College dreams dashed as young Afghan women fight to keep poverty at bay

Waheeda Bayat, a 24-years-old student, talks with her classmates outside Gawharshad University in Kabul, Afghanistan February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Stringer

As students return to universities across Afghanistan this month, law major Waheeda Bayat will not be among them.

The 24-year-old was looking forward to resuming her course at the private Gawharshad University in Kabul, but amid an economic collapse that has dragged millions of Afghans into poverty, she cannot afford to go back.