Emma Willard in the News

Afghan Teen to Speak of Survival and Hope

December 1, 2006

arah Ahmedi was a just a 7-year-old Afghanistan girl walking to school when the land mine exploded beneath her, taking one leg and severely damaging the other. After two years recuperating in a German hospital, she returned to her war-torn homeland, where the sound of gunfire and the sight of falling bombs became a part of her everyday life. As the war took the lives of her father and sisters, she fled to Pakistan with her mother and, after years in refugee camps, settled in America.

On Wednesday, December 6, Farah Ahmedi—author of the best-selling memoir, “The Story of my Life: An Afghan Girl On the Other Side of the Sky” (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2005)—will speak to students at Emma Willard School as part of the school’s Serving & Shaping Her World Speakers Series.

Now a 17-year-old resident of Chicago, Ahmedi’s story has become a source of worldwide inspiration, and she has dedicated her life to helping end the warfare and violence that so drastically altered her young life. In addition to promoting her book and speaking on national media and at appearances through the country, Ahmedi is a Youth Ambassador for Adopt-A-Minefield, a foundation she joined to encourage young people to become more involved in helping solve the global landmine problem.

Ahmedi will speak at Emma Willard during the assembly period beginning at 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6. Although the event is closed to the public, the media is invited to attend. Ahmedi will be available briefly for interviews from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

For more information about Farah Ahmedi’s appearance at Emma Willard School, or to schedule interviews or photos, contact Steve Ricci at sricci@emmawillard.org, (518) 833-1785.