Hasina, 25, comes from Kabul and, just over three years ago, managed to escape Afghanistan when it fell back under Taliban control. Thanks to the Culture Builds the Future project by Fondazione Emmanuel and a scholarship supported by Fondazione CRT, Hasina found a new beginning in Turin. Today, she speaks fluent Italian, has built new networks, and is pursuing a degree in Computer Science at the University of Turin.
“I feel very good in Italy; I study here and continue my academic journey. However, when I left my country, I was very scared,” Hasina shared. Upon arriving in Italy, her life changed: an Italian couple hosted her for 3–4 months. “Then I got to know Fondazione Emmanuel and Fondazione CRT, who supported me with a scholarship.”
From Kabul to Turin: a new beginning in computer science
Hasina arrived in Turin in January 2022 and is now in her third and final year of studying Computer Science. Back in Kabul, she had been pursuing Political Science and was in her final year of studies before leaving Afghanistan.
“When I came to Turin, I decided to change my path and pursue Computer Science, a field that had always fascinated me. However, I noticed that few women choose this discipline here. In my class of 80–90 students, there are only 7 or 8 girls,” she explained.
Life in Kabul and opportunities for women
What was life like in Kabul, and what were the conditions for women before August 2021?
“Even before the Taliban took power, Afghanistan was always in a state of civil war. In the provinces and rural areas, women didn’t have much freedom. But in the capital, the situation was different, and we girls had many more opportunities. Afghanistan has a very young population, with 70–75% of people between the ages of 15 and 30. Those who wanted to study could: you could enroll in university, work in the public sector, in ministries, or as doctors. Problems, including violence against women, were mainly found in the provinces.”
Family support for education
Hasina’s family was always very open-minded. “We are three siblings, which is not many compared to other Afghan families. I have a sister and a brother; after working for an NGO, they both studied business management.”
How did the opportunity to come to Italy arise?
Hasina had the opportunity to leave Afghanistan thanks to an Italian family she had met while still in Kabul.
“When the Taliban took over, the situation deteriorated quickly. Everyone was trying to escape, and foreign governments started evacuation programs. At that moment, we all realized that this might be the only way to safety.”
Hasina managed to leave for Italy with the help of this family, who got her name on one of the evacuation flights. “It was a chaotic situation, with so many people trying to leave the country. However, I was contacted to be included in the flight. Even though the situation was extremely challenging, I managed to enter Kabul airport without major obstacles.”
Life in Italy: a new chapter
She arrived in Milan in September 2021 and stayed there until December, attending an A2/B1 Italian course.
“I wanted to learn Italian as much as possible right away, and the family that helped me provided great support. I was determined to restart my studies as soon as I could. Through them, I connected with Fondazione Emmanuel.”
When the call for scholarships was announced, Hasina immediately reached out. “They interviewed me to get to know me better, and after a few days, they called me for a meeting in Turin, the city I had chosen among the available options. Here, I met two other girls; all three of us were awarded research scholarships through the Fondazione Emmanuel project, supported respectively by Fondazione CRT, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, and REAM SGR.”
She officially began her journey in February 2022. “I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, which included not only the scholarship but also relocation to Turin and services like housing—without which none of this would have been possible.”
Does she miss Afghanistan?
“Yes, of course. It’s the country where I was born and raised. I miss it a lot. It’s also a very beautiful country, though not many people abroad know about its beauty.”
After three years in Italy, Hasina feels she has grown. “When I arrived, I was 21. At that time, I was focused only on attending university. Now, I think about the future—mine and my family’s. I feel I have so much to do.”
Culture Builds the Future is a project coordinated by Fondazione Emmanuel and supported by CampusX, Fondazione CRT, EY Foundation EF, FAI Foundation, Fondazione Alberto e Franca Riva, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, and REAM SGR.
