Afghanistan Refugee Story: Graduate Becomes First in Her Family to Attend School After Escaping the Taliban

An inspiring story of an Afghanistan refugee has come to light from the University of Bristol in England.

Gurvin Chopra is the first person in her family to ever attend school. Her parents, Jaspal and Waryam Chopra, never attended school because education is not valued in their home country, Afghanistan.

At the graduation ceremony of the University of Bristol in England, held on January 21, Chopra earned a master’s degree in human rights law.

In 2023, she completed her undergraduate law degree at the University of Bristol, where she received a bursary, and then advanced to pursue a master’s degree.

In 2000, the Chopra family, who belong to the Sikh religion, was forced to flee their home country of Afghanistan due to religious persecution by the Taliban.

Although her parents could not read or write, they always encouraged Chopra and her siblings to excel in school.

During her graduation speech, Chopra shared her thoughts, and said, “It was a privilege to pursue an education.”

She added that her parents were denied from pursuing an education during their youth, and her grandfather passed away at a young age, which forced her father to start working early.

She further added the cultural element in Afghanistan has a specific set place for women, despite this, her parents recognized the value of education.

The family settled in West London, and as a child, Chopra would read books to her brother and sister and fill out their forms, which developed her interest in law.

In her speech, she elaborated on the importance of education by saying that as an Afghan woman, the significance of that day cannot be overstated.

Afghanistan refugee stories
Gurvin (center) with her parents (left) Jaspal & (right) Waryam // Image via University of Bristol

She also explained that in Afghanistan, women and girls are denied the right to an education, the right to be seen and heard. She considered herself privileged and fortunate to have received an education.

She was grateful to be the first in her family to receive a master’s in human rights law, and it was only because of education that she experienced first-hand its life-changing power.

The University of Bristol’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement, Professor Michele Acuto, who conducted the graduation ceremony, congratulated Chopra on her achievements.

She said Chopra has demonstrated qualities of ‘global civic’ leadership which the University aspires to inculcate in all students.

Chopra hopes to become a human rights lawyer and has established a charity called “The Beathard Project,” which aims to posthumously exonerate individuals wrongly executed for alleged crimes.


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Maya Bennett
Maya Bennett

Hey! I’m Maya Bennett, storyteller at heart, marketer by day, and the Founder of the PositivePress.News Website. I believe in sharing stories of happiness and finding the sunshine in life’s everyday😇