In the second part of 5 Live’s ‘Word Matters’ series you’ll hear personal stories from those affected by poor literacy and how being given access to learning is benefitting their lives, including those in prison or serving in the military.

On Tuesday 11 September 2001 suicide attackers seized US passenger jets and crashed them into two New York skyscrapers, killing thousands of people. The attack remains one of the most traumatic events of the century, not only for Americans but also for the world. For Brian Leavey, it was the day he lost his father. Joseph Leavey was one of the 343 fire fighters who died on the day. Brian was 16 at the time. 20 years on, Brian tells 5 Live's Nihal Arthanayake about how he dealt with his father's death, reflects on his bravery, and explains how he now supports other fatherless children and victims of terrorism.

Fatima travelled from London to Kabul on a family emergency just before the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Now she is trapped with her elderly mother and disabled brother, hiding in a friends house in the Afghan capital. Afraid the Taliban will kill her, she is desperate to get out and return to the UK. This interview was originally broadcast on 5 Live's Stephen Nolan programme and is part of the 'Voices of Afghanistan' mini-series.

Obaidullah, who lives in Afghanistan, thinks his country must engage with the Taliban and will not leave his home. Obaidullah Baheer is a lecturer at a University in Afghanistan. He believes the only way forward for his country is to talk to the Taliban and forge a future for his country. The Taliban have taken over Afghanistan and are in the process of setting up a government. Obaidullah Baheer is a lecturer at a University in the capital Kabul. He believes the only way to secure the future of Afghanistan is to engage in dialogue with the Taliban. Here he tells Stephen Nolan about his father, who he says was tortured by the CIA, and explains that he has no intention of leaving his homeland. This interview was originally broadcast on 5 Live's Stephen Nolan and is part of the 'Voices of Afghanistan' mini-series.

Arefa and her sister escaped Afghanistan from Kabul airport before American forces withdrew from the country. Although she and her sister were “physically” safe in the UK, mentally she was “not in a good state” knowing other family members and friends remained in Kabul. She speaks to 5 Live’s Naga Munchetty about leaving her old life behind, her hopes for studying International Human Rights Law, and why he is still haunted by a desperate call she received from a mother whose 14-year-old daughter had been taken as a wife by Taliban fighters. This interview was originally broadcast on Naga Munchetty’s 5 Live show and is part of the 'Voices of Afghanistan' mini-series.