Marzia Panahi had to leave her country and her mother after 21 years after the Taliban confiscated her office and home. “On August 29, 2021, I had to leave to save my life. I had to bid farewell to Kabul and start a new journey. I was only allowed to pick up my laptop before boarding the American Air Force flight. After spending 18 hours in Qatar, I then departed for Germany, all by myself, on a new continent.” She continues, “I do not consider what happened in Kabul in 2021 as a loss, but rather a setback that can be fixed with hope, education and perseverance.”

The 24-year-old Entrepreneur recalls her initial days. “The experience was a significant loss for me. I did not feel any physical pain, but I had difficulty breathing and was sleepless during those first days. I was constantly asking myself what I was going to do next.”

Marzia learned to be resilient. She remembers that one day she came back to her room after running in the nature, and she realized that her toenail was not in its right place. “It seemed that physical pains were never comparable to what I was dealing with emotionally. From a young age, I trained myself to be strong and independent, which helped me cope when I faced the harsh reality of life. Although I was broken, the experience taught me valuable life lessons and made me wiser.”

Marzia decided to start anew from where she had left off. She knew she had to put in greater effort to move forward. “I realized that I couldn’t change the past, but I could work towards a better future. I was committed to myself and was determined to persevere. I started spending most of my time in Cologne University’s library, and my priority was to learn the German language. I understood that language is the key to understanding any culture, and without that key, it is impossible to unlock the door to the journey. I devoted two and a half years to becoming a part of German society. After 17 months, I reached the C1 language test, but there is no end to learning a language.”

Marzia was the founder of an art gallery called “Namad” in Kabul. Unfortunately, her startup was shut down by the Taliban when they took over the country. Nevertheless, her vision remained the same and even expanded. “Recently, I registered my startup as a commercial art gallery in Germany. She is now the founder and director of “Namad Gallery” in North Rhine-Westphalia. “The gallery’s vision is to celebrate diversity and culture, showcase Afghan art, and connect artists with art enthusiasts.” Marzia hopes to take incremental steps towards a brighter future for the gallery.

Marzia has learned an important lesson through the process of integrating into German society. She says, “Dealing with German bureaucracy has taught me patience, while learning the language has taught me how to be meticulous and precise. Though it may seem intolerable at first, taking care of things in the right way will make them more sustainable and desirable in the end.”

Marzia is grateful for the educational opportunities she has received in Germany. “I believe that education is a responsibility that every individual should take on for themselves, their country, and their contributions to other societies. Unfortunately, our sisters are not allowed to attend school in Afghanistan. We should be determined to make the most out of our education and career development opportunities. I believe that we must direct our focus towards mastering our chosen paths, and not waste time resting.”

Marzia’s works display the work of arts from the artists who are the visual narrators. “I believe their art captures the reality as it is. It can be either nice or a little disturbing and sad. Their artworks will be our historical evidence in the future, as books are.” She has a deep sense of belonging to her country and feels that she represents it wherever she goes. “Afghanistan is more than just a geographical location, it’s a cultural identity that encompasses our attitudes and our dreams. All these aspects are an integral part of my identity.”

For her, consistency means continuing and being persistent even if you do not see the results in the short run. “I believe that the result will show up soon enough and that we need to focus on the small steps we can take every day. The key is to use our time wisely and to be productive, not just to be busy. Excuses are a sign of not wanting something enough. When you really want something to achieve you will go after it no matter how soon or late you get to that point. Our unstable political situation in Afghanistan has taught us that nothing is certain. So, when problems and darkness surround you, remind yourself that it will pass soon. The clock is ticking, and time is the best proof of that. There is no magic, only a Vision and a smart work can get us there.”