how capable we all are, and not just to strengthen our own sense of self, but the Western world needs to be reminded too.
"Afghanistan is not just the tragic headlines - it's more than that.
"It's the potential of not just the girls, but also all of the people who come from there."
Under Taliban rule, girls in Afghanistan are banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Just recently, there was also a nationwide internet blackout as the government shut down services as part of an unprecedented crackdown.
"We're dealing with a government that can just do whatever they want without any reasoning behind it," Ms Ibrahimi says. "When it comes to how it's impacting girls in Afghanistan, online education is their only hope right now, and it can be stripped away at any time."
Ms Ibrahimi worries that progressive ideas are being lost as taboos are being reintroduced and entrenched into Afghan society. She fears that the education system is very different from her old "dreamy" school in Afghanistan, before the takeover, which encouraged critical thinking and speaking out.
"When I left, there was a rise in progressive men allowing their girls to go to school, allowing their girls to have rights and contribute to the conversation," Ms Ibrahimi says. "My fear is that the education boys are getting now might be scarier than the lack of education for girls."
I get my strength, I get my power, and I get my inspiration from the girls in my country.
While Ms Ibrahimi deeply misses her homeland, she's unlikely to return unless the regime changes.
"We can't keep taking people out, we have to fix what's happening in Afghanistan," Ms Ibrahimi says. "Talking about it, acknowledging that this is a real issue, empathising with the people who are being impacted by this is the first step."
Until then, Ms Ibrahimi vows not to give up and to continue her advocacy work.
"Storytelling is a really powerful tool, and I hope that it can bring the change that I'm hoping it will," Ms Ibrahimi says.
"Believe that your actions have power, and it can do remarkable things."
