A Disabled Woman Empowering Other Women with Disabilities

A small prosthetic workshop in Kabul, run by the Red Cross, is full of movement and sound. Tools are shuffled across the tables as five women assemble prosthetic limbs. Behind one of the tables, 33-year-old Shabana Hamdard stands on her prosthetic leg, carefully preparing artificial limbs to be used by women and children with disabilities. In addition to her work in the workshop, Shabana educates visitors about the rights and capabilities of people with disabilities.

Shabana was only eight years old when, on her way to school in Panjshir, she stepped on a leftover landmine and lost one of her legs. Due to her disability and the lack of suitable facilities, she was unable to attend school for three years. Despite these challenges, she managed to enter Kabul University and earned a bachelor's degree in English Literature. She says, “That moment is still vivid in my mind, but I never gave up. Now I understand the pain of the women who come here, and I try to help them.”

Shabana is now a mother of four, and her family—especially her father—has always supported her. Her husband, a university classmate, worked for an NGO, but lost his job after the Taliban came to power, leaving household responsibilities largely on Shabana. She says, “My husband has always encouraged me and told me that I am a strong woman.”

Many women who come to the center have been divorced because of their disabilities and face uncertain futures. When they hear Shabana’s story, they find inspiration. “I tell the women who come here that they can rebuild their lives and show their abilities,” she says.

During the reporting day, 26-year-old Gulsoom, a mother of three, came to the center to have a prosthetic leg made. Doctors had amputated her leg due to diabetes. With worried eyes, she says, “Life has been difficult, my children are small, and our financial situation is tough. But when the doctor here spoke to me, I felt encouraged. I realized I could still continue living.”

Through her work and advocacy, Shabana Hamdard demonstrates that skill and determination can overcome physical limitations. Some families report that their children with disabilities have been able to reintegrate into society and live normal lives with the help of prosthetic limbs.