NAVIDA Ahmadi loves her new home in England. She has new friends and unimagined freedoms, but more importantly, she is receiving the education denied to her back in Afghanistan.

When the 14-year-old arrived here two years ago, she could not write her name in her own language. Now her ambition is to be a doctor. Navida is one of 64 refugee children from Afghanistan at her west London secondary.

The children, who all have hair-raising tales to tell of life in Afghanistan, have managed to find happiness and stability at Hounslow Manor school.

There are thousands of children in Afghanistan like Navida who need the help of The TES campaign. The appeal being run jointly with the United Nations Children’s Fund is hoping to bring education to children there.

She said: “Being at Hounslow Manor was a bit scary because of being in a class with boys. But I have lots of friends here and like learning new things. In Afghanistan, I just stayed at home and did the sewing, cooking and washing.”

Navida was unable to go out of the house without being covered up in a burka. She said: “It was very hot and heavy. I had to look down and sometimes I fell over because I couldn’t see where I was going.”

Rimple Dhawan, 14, had spent her whole life virtually imprisoned in her house and garden in Afghanistan. Hindus were persecuted by the Taliban and her wealthy Hindu parents paid an agent pound;42,000 for them to escape to Britain.

She said: “We were not allowed to go out. I didn’t know what my own country looked like. I like it here because I don’t have to cover my hair. Here I can go to school and go shopping and dancing.”

When the Afghan children start at Hounslow Manor they are given non-verbal reasoning tests by the additional English language department and put into streamed groups.

Ali Koozehkanani, assistant head teacher of Hounslow Manor, speaks Farsi, one of the main languages spoken in Afghanistan. He said: “Most of the Afghan refugees here are educated and had good jobs in their own country. The families here are pleased their children are getting a good education.”

Roger Shortt, head of the 984-pupil school, said: “Having the children here has been an enriching experience for everyone and it has given the rest of the pupils a global understanding.”

Sajan Chopra, who said he feels happy and safe at Hounslow Manor school, fled Afghanistan at the age of 10 and made the hazardous journey to England on his own.

He was persecuted by the Taliban for being Sikh and escaped from Kabul two years ago, hidden under a pile of vegetables in a truck.

The 12-year-old had a lucky escape from Taliban guards. He said: “They stopped the truck and stuck long knives through the vegetables to see if anyone was hiding underneath.” By chance the knives missed Sajan. The truck continued on its journey then he was told to jump on to a moving train by the agent who had arranged his escape. “I was really scared. Someone took me to an airport and from there I was on my own.

“I landed in England and I couldn’t speak any English. At the airport they put me in a room and some Punjabi ladies came and spoke to me. I knew my uncle lived in England but I only knew his name. After 10 hours they found him and when he came to get me I started crying.”

Sajan, who was amazed by his new world, said: “I was astonished when I first saw girls wearing short skirts.”

He now lives with his uncle and is fluent in English. He said: “I like the teachers at the school and the people here. I like school and here I can go out with my friends.”

What he misses most is his mother who fled to Pakistan after the US and Britain started bombing Afghanistan. He has had no contact with her since. Sajan has written a poem about his family and his life back in Afghanistan (see left).