Her sisters were ensnared by the Taliban. SCAD intervened to rescue them.

      Sabrina Spanta encountered an insurmountable challenge: How could she rescue her half-sisters from the Taliban, who had taken control of Afghanistan and stripped women of their rights to education and freedom?

      This led to a two-year journey marked by bravery, resilience, and a crucial partnership with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). This collaboration not only ensured the safety of her sisters but also inspired the creation of “One Step Away,” an award-winning short film that recently won Best War Film at the 2024 Roma Short Film Festival.

      Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Spanta — a SCAD graduate in fashion design from 2016 — reached out to SCAD President Paula Wallace with a heartfelt request: “Can SCAD help save my sisters?”

      Her half-sisters, Saki and Soda, who had been pursuing studies in architecture and hydro engineering, found themselves trapped under Taliban rule, deprived of fundamental rights to education and freedom.

      What transpired was a story filled with bureaucratic obstacles, dangerous escapes, and unwavering determination. The administration at SCAD pooled its resources to secure visas, scholarships, and safe transit for the young women.

      The mission involved risky escapes and many sleepless nights. Ultimately, the sisters reached the U.S., where they now study architecture at SCAD, embracing a newfound life of freedom and opportunity.

      Loss and Courage

      Spanta’s own path to America began many years earlier. Born in Afghanistan, she lost her birth mother as a young child. Her father, a hospital security guard, kept the truth from her and her siblings, claiming their mother had gone to America for medical care. It was not until a neighbor made a casual remark that Spanta discovered the painful reality.

      At the age of eight, Spanta and her sister were adopted by an Afghan-American family in the U.S. The cultural adjustment was significant.

      “The first time I saw my American mom driving a car, I was in awe,” Spanta remembers. “In Afghanistan, such freedom for women is unimaginable. To me, driving represented control over your own destiny.”

      That viewpoint has remained with Spanta throughout her life. Even as she became more “Americanized,” the stark differences between her two worlds remained imprinted in her mind.

      “I appreciate the small things: wearing shorts, expressing myself freely, having choices. These are freedoms that women in Afghanistan still lack,” she states.

      A Daring Escape

      After completing her studies at SCAD, Spanta launched a career in fashion design, collaborating with prominent brands and even competing on Project Runway. Yet her love for storytelling eventually drew her to the film industry, where she now serves as a costume designer.

      Her fashion career was well established when the Taliban reconquered Afghanistan — and she thought of her alma mater for help.

      “I knew SCAD was like family,” she notes. “I had seen President Wallace at events and felt confident that if anyone could assist, it would be her.”

      Her email to Wallace elicited an immediate reply. Within hours, SCAD’s leadership team began working relentlessly to ensure the safety of Spanta’s sisters.

      The process was rife with peril, and the sisters made several attempts to escape. Every setback faced did not deter SCAD’s team. “They were working day and night,” Spanta shares. “It was a two-year struggle, yet they made it happen.”

      New Beginnings at SCAD

      Now settled in the U.S., Saki and Soda are chasing their dreams at SCAD. Their transition has been both exciting and difficult.

      “The culture shock is immense,” Spanta describes. “Even something as simple as eating French fries at Chick-fil-A is a novel experience. They are still adjusting to their newfound freedom, such as wearing short sleeves without concern.”

      Spanta hopes their story will motivate others to take action and support women in distress.

      “This is just the beginning,” she expresses. “My ambition is to adapt this into a feature film someday, to illuminate the situation in Afghanistan and assist more women in escaping.”

      Main image: (L-R) Sabrina Spanta with her sisters, Saki and Soda. Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SCAD.