A Small Village, A Big Change
How Did a Young Man from Parwan Shatter the Walls of Doubt and Open the Doors of Hope for His Village?
Parwan, Afghanistan – As the first light of dawn gently spreads across the peaks of the mountains in Ghorband, a young man from Qalatak steps into the village alleys with joy and determination, carrying a vaccine box over his shoulder.
This is Awlia Esmat. He is not just a vaccinator — he is a messenger of hope and a voice for a safer future for the children threatened by the poliovirus.
Education and Responsibility
Awlia graduated from the Faculty of English Language and Literature at Parwan University. He could have chosen a comfortable life in the city, but he didn’t. Instead, after completing his studies, he returned to his village and joined the fight against polio to help secure a healthier future for children.
“It’s been about four years since I started working as a vaccinator in polio campaigns in my village,” he says. “I don’t want the children of my village to fall victim to polio. I want them to be able to play, go to school, and have a healthy future.”
Awlia Esmat prepares for his duty. © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2025
The Walls of Doubt
At first, the work wasn’t easy. Many families had doubts about the polio vaccine. One morning, just as a new vaccination campaign had started, an elderly man reacted angrily and said to him: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself, bringing this poison to our children?”
Awlia, always smiling, replied warmly:
“Dear uncle, if this were really poison, why would I give it to my little brother first?”
But he knew that one sentence alone wasn’t enough. People’s misconceptions can only be changed through sound reasoning from someone they trust.
That same day, the village mosque’s imam, Mawlawi Sabarullah, stood among the villagers after the afternoon prayer and said:
“Islam places great value on human health and life. Since polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure, and vaccination is the only way to prevent it, it is our shared responsibility to ensure that all children under the age of five are vaccinated so they can be protected from this illness.”
Then the village elder, Esmatullah, stood up and said: “Awlia is an educated young man from our village. He and his colleagues have been working hard over the past several years to protect our children. Let’s all come together to support him and ensure our children are brought to him during every campaign so they can be vaccinated.”
Awlia Esmat administers polio vaccine to children. © Polio Free Afghanistan / 2025
From Doubt to Trust
Since that day, Qalatak village has changed. The same families who once closed their doors now welcome vaccination teams with smiles.
Now, during every campaign, children run toward the volunteers, shouting excitedly: “The vaccine people are here!”
“If your intention is sincere and your words come from the heart, people will listen. The fact that children now run toward us and celebrate our arrival means a lot to me,” Awlia says.
A Big Dream: A Polio-Free Afghanistan
Awlia has a big dream: that one day, just like many other countries around the world, Afghanistan will be declared free of the poliovirus.
“This big dream is achievable — but only if religious scholars, community elders, and parents all come together. It’s not just my job; it’s a responsibility we all share.”
