Preserving Heritage Through Language: The Inspiring Journey of Bereshna Jabarkhel

Bereshna Jabarkhel has devoted her life to education, shaping minds and preserving culture through her work as a teacher.

Originally from the Surkh Road district of Nangarhar province in Afghanistan, Jabarkhel grew up in Kabul, where she attended school and earned her degree from the Faculty of Science at Kabul Medical University. 

Her passion for education led her to teach Pashto at Kabul’s Malalai High School. However, the arrival of the Mujahideen in the 1990s plunged the city into chaos, forcing her family to flee to Pakistan.

Today, Jabarkhel teaches Pashto and Dari in Vienna’s public schools, continuing her mission of education and cultural preservation despite the challenges she has faced. Her journey from Afghanistan to Austria is a powerful story of resilience, adaptation, and an unwavering commitment to her heritage.

A Happy Career

Jabarkhel’s career as an educator spans over four decades. During her time in Pakistan, she furthered her education in Peshawar, attending a teacher training institute. By 1998, it became clear that returning to Afghanistan was impossible—the Taliban’s regime had shut down schools for girls and destroyed hopes for the future.

“There was no education, no government, no hope. We decided to migrate further, and Austria became our destination,” she recalls.

In Austria, rebuilding her life was no small task. She faced a language barrier, speaking little German and relying on her limited English to navigate daily life. Securing asylum was another challenge; although Afghans fleeing the Taliban often received asylum quickly, Jabarkhel waited a year and a half. During this time, she worked tirelessly to bring her children to Austria through family reunification programs.

Her determination paid off, and she eventually returned to her field of expertise. “I am happy now that I work in my field, teaching Pashto and Dari,” she says.

In Vienna, mother-tongue education is part of the school curriculum, and Jabarkhel travels to schools across the city to teach Afghan children.

The Power of Mother-Tongue Education

For Jabarkhel, teaching Pashto and Dari is about more than just language—it is about preserving identity and culture. She underscores the importance of mother-tongue education for Afghan families in Austria.

“The more children distance themselves from their mother tongue, the more they disconnect from their culture,” she explains.

Jabarkhel encourages Afghan parents to speak their native language at home. 

“Children will learn German in schools, but parents must take responsibility for teaching them their mother tongue,” she advises. 

Retaining their native language strengthens children’s connection to their heritage while supporting their cognitive development and integration into Austrian society.

Despite her dedication, Jabarkhel faces significant challenges in her work. A major obstacle is the lack of quality resources for teaching Pashto and Dari.

“There are no suitable books for children,” she laments. To address this, she searches for Pashto books online and prints them at her own expense. Limited funding prevents her from producing high-quality, colorful materials. “I make most of the teaching materials by hand,” she says, showing examples of learning cards and mind maps she has created.

Another challenge is the inconsistent attendance of students. Many parents register their children for mother-tongue classes but fail to ensure they attend regularly. “I have a long list of registered students, but only a few show up,” she says.

Afghan cultural associations, which could play a crucial role in bridging this gap, often fall short. “Families distrust these associations, fearing they will disrupt family dynamics or promote unwanted social changes. Associations must work to build trust within the community,” she asserts.

Reflections on Afghanistan’s Education Crisis

Jabarkhel speaks passionately about the ongoing education crisis in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have banned girls and women from attending school and university.

“This is a tragedy—half the population has been erased from society,” she says.

She believes education is essential for Afghanistan’s future. “Men and women need education. There is no such discrimination in any other country except Afghanistan,” she remarks.

Jabarkhel calls on the Taliban to reconsider their policies, emphasizing the devastating consequences for Afghan families forced to leave their homeland. “I love my country,” she says, reflecting on her decision to leave Afghanistan. “If there were education, I would be the first to return. But dictators cannot rule forever. Do the Taliban believe they can?”

Jabarkhel’s journey from Kabul to Vienna is a testament to the transformative power of education and the resilience of the human spirit.

Through her work as a teacher, she ensures that Afghan children in Austria maintain their linguistic and cultural heritage while integrating into their new society.

Her story is not just one of personal perseverance; it is also a call to action for Afghan families and diaspora organizations to prioritize mother-tongue education and community trust.

By sharing her journey, Jabarkhel reminds us that the preservation of language and culture is a collective effort—and that even in the diaspora, it is possible to stay deeply connected to one’s roots.