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Afghanistan's Short Story Competition
Stories that connect
voices that resist
For too long, Afghan stories have been told by outsiders. The world often sees Afghanistan through the lens of war, conflict, and despair—flattening millions of voices into a single narrative of victimhood. A Thousand Voices is a Projects for Peace initiative that challenges this erasure by launching a global short story competition and anthology series to amplify the lived experiences, dreams, and resilience of Afghan youth—written by them, in their own voices.
In partnership with
Our Journey
Discover the milestones that shaped A Thousand Voices into the platform it is today.
Story Submissions
Afghan youth will submit short stories—fiction or non-fiction—centered on themes of identity, resilience, and home.
Submission Closed
This is the last day to submit your story. We will not accept any more submissions after this date. We will start reviewing the submissions and selecting the applicable pieces for the next round of interviews.
Reach Out to Writers
From those who are selected will be receive an email from us. We will begin to reach out to the writers and interviewing them for their pieces they have submitted. We will be verifying the authenticity of the stories and the writers.
Publishing and Book Launch (Washington D.C.)
We celebrate the power of Afghan youth voices with a public launch event, readings, and recognition—on the fifth anniversary of Kabul's fall.
Join us on this journey.
Share your story with the world!
"If culture was a house, then language was the key to the front door, to all the rooms inside. Without it, you ended up on the street, outside, without shelter. You became an observer rather than a participant in the story."
Afghan Diaspora Across the World
Explore geographic distribution, migration waves, and cultural impact across time.
Got questions? We've got answers
Become an A Thousand Voices Mentor
Looking to make a global impact? Join our mentorship program and help amplify Afghan voices while building meaningful connections across cultures.