For Noor Muhammed and Salma, fleeing Afghanistan wasn’t a choice—it was a matter of survival. Now living in Çorum, Türkiye, the couple shared how they escaped the dangers in Afghanistan and how Turkish language courses have helped them reshape their lives.
Before the Taliban’s resurgence, Noor was working as an inspector in Afghanistan. “I started receiving threats from people I had sent to prison,” he recalls. Salma, a history teacher advocating for girls’ education, faced similar dangers. “I encouraged families to send their daughters to school, but the Taliban didn’t welcome this,” she explains.
After moving to Çorum, Noor and Salma discovered LEAP and decided to join its Turkish language courses, which, as they describe, marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. “We haven’t missed a single day in a month and a half!” says Salma. “I’m so grateful for this course,” she adds.
The Turkish course has transformed Salma’s life. “The time I spend at the center is so precious to me. I look forward to Mondays because the center is closed on weekends,” she shares. Noor agrees with his wife, saying, “We couldn’t have found or afforded such a course on our own. They provide us with everything we need, and it feels like the course is designed just for us. Plus, our trainer helps us with topics outside the classroom as well.” He adds, “At the end of each day, our trainer sets up a conversation club, and we practice what we’ve learned in an interactive environment.”
Their progress in Turkish has significantly impacted their daily lives. “Thanks to LEAP, we can now read signs, shop, and explain our symptoms at the hospital,” says Noor. “These might seem like small steps to some, but they’re huge milestones for us.”
Noor and Salma found peace in their new beginning in Türkiye after fleeing the hardships in Afghanistan. As they overcome the obstacles in their lives, they feel a growing sense of gratitude and connection to their new community. For them, learning the language isn’t just a way to communicate, but the key to building a new life and stepping into a future filled with hope.
