PARVANA Deborah Ellis BLURB When soldiers burst into

PARVANA Deborah Ellis

BLURB � When soldiers burst into Parvana’s home they drag her father off to prison, Parvana is forced to take responsibility for her whole family, dressing as a boy to make a living in the marketplace of Kabul, risking her life in the dangerous city. By turns exciting and touching, Parvana is a story of courage in the face of overwhelming fear and repression

ACTIVITY 1 � In a group of two discuss: What do think is the book about? � What might have happened to Parvana’s father? � Why do you think it says “------- dressing as a boy to make a living in the marketplace” � What do you expect to explore in this book? �

DESCRIPTION � There are many types of battle in Afghanistan. Imagine living in a country where women and girls are not allowed to leave the house without a man. Imagine having to wear clothes that cover every part of your body, including your face, whenever you go out. This is the life of Parvana, a young girl growing up in Afghanistan under the control of an extreme religious military group

IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING ASYLUM IN AUSTRALIA “boat people”, ‘illegal immigrants”, “these kinds of people”, “Muslims”, “Islamic people”, “refugees”, “asylum seekers”, “terrorists”, “queue jumpers” the source of these labels – journalist, politician

ACTIVITY 2 � Discuss 5 MINUTES how the different labels given to these human beings position the reader to judge them.

AFGHANISTAN ON THE WORLD MAP

THE TALIBAN � The Taliban ("Students of Islamic Knowledge Movement") ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001. They came to power during Afghanistan's long civil war. Although they managed to hold 90% of the country's territory, their policies— including their treatment of women and support of terrorists—ostracized them from the world community

CHAPTER 1 Vocabulary: � Chador � Forbade � Militia � Scamper l

CHAPTER 1 Analyse the effects of Taliban-rule on people’s lives in Afghanistan as depicted in chapter 1? Write down an evidence from the chapter to analyse the following Condition of women Condition of children Education Employment Life in general � Write down a paragraph about Parvana’s family.

MAJOR ISSUES (STUDENTS TO DO TASK SHEET 1) Issue Evidence The Taliban militia “The Taliban are not making Afghanistan a kinder place to live” (p. 16) Restrictions on the movement and education of girls “The Taliban had ordered all the girls and women in Afghanistan to stay inside their homes They even forbade girls to go to school” (p. 9) Restrictions on careers for women “Their mother had been kicked out of her job as a writer for a Kabul radio station” (p. 9) Restrictions on attire for women and girls “how do women in burquas manage to walk” (p. 19) Interpretation