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Cedar Rapids middle school student honored for resilience, compassion after fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan
In a world of talkers, Boshra Saifi is a listener who knows the power of words
Apr. 1, 2025 1:44 pm
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CEDAR RAPIDS — As seventh-grade language arts teacher Katie O’Leary read through essays from her class’s personal narrative assignment this school year, one stood above the rest of her roughly 140 students.
In her McKinley STEAM Academy class, the annual challenge for 12 and 13-year-old Iowans to write about overcoming a challenge often looks the same. Riding a bike for the first time, falling off their skateboards, learning how to be themselves — typical developmental milestones.
But 12-year-old Boshra Saifi, a girl who came to Cedar Rapids after her family fled Afghanistan in 2021, had something different to write about.
She detailed the loss of her 4-year-old brother, the personal turmoil she witnessed under the Taliban’s hostile takeover, and how her family fled danger on a U.S. military cargo plane. The six month journey took them to Qatar, Germany and a makeshift camp at a military base in New Mexico.
“Thinking about it, I still get goose bumps,” O’Leary said. “I remember vividly reading hers and it bringing tears to my eyes. After all the things she has witnessed, for her to be so positive on a daily basis, it was heartwarming to see.”
In just a few years, Boshra has gone from knowing no English to being a fluent, native-level speaker. She helps her father, who served as an interpreter for the U.S. Army from 2008 to 2011, with his accent.
Even though he’s been speaking English for 20 years, it’s tutoring he welcomes.
Away from school, the oldest daughter makes educational slides for her six siblings, who range in age from 9 to 1. She’ll even draft and grade tests for them to reinforce the knowledge.
Needless to say, Boshra loves school. Today, she is the same age at which schoolgirls are sent home in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
The family from Kabul, with roots in the northern part of the country, have a lifetime of memories overshadowed by the Taliban’s takeover. In Afghanistan, Boshra most remembers people being killed by the regime.
Not in the news, she clarified — in person, in front of her.
“A lot of people left their parents. A lot of people were left behind. Their families were torn apart,” she said.
Honored by 14 Under 14
What makes Boshra stand out among her peers was not an essay or a story of hardship, but the way she has chosen to lead her life, despite it all.
On March 11, she was honored by Kids First Law Center’s annual 14 Under 14 awards, which recognize remarkable students in the Cedar Rapids Community School District who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, compassion and problem-solving skills before their 14th birthday.
Led by empathy, her emotional intelligence is what puts her toward the top of her class. Despite a bumpy journey to broad acceptance among her peers, students and teachers alike gravitate toward her.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her really be upset. She’s always got a smile,” O’Leary said. “She instinctively knows when you need a hug throughout the day.”
Hearing others’ stories as she tells her own
But, in fact, there have been at least a couple times when Boshra was upset.
In some classes, fellow students have speculated aloud about her skin color. In 2023, as the Gaza-Israel conflict erupted, some called her “Hamas.”
Last year, one student pulled off her hijab — a head covering she recently started wearing to honor her faith and her ties to Afghan culture.
She knows only one other girl at the school who wears one. The last time she saw a student’s hijab pulled off, the girl eventually transferred to another school.
Yet, embarrassed and angry, her first instinct was not to lash out, but to contact a Kids First peace facilitator for conflict resolution.
After fleeing a war-torn country bombarded by a revolving door of powers, she understands the understated power of words — and when to use them.
Through discussions, she told the boy who pulled off her hijab how it symbolized greatness in her culture. He asked her questions about what it meant to be a Muslim and a refugee.
Then, she asked for his story.
“That’s a testament to who she is — super transparent, super vulnerable. At one point, she said it’s part of her culture to ask for people’s stories,” said Angel Ramirez, the Kids First peace facilitator who mediated the discussion. “She’s wise beyond her years.”
Only through hearing someone else’s story did she know she could understand them. Only through telling her own did she know she could be understood.
That, Boshra said, is what inspired her essay topic for this year’s language arts class. At a young age, she’s discovered that stories have the power to break down barriers — no matter the language.
“I decided to make sure people knew what I had been going through to understand they should stop making fun of people who they don’t know, or what they’re going through,” she said. “That’s what’s happening — there are wars, and (my peers) don’t even know what they’re going through.”
“Some things are very hard.”
Ramirez said children from minority religious, ethnic or racial backgrounds often have to take on the role of educating their peers as a survival mechanism. Even so, Boshra’s response stood out to her for its unique emphasis on empathy.
Adrian Snodey, age 9, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Alyse Nyandwi, age 11, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Amida Sumaili, age 13, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Bishop Kahoro, age 11, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
CJ Clayton, age 8, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Hunter Sherron, age 13, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Ja'Nayah Clark, age 13, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Justine Aklassou, age 13, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Kalell Henderson, age 11, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Kingston Tate, age 12, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
La'Shea Owens, age 11, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Malone Lake, age 13, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
Saige Watts, age 13, was one of 14 students honored in 2025 by Kids First Law Center's annual 14 Under 14 awards. (Bruce Thayer/PixAlchemy Free Range Studios)
No matter the identity, Ramirez said it’s critical that children be embraced for who they are. She’s found that having these conversations — as children and adults — is necessary to foster a healthier community.
“These kids don’t have the same mental obstacles a lot of adults have,” Ramirez said.
O’Leary, now in her 10th year teaching, remembered hearing news of the Taliban even when she was growing up. But hearing a child describe living through it offers context for the resilience that Boshra humbly allows to remain unexplained, save for one paper.
“She’s lived it since day one,” O’Leary said. “She’s someone who will stay with me for the rest of my career.”
Boshra aspires to stand up for others as an attorney someday.
Others honored by 14 Under 14
This year, 13 other students ranging from 8 to 13 years old were named 14 Under 14 honorees. They made the cut from over 70 nominations across 13 schools in the Cedar Rapids Community School District.
Honorees were nominated by teachers for their outstanding leadership, good citizenship, empathy, creativity, kindness and unwavering perseverance. Students do not need to interact with Kids First peace facilitators to be nominated by teachers.
“Our mission is to make children’s voices heard,” said Jenny Schulz, executive director of Kids First. “The 14 Under 14 Awards amplify voices of young people who are inspiring others. These remarkable kids prove that age is no barrier to meaningful leadership, problem-solving and change.”
Honorees include:
- Adrian Snodey, fourth grader at Hoover — an inclusive leader who encourages peaceful resolution of conflict
- Alyse Nyandwi, fifth grader at Trailside — a determined transformer of challenges into growth
- Amida Sumaili, eighth grader at Wilson — a student whose courageous heart and exceptional kindness makes a difference
- Bishop Kahoro, sixth grader at Franklin — a humble leader with quiet strength and poise
- Chavez Clayton, Jr., second grader at Grant Wood, — a young student whose maturity and genuine kindness inspires both students and teachers
- Hunter Sherron, seventh grader at Taft — a champion of kindness whose determination overcomes challenges
- Ja'Nayah Clark, eighth grader at Franklin — a beacon of positivity and kindness who sees the good in others
- Justine Aklassou, eighth grader at Roosevelt — a focused, natural leader with community spirit
- Kalell Henderson, fifth grader at Pierce — a peacekeeper whose empathy makes him a friend to all
- Kingston Tate, seventh grader at McKinley — a connector who blends responsibility with easygoing charm
- La'Shea Owens, fifth grader at Johnson — a student whose commitment to education and optimism drives her to reach her goals
- Malone Lake, seventh grader at Roosevelt — a committed learner and visionary with a strong moral compass
- Saige Watts, eighth grader at Harding — a problem solver who takes the initiative to improve her community
“The toughest leadership is to lead when you’re not in charge. And you do that every day,” said Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell as students were honored at the Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library. “You lead by being your authentic self, by being an example.”
“And, I tell you what — your city needs you.”
Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.
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