A photograph of Hajera, a ten-year-old schoolgirl from Nangarhar Province, has been selected as UNICEF`s Photo of the Year 2025-an image the jury described as a symbol of the "silent resistance and resilience of Afghan girls" in the face of the Taliban`s restrictions on education.

According to AnsarPress, the image of Hajera was chosen as UNICEF`s Photo of the Year 2025. The award was presented on Friday at a ceremony in Berlin to Élise Blanchard, a French photojournalist. The jury stated that the photograph goes beyond a simple image, reflecting the determination and perseverance of millions of Afghan girls who have been deprived of education.

In the photograph, Hajera is seen studying with a pen and paper in her hands, her gaze fixed on an open textbook laid on the ground-fully aware that she may not be allowed to continue her formal education.

Since the Taliban`s return to power, education for girls above sixth grade has been banned in Afghanistan, leaving millions of girls deprived of their right to attend school and university over the past four years.

UNICEF`s jury emphasized that the image captures not merely a moment in a child`s life, but embodies "human dignity, resilience, and hope"-the qualities of girls who continue to learn despite severe limitations.

Elke Büdenbender, Honorary Patron of UNICEF Germany, said:

"This image shows what childhood means for many Afghan girls-a struggle for something that should be self-evident: the right to education."

Peter-Matthias Gaede, Chair of the Jury and a member of the German Committee for UNICEF, added:

"In Élise Blanchard`s photograph of Hajera, a concept that is often abstract becomes entirely concrete: human dignity. The image conveys its message quietly, yet it stays with you."

The Story Behind the Photo

Élise Blanchard captured the image by chance in 2024 while working with a non-governmental organization in Afghanistan. She met Hajera at a mobile clinic in Nangarhar, a region that, according to Blanchard, lacks permanent healthcare services.

The French photographer later accompanied Hajera to her home to document her daily life. Blanchard explained:

"We often talk about restrictions, but I wanted to show how the lives of Afghan women and girls continue-they are still living."

According to Blanchard, after completing daily chores such as fetching water and preparing food, Hajera took out her school materials and began studying with full concentration-"so absorbed in learning that she no longer noticed my presence."

Blanchard said the scene was both beautiful and heartbreaking, because Hajera knows her future may likely be limited to early marriage, childbearing, and farm work. Yet, she noted, "Hajera enjoys learning."

Hajera is not yet aware that her photograph has been selected as UNICEF`s Photo of the Year, as her family has no access to the internet. Blanchard said she plans to inform her during her next trip to Afghanistan.

Blanchard, who has worked in Afghanistan for seven years and collaborated with outlets such as The Guardian and The New York Times, stressed that documenting what is happening in Afghanistan remains essential-especially as humanitarian aid has sharply declined following cuts in U.S. assistance.

According to UNICEF estimates, in 2026 approximately 21.9 million people in Afghanistan, including 11.6 million children, will require humanitarian assistance, with women, children, and marginalized groups facing the greatest risks.