Poet Dr. Kang, Byeong-Cheol is a Korean author and poet, born in Jeju City, South Korea, in 1964. He began writing in 1993, publishing his first short story, “Song of Shuba,” at the age of twenty-nine. He released a collection of short stories in 2005 and has since won eight literature awards and published more than twelve books. From 2009 to 2014, he served as a member of The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International. Additionally, he worked as an editorial writer for JeminIlbo, a newspaper in Jeju City, Korea. He holds a PhD in Political Science and currently serves as the Vice President of The Korean Institute for Peace and Cooperation and vice president of Jeju PEN. Moreover, he holds the position of founding President of the Korean Association of World Literature.
We humans encounter different problems every single day. Sometimes these problems last long, and sometimes they pass as quickly as opening and closing our eyes. At times, they weigh heavily on our souls, bend our backs, wound our hearts, and remain carved into the pages of our memory. When unfulfilled dreams press on your chest and things don’t work out despite all your efforts—don’t fall into despair. You are not on the Titanic. Your life continues, and you are still alive.
The people who boarded the Titanic had everything—wealth, possessions—but they lacked one thing: luck. Look, you are the lucky one. You can stand up again; you can try again. Because just as the moonlight you see during the tahajjud prayer soon gives way to the dawn prayer, and then to the warm golden rays of the rising sun, every problem finds its solution in its own time. No effort goes without a result—every action brings a consequence.
Never forget this: you are the lucky one who didn’t get on the doomed ship. That means you still have plenty of reasons and goals to live for. Life is colorful—don’t see it only in black and white. Hold on to the wings of hope. Praise your Lord, because out of 8 billion people, He chose you for this test. Then you will see what true victory really means.
What matters is that you do not let your spirit drown. Just as you clean the dust in your home, cleanse your soul from sorrow. Wipe your tears, stand up, and keep trying again and again. Because you—and only you—have the power to change your own life. Don’t listen to the noise around you; people’s words will never stop anyway.
I know—sometimes you feel like you don’t fit in this world at all. Tears fill your eyes, you want to give up on everything, leave everyone, and run away to a quiet, secluded place.
My dear, who is precious to me, these problems may seem endless to you. Surely, at some point, you expected comfort or help from someone. Maybe you waited for a person who would tell you, “Everything will be okay” on your hardest day. If you are reading my words now, believe me: not receiving comfort on your hard day was actually a blessing for you. Step out of the desert of despair.
Every step you walked alone—didn’t it make you stronger and more determined? When you fell, didn’t you lift your head and rise on your own without anyone’s help? You may not realize it, but I know that people around you admire you.
When nothing seems to work and your strength is fading, remember my words: “Helplessness is the greatest test sent by God.” And that means victory is near. Don’t rebel. Wipe away those pearl-like tears. One day, those tears will fall not for defeat, but for happiness, my dear.
The important thing is not to remain where you fell. Fulfill the dreams hidden in your heart—don’t let them turn into regrets. My dear, the person who knows you better than anyone… is you..
Xasanova Aziza Kumushbek qizi, student at Tashkent Economics and Pedagogy University
Inspector of Egyptian antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Interview conducted by Eva Petropoulou Lianou
Good morning Doctor. It will be an honour to have you in our magazine.
Could you please tell us about yourself?
I work as an inspector of Egyptian antiquities at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. I write critical articles in the fields of fiction and theater. I have published five books. Five new books will be published soon.
When did archaeology come to life for you? What inspired you?
Archaeology is the science of searching for the roots of man, just as myth was the childhood of history. The knowledge of how ancient man lived shows us how mankind has evolved over successive eras. He who has no past has no future.
What was the most important moment for you?
The most important moment in my life was the discovery of tombs of senior officials from the 21st dynasty in the archaeological area of Saqqara with the Tasik expedition headed by Czech Egyptologist Jaroslav Barta in 2008. My visit was also accompanied by an exhibition of the effects of pyramid builders in Tokyo 2015, one of the most beautiful moments in my life as well.
Why should people visit the museum?
Museums are houses of memory ..If you want to know the history of a whole civilization that was as important as the Egyptian Kings, you should visit the museum, but if you want to know its present, you should definitely visit this country.
What is your wish for 2026?
I hope that in 2026 I will travel, work and live in Greece. The state and the people are psychologically and socially closer to the Egyptian people.
Women’s empowerment is the process by which women become aware of gender-based unequal power relationships and acquire a greater voice in which to speak out against the inequality found in the home, workplace, and community. An empowered woman not only changes her life but also uplifts her family and contributes to society. Though millions of women worldwide are still denied education — a reality that limits not only their potential but also their societies.
Today women empowerment plays a vital role in societies. From economic growth to social stability, the benefits of empowering women reverberate across every aspect of society. One of the most compelling reasons to empower women is its direct correlation with economic prosperity. When women are empowered with education, access to resources, opportunities, entire economies flourish. According to studies, investing women’s empowerment leads to increase in productivity and growth of a country.
Additionally, women’s empowerment is crucial for gender equality and discrimination. Despite the actions taken in this, still women around the world are facing barriers in education, violence, disdain and rights. Empowering women means challenging entrenched norms and stereotypes that perpetuate gender inequality. It involves creating inclusive policies, providing access to justice, and promoting women’s leadership at all levels of society. All in all, women empowerment takes the important part in all fields – healthcare, economics, education, industry.
Despite clear progress, numerous obstacles continue to restrict women’s equal access to education and empowerment.
Cultural expectations, early marriage, limited resources and gender stereotypes still restrict girls’ choices and ambition. To combat this, organisations such as Women In Tech and the PORLA project are enhancing women’s employability and promoting entrepreneurial skills across remote and traditionally underserved areas. Likewise, the establishment of the Entrepreneurial Women’s Council in March 2025 under the Chamber of Commerce and Industry aims to boost legal, financial and practical support for female entrepreneurs.
On a personal level, as a high-school student I co-founded Girls Hub, which has supported over 50 Afghan girls and is now collaborating with Nigerian peers hoping that change begins with young women taking leadership in education and solidarity.
If we truly believe that empowered women empower others, then education is the gateway to transformation. From the classrooms of Uzbekistan to global networks connecting Afghan and Nigerian girls, every investment in a young woman’s learning creates exponential returns for families, communities and nations. My journey with Girls Hub, standing alongside students who face barriers and believing in their potential, reminds me that real change comes from shared purpose, courageous action and unrelenting hope. Let us commit to policies that dismantle stereotypes, resources that expand access, and mentorship that lifts every girl toward her fullest future. Because when a woman learns, we all grow.
I am Lolaxon Sodiqxonova, a 17-year-old senior at the Specialized Boarding School in Namangan, Uzbekistan. I am passionate about empowering women and have already taken several actions toward this goal. For example, I worked as the Head Ambassador of the PORLA project, which educates women and girls on AI tools and STEM, even providing opportunities for internships. This sparked my interest in women’s empowerment and encouraged me to co-found Girls Hub, a global platform mentoring young women on scholarships, languages, and some aspects of STEM. Today, Girls Hub has two international collaborations and more than 100 alumni. Moreover, I entered the world of start-ups with this project and became the winner of the Digital Generation Girls – Start-Ups Competition. My dedication to this field also led me to success in a prestigious international program—the Women2Women International Leadership Program, hosted by Emerson College and held at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
