When I think about the future of Afghanistan, I do not just see the need for new roads or buildings. I see a desperate need for better healthcare and scientific progress. My name is Parwiz Dawran, and my biggest ambition is to study Biology and Biotechnology at the university level. I believe that this specific field is the hidden key to solving many of the health and agricultural problems that have held my country back for decades. We cannot keep relying on imported medicines and foreign aid forever. We need Afghan scientists who understand the building blocks of life and can create local solutions for local problems.
My journey toward this goal did not start in a classroom. It started in a hospital. In 2023, I spent three months doing a hands-on laboratory project at Kumail Hussaini Hospital. That experience was a massive wake-up call for me. I was suddenly face-to-face with real patients and real medical tests. I saw how important accurate laboratory work is for diagnosing diseases. Later, I completed a 30-day intensive training program in First Aid and Basic Surgery Skills at Ferdous Hospital, where I was proud to earn an A grade. During that month, I learned how fragile human life is and how quickly medical intervention is needed. I also had the honor of being a guest speaker at Samand Dental Academy, presenting on the topic of "Oral Hygiene." Standing in front of a crowd and talking about health taught me that science is not just about working alone in a lab; it is also about sharing knowledge with the community.
These medical experiences made me realize something crucial. Doctors can treat patients, and nurses can care for them, but the real battle against diseases happens at the molecular level. That is why I am so drawn to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I want to understand how viruses attack our cells. I want to know how DNA replicates and how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. When I volunteered as a social worker with BlueBirds OMID and took environmental courses with Green Future Afghanistan, I saw how pollution and poor living conditions make people sick. I realized that the root causes of many health problems are biological and environmental. To fix these problems, we need to look through a microscope.
In Afghanistan, our agricultural sector is also struggling. Farmers lose crops to diseases and pests every year. Biotechnology can help here too. By studying plant genetics and molecular biology, I can learn how to develop crops that are more resistant to drought and disease. This is not just about science; it is about feeding families and building the economy. My background in social work and volunteering taught me that if we want to help people, we have to give them practical tools. Biotechnology is a practical tool that can improve both medicine and agriculture.
I have chosen to pursue this degree in Russia because Russian universities have a legendary reputation for hard sciences. I know that the academic training in biochemistry and molecular biology there is incredibly rigorous. I want to be challenged. I want to work in laboratories with advanced equipment that I simply do not have access to in Afghanistan. Furthermore, I am excited about the idea of studying alongside international students. Adapting to a new culture, learning the Russian language, and living far from home will make me a stronger person. I want to absorb as much knowledge as I can from my professors, and then I want to bring that knowledge back home. The Open Doors Scholarship is my only realistic chance to access this level of world-class education. I promise that if I am given this opportunity, I will work tirelessly to make the most of it.
Ultimately, my vision for the future is very clear. I want to return to Afghanistan and work in a research hospital or a university. I want to help train the next generation of Afghan scientists and establish better standards for medical laboratories. I want to be part of the generation that stops talking about our problems and starts using science to solve them.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the journey from observing basic medical care in Kabul hospitals to wanting to study molecular biology has been shaped by real-life experiences. Biotechnology offers Afghanistan a path toward medical independence and agricultural sustainability. By gaining advanced scientific training in Russia, I intend to acquire the tools needed to fight diseases at the cellular level and improve local healthcare. This path is not easy, but the opportunity to use science to serve my people is the most meaningful goal I can imagine.
Author: Parwiz Dawran
References
Ferdous Hospital. (2024). Certificate of Completion: 30 Days Training and Practical First Aid course & Basic Surgery Skills. Kabul, Afghanistan.
Kumail Hussaini Hospital. (2023). Certificate of Participation: Three-Month Hands-On Laboratory Project. Kabul, Afghanistan.
Samand Dental Academy. (2024). Certificate of Appreciation for Presenting on Oral Hygiene. Kabul, Afghanistan.
Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Morgan, D., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2022). Molecular Biology of the Cell (7th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
Green Future Afghanistan. (2024). Environmental Sustainability and Public Health in Fragile States. Kabul, Afghanistan. https://greenfuture.af/reports/2024