The Struggle Of Abdullah Zadran: A Life Between Hope And Hardship

Abdullah Zadran was born in Pakistan's Kohat district during his family's time in exile as Afghan refugees . His parents were living in deep poverty when he came into the world. The sole breadwinner of the family was his father, who worked tirelessly to provide for them. From a very young age, Abdullah grew up witnessing the harsh realities of life as a refugee.

He began his education in a primary school for Afghan refugees. It was not an easy journey, while his classmates could focus entirely on studies, Abdullah had to balance schoolwork with helping at home. His father worked away from home for long hours, and in many ways, Abdullah became the man of the house even in his childhood. He fetched water, ran errands, and helped his mother while still managing to attend classes regularly.

When he completed primary school, Abdullah enrolled in a local high school. Life became more challenging as the responsibilities at home increased. His father was aging and eventually became too weak to work. Abdullah had no choice but to step in and take over his father's duties. Despite this, he did not give up on education. He worked during the day and studied in whatever spare time he could find.

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Abdullah's determination paid off when he was accepted into a BS program. He successfully completed four semesters and earned an Associate Degree Program (ADP) qualification, an achievement he was proud of, considering the financial and social struggles he had endured. His dream was to continue his education and find a decent job to support his family while helping other Afghan refugees, especially children.

With hope in his heart, Abdullah approached the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office to request employment. He wanted to become a teacher for Afghan children or work in any capacity within the organization. But instead of encouragement, he was met with corruption.

According to Abdullah, UNHCR staff told him that if he wanted the job, he would have to pay a bribe of around 200,000 Pakistani rupees. For a young man who had grown up in poverty, this was impossible. His dreams began to fade.

Abdullah tried several times, hoping that maybe one day merit would prevail over bribery. Each attempt ended with the same answer-no bribe, no job. Disappointed but still determined, he then sought employment within the Pakistani government. His plan was simple: teach school in the mornings and continue his higher education in the afternoons. But this, too, remained just a dream.

Despite repeated setbacks, Abdullah refused to lose his spirit. He adapted to his circumstances, finding a small way to survive. Today, he sells toys for children and other small items at village fairs, markets, and festivals. It is far from the career he envisioned, but it allows him to keep his family afloat.

His situation has now grown more uncertain. The Pakistani government has ordered all Afghan refugees to leave the country. For Abdullah, this brings an even greater fear, returning to Afghanistan, where jobs are scarce, and educated people like him often remain unemployed. The country's struggling economy leaves little hope for those who return.

Abdullah is more than just a refugee. He is multilingual, speaking his native Pashto as well as English, Urdu, and Dari fluently. Over the years, he has completed teacher training and various professional courses alongside his formal education. But in Pakistan, none of these qualifications have opened the doors he hoped for.

“I wanted to teach children in the mornings and complete my studies in the afternoons,” Abdullah says.“But that remained only a wish.”

Now, as he faces the possibility of forced repatriation, Abdullah fears his hard work, education, and skills may be wasted. Yet, he continues to push forward, holding onto the hope that someday his knowledge and determination will find the right place to flourish.

His life is a testament to resilience-the story of a boy who grew up in hardship, refused to surrender to despair, and still dreams of making a difference despite the barriers in his path.

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