The triple blasts near a school in the west of Kabul on Saturday took 63 lives, many of whom were female students from poor families living in Dasht-e-Barchi, one of the most low-income areas in Kabul.
Their ages ranged from 13 to 18 years old and they were attending classes from 7 to 12th grade at school. Some of them paid their expenses from carpet weaving.
Kamila, 13, was the only literate person in her family. She sought education to help her family get of their current economic situation. Gulsoom, 17, another victim, wanted to become a pilot.
The school is located near a hillside, surrounded by mostly one-story houses, most of which are made of mud.
“She did carpet weaving at nights and studied during the day so that she could continue her education and afford her expenses,” Kamila’s mother said.
“It is hard for me to go to school and study because we have lost our hope in the government,” said Zahra, Kamila’s sister.
Tahira, who shared a class with her sister Gilsoom--who was killed--survived the attack but is wounded. Tahira, too, paid for her and her family’s needs with carpet weaving.
“She earned 200 Afs a day and spent it for her needs at school,” Gulsoom’s mother Masooma said.
“Our family said she should not go to school because her future would not be guaranteed, but I insisted that she should go to school because it was a state school,” said Husain, the brother of a victim.
Raihana, another victim, also wanted to become a pilot.
Kamila, who was killed in the blast, wanted to become a police officer, according to their relatives.
“I saw the first body, I saw the second, and the third was my own Raihana,” said Mohammad Ali, Raihana’s father.
“We went to school together that day. She (Raihana) was very happy compared to other days. She told me that she was very happy that day,” said Habiba, Raihana’s sister.
Tahira says her wounds from the blast are minor but the pain from losing her sister has given her a bigger pain.
Families of the students said they have lost their hope for the future as they have no idea if they will be able to continue to send their children to school.