Afghan-American female pilot seeks to inspire young women

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed Waiz at his office later on Monday evening and told her how much he admired her courage. Waiz, in turn, promised Afghan women that once her world trip is done, she would come back and find ways to help them.

Much has changed for Afghan women since the Taliban were ejected from power 16 years ago. During their rule, women were not permitted to attend school or work, were largely confined to their homes, and subjected to public beatings for violations of strict rules on what they could wear in public.

Now millions of Afghan girls go to school, compared to practically none in 2001, and many women work for the government and security services, run their own business, and are elected to parliament.

Waiz and her family moved in 1987 to the United States where she got her pilot’s license, becoming the youngest certified female pilot from Afghanistan.

She took off from Daytona Beach in Florida in May and has mapped out a route that will take her aboard approximately 25,800 kilometres (16,000 miles) around 19 countries, including Canada, Spain, Britain, Italy, Greece, Egypt, Bahrain, India, Singapore and Australia, before ending the trip back in the U.S. in August.

Waiz’s father, Fahim Waiz Atghandiwal, who accompanied her on the visit to Kabul, said each and every girl needs the support of her family — especially the support of her parents — to achieve her goal and turn dreams into reality.

After returning to Dubai, Waiz said she will continue her voyage to India as she seeks to become the first Afghan-American woman to accomplish a solo flight around the world.

Rahim Faiez, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Afghan-American female pilot seeks to inspire young women

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