Poetry from Graciela Noemi Villaverde

Human Dignity

It cannot be measured with coins or weighed on scales.

It is the root that, even if the wind bends the stem,

never forgets the sky toward which it rises.

It is the light that filters through the darkest cracks,

when everything seems to be collapsing,

and remains a flame that no one can extinguish.

It has no price and is not given away for convenience.

It dwells in every heart like a sacred territory:

no one occupies it without permission,

no one reduces it to what you possess or cease to possess.

It is the pulse that does not stop in the face of injustice,

the voice that, even if it trembles, does not fall silent,

the certainty that you are worth what you are,

not what the world says you are worth.

It can be wounded, it can grow weary,

but it never completely surrenders.

Because it is like the ground we walk on:

even if covered with rubble,

it remains earth capable of blossoming.

 It is your essence, intact, undeniable,

what no one can take from you:

the right to be you,

standing tall, whole, free.

GRACIELA NOEMI VILLAVERDE is a writer and poet from Concepción del Uruguay (Entre Rios) Argentina, based in Buenos Aires She graduated in letters and is the author of seven books of poetry, awarded several times worldwide. She works as the World Manager of Educational and Social Projects of the Hispanic World Union of Writers and is the UHE World Honorary President of the same institution’s Activa de la Sade, Argentine Society of Writers. She is the Commissioner of Honor in the executive cabinet in the Educational and Social Relations Division of the UNACCC South America – Argentina Chapter.

Poetry from Oruj Dadashi Elman

MY POETRY’S DREAM

With hope, with feeling, my heart will heal

My wound will heal in the name of love

My heart knows that I exist, it will heal

If I dream of my poem one night

My heart will reach the bosom of beauty

My heart will reach the bosom of longing

My heart will search for the hair of the sun

If I dream of my poem one night

I lean on the star, stand on the moon

If I fall and paint peacefully in the milk lake

Even if I sleep in a bed, I wake up with a ghazal

If I dream of my poem one night

I won’t get up in the afternoon, let the taste not go away

Let the memory that keeps me alive not go away

Let the name not go away from the name of my heart

If I dream of my poem one night

My poem, I say, is a beautiful mother

The world is on one side, she is on the other side

She knows that her love is a golden palace

If I dream of my poem one night

Love recognizes itself in me

A kiss in your bosom makes my poem bleed

It feels like a gentle, kind hand

If I dream of my poem for one night

I am Elman will not let me go

Where will I leave my Azerbaijani son

It will not leave my heart wounded with longing

If I dream of my poem for one night

Oruj Dadashi Elman was born in 1978 in Iranian Azerbaijan. He is a poet, lives in Tabriz city. His poems are published in Tabriz, Urmuy, Tehran magazines and newspapers, and in Azerbaijan in “HAKARI”, “SÖZÜN IŞIĞI” and “BÜTÖV AZERBAYCAN” newspapers. His poems are also published in “AY IZİ”, “HİCA TAŞLARI” and “GERGEF” magazines in Turkey. His poems are also published in AQSU newspaper of Khurmatuz city of Kirkuk region in Iraq. A one-volume book titled “MÖVLA MAHABBATİ” ​​was published in 2023.

Poetry from Mahbub Alam

From Point to Line -1

When one point aligns with another
a line comes into being

But what is the origin of that point—
the point that begins as one
and gives birth to countless dimensions?

East, west, north, and south—
embracing every direction,
upon the canvas of a circle
it draws
hundreds of thousands of paths.

Gratitude to that Great Being
who gifted us
a single point—
from which unfolds an infinite journey along boundless paths.

From Point to Line – II

Come, let us join our hands.
Let us shine like the stars in the sky
and light up
the darkest of humble homes.

Let us come together as one
beside some weary, fragile soul—
a forgotten point
deprived of food and clothing,
worn down by the hardships of life.

A hundred thousand paths,
millions upon millions of hands—
yet their center
may be a single point.

Hand in hand,
eye to eye,
come, let us lose our way together.

For perhaps,
in losing the paths we know,
we may finally find
that long-sought destination—
the address
whose name is Love.

Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh

15 July 2026.

Md. Mahbubul Alam is from Bangladesh. His writer name is Mahbub John in Bangladesh. He is a Senior Teacher (English) of Harimohan Government High School, Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh. Chapainawabganj is a district town of Bangladesh. He is an MA in English Literature from Rajshahi College under National University. He has published three books of poems in Bangla. He writes mainly poems but other branches of literature such as prose, article, essay etc. also have been published in national and local newspapers, magazines, little magazines. He has achieved three times the Best Teacher Certificate and Crest in National Education Week in the District Wise Competition in Chapainawabganj District. He has gained many literary awards from home and abroad. His English writings have been published in Synchronized Chaos for seven years.

Once when he was in grade ten in 1990, his Bangla letter was selected as the best one from Deutsche Welle, Germany Radio that broadcast Bangla news for the Banglalee people. And he was given 50 Dutch Mark as his award. They would ask letters from the listeners to the news in Bangla and select one letter for the best one in every month.     

From 17 to 30 September, in 2018 he received a higher training in teaching English language in Kasetsart University of Thailand for secondary level students through a government order from education ministry. 

On 06 November 2015 he achieved Amjad Ali Mondal Medal for his contribution in education field by a development organization in the conference and felicitation function for the honorable personalities at Rajshahi College Auditorium. 

On 30 December 2017 from West Bengal in India he was declared a ‘Literary Charioteer’ in Bangobandhu Literary and World Bango Conference and they awarded him with a Gold Medal in their International Literary Conference and Prize Giving Ceremony.

In 2018, he achieved Prodipto Lirerary Award in Prodipto Literary Conference at Kesorhat, Rajshahi for poems in Bangla literature. He received honorary crest from the administration of Chapainawabganj District Literary Conference and Cultural Function in 2021 and 2022 consecutively. 

His poems have been published in many international online magazines such as Juntos Por las L Raven Cage Zine, and Area Felix.  His poems have been translated and published in Argentine and Serbian, and he participated in many international online cultural meetings. 

Essay from Malika Rustaqizi Arziqulova

Personal Development and Career: The Golden Formula for Success

In today’s rapidly changing world, where competition is constantly increasing, your professional level cannot outpace the speed of your personal growth. Many people want to have a good job and a high income, but they often forget to make time for personal development. However, a successful career is not built by chance. It is the direct result of continuous self-improvement, the right strategy, and personal growth. Simply put, expecting career growth without growing as a person is unrealistic. Below, we will analyze the golden rules that can make you a highly sought-after professional in the labor market and take your career to a new level.

The first foundation of a successful career is the right balance between technical and personal skills. In today’s world, simply having deep knowledge of your field, or “hard skills,” is no longer enough. Companies now place great importance on “soft skills,” such as communication, adaptability, and the ability to solve problems calmly. Therefore, professionals need not only to learn the latest technologies in their field but also to develop emotional intelligence, build resilience to stress, and practice expressing their ideas effectively.

The second important step is setting clear and systematic goals. Acting without a plan is like traveling without a destination. Therefore, your goals should not be vague or unclear. Instead of having a general desire such as “I want to work in a good place,” you should set a specific goal such as, “I will become a leading specialist in an international company within two years.” Breaking large goals down into smaller monthly, weekly, and daily steps and setting clear deadlines for achieving them will motivate you to take action every day.

The third rule is to follow the concept of lifelong learning. A university degree is only a starting point; it cannot guarantee a successful career for the next 30 years. In the age of technology, knowledge becomes outdated very quickly. Reading at least one new book related to your field every month, improving your qualifications through reputable online platforms, and seeking advice from experienced mentors who have already reached the level you aspire to achieve will help you stay one step ahead of your competitors.

The fourth and one of the most powerful tools is professional networking. The people around you can influence your future opportunities. Actively participating in industry-related forums, conferences, and meetings can open new doors. The most important thing, however, is not simply making connections for personal gain, but building mutually beneficial professional relationships. When communicating with others, instead of thinking only about your own benefit, you should ask yourself, “How can my experience help them?” Being active on professional social networks such as LinkedIn is also one of the most effective ways to establish your place in the modern professional world.

In conclusion, career growth is a direct reflection of personal development. If you focus only on salary, titles, or higher positions, success may continue to move further away from you. On the other hand, if you focus your attention on improving yourself, deepening your knowledge, and developing your personality, career opportunities and professional advancement will naturally follow. Do not look far into the future for an investment; start investing in yourself today, right now.

Malika Arziqulova was born on January 14, 2011, in Samarkand Region, Uzbekistan. She is currently a ninth-grade student at Secondary School No. 36. She is distinguished by her interest in learning, curiosity, and eagerness to acquire new knowledge and skills.

Poetry from Bahtiyar Hidayet

A Wedding on the Devil’s Cart

When the first automobiles appeared,

our mullahs called them

“the Devil’s cart.”

Now, in the hottest time of summer,

I am on a minibus.

The minibus is packed tight,

the smell of hell inside.

We open the windows—

the dust puts us in a bad situation.

We close the windows—

the heat puts us in a bad situation.

Like Munkar and Nakir,

who have difficulty deciding

whether a dead person,

whose sins and good deeds are fifty-fifty,

should go to hell or heaven,

we also have difficulty deciding.

But the driver

is more merciful than God.

By an improvised method,

he has installed a fan.

A new passenger.

The driver shouts:

— “Be a little kinder!”

A passionate voice:

— “Don’t worry, brother,

we’re practically related already.”

Wedding music

is playing on the stereo.

How wonderful our people are,

how wonderful our people are—

we can have fun

even in Hell.

A mullah’s car passes by us.

Its air conditioning is excellent,

its conditions are excellent.

As if he has fallen into Heaven.

Religious songs

are playing on his stereo.

The name of the car:

The Heaven Cart.

Bahtiyar Hidayet, Azerbaijan

Essay from Farangiz Rakhmonova

NEW DOORS OPENING FOR GIRLS: FROM EDUCATION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Every girl has a dream in her heart, a goal, and a vision of her future. However, desire alone is not enough to turn a dream into reality. It requires knowledge, opportunities, support, and, most importantly, self-confidence.

Today, the world is developing at a rapid pace. Technology has become an integral part of our lives, creating new professions and areas of activity. This process is also opening new doors of opportunity for girls. Today, girls are no longer limited to traditional professions; they can make their mark in IT, engineering, design, science, business, media, and many other fields.

For this reason, providing girls with access to education, helping them acquire modern skills, and encouraging their interest in entrepreneurship are among the important issues of our time.

Education is one of the greatest and most important doors opening for women and girls. Knowledge teaches people to think independently, make informed decisions, and build their own futures. Today, young girls have many opportunities to expand their knowledge through educational programs, grants, scholarships, online courses, and international projects.

The importance of education lies not only in professional knowledge but also in the way it transforms a person’s worldview. An educated girl understands her rights and opportunities, strives for innovation, and seeks to play an active role in society.

Modern technologies are expanding these opportunities even further. Today, programming, graphic design, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, media, and other digital fields are creating new career opportunities for young people. In these areas, success depends greatly on a person’s abilities, hard work, and willingness to learn.

For example, in the past, promoting a product or service often required significant financial resources and an office. Today, through the internet and social media, even a small project can be introduced to a wide audience. This creates valuable opportunities for young people to test and develop their ideas.

Entrepreneurship is another important area that is opening new doors for girls. For example, a girl may create handmade products and start selling them online. Another may offer services in design, translation, or programming. Although such activities may begin on a small scale, they can gradually develop into larger projects.

Today, there are many examples of girls taking advantage of these opportunities. Young female entrepreneurs are creating their own brands, providing online services, developing new products, and inspiring other young people to follow their example. This demonstrates that girls are capable of transforming not only their own lives but also the environment around them.

However, along with opportunities, certain challenges still exist. Some girls may give up on their dreams because of self-doubt, lack of experience, or outdated beliefs such as “girls cannot do this.” In my opinion, changing such attitudes is very important.

A person’s abilities are determined not by gender, but by knowledge, hard work, determination, and perseverance.

For me, giving girls opportunities is not simply about helping them; it is about building a strong foundation for the future. A girl who receives an education today can become a knowledgeable professional tomorrow, while a young female entrepreneur can create new jobs and contribute to the development of society. Most importantly, she can later play a role in educating and inspiring the next generation.

A confident girl can also inspire other girls. Therefore, giving every girl the opportunity to receive an education, develop her talents, learn modern skills, and turn her ideas into reality is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of society.

After all, education opens new doors, while entrepreneurship gives girls the courage and opportunity to walk through those doors and build their own future.

About the Author

Farangiz Rakhmonova, 16, is a 10th-grade student at Specialized School No. 2 in Qo‘shrabot District, Samarkand Region. As an avid reader, she is always eager to gain new knowledge and learn new things. She is an active and inquisitive student who has earned several national and international certificates.