Kabul, Aug 6 (AP) Opportunities vanished one after the other, leaving countless Afghan women, like Sodaba, helpless against the Taliban's increasing grip on their lives. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, quickly introducing a range of restrictions against women: Visiting parks or gyms, dining at restaurants, or maintaining employment was severely limited, with very few professions remaining accessible.One of the harshest rules for the pharmacology student was the prohibition on education past primary school.
Driven by necessity, Sodaba turned to the internet, discovering hope in a free computer coding course tailored for Afghan women. Taught in Dari by a young Afghan refugee based in Greece, the course became her beacon. “I believe a person should not bow to circumstances, but should strive to achieve their dreams by any means possible,” said Sodaba, who has embarked on learning computer programming and website development.
The new skills," she said, “helped me regain my confidence and clarity in my direction.” The 24-year-old, who for safety reasons asked to use only her first name, expressed happiness to be part of this journey. These courses are provided by Afghan Geeks, a company established by Murtaza Jafari. Now 25, Jafari made his way to Greece as a teenager on a boat from Turkey.
'I had no idea … Like zero zero'
While residing in an Athens shelter, Jafari received assistance enrolling in a computer coding course—though he began the journey knowing nothing about computers, coding, or English, essential for programming. “I had no idea about English. No idea, like zero zero,” he recalled. “And I was simultaneously trying to learn Greek, English, and computer skills, which was extremely difficult for me.” Yet just months later, he earned a certificate in coding.
The world of coding opened new horizons for Jafari. A couple of years ago, he launched Afghan Geeks.
Paying It Forward
Jafari began offering online courses last December to support women in Afghanistan, expressing gratitude for the support he received as a young refugee. “The primary goal was to give back to my community, especially Afghan women, what I received for free from others,” he said from his simple one-room apartment in Athens.
“Sharing knowledge makes a real difference in someone's life,” Jafari commented. “And spreading it allows more people to learn.” Afghan Geeks now hosts 28 female students in Afghanistan across three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. In addition to teaching, Jafari mentors students in securing online internships and jobs by leveraging their new skills. In a country where most careers are inaccessible to women, online opportunities are essential.
The highest achievers join Jafari's team at Afghan Geeks, offering website development and chatbot creation services for clients from Afghanistan, the United States, the UK, and Europe. “These clients appreciate contributing to a meaningful mission: supporting women,” Jafari said. “They return with more projects.”
Despite working with his students for seven months, Jafari has never seen their faces. He inquires about their well-being and the conditions in Afghanistan but ensures privacy by never asking them to turn on cameras or share personal information. “I respect their culture and their choices,” he asserted.
The Online Academy
With Taliban-imposed restrictions confining women to their homes and censoring women's voices and faces in public, the internet has opened new doors for Afghan women. A year and a half ago, a young woman named Zuhal partnered with a university professor to start an online academy for women.
What started with a team of five now includes a dedicated staff of 150 teachers and administrators, reaching over 4,000 students, Zuhal stated. “All of us work voluntarily, without salaries or support,” she said. “Our singular aim is to offer free education to girls and promote research in Afghanistan.”
The Vision Online University provides courses in various subjects, including psychology, foreign languages, Quranic studies, nursing, and public speaking, among others. When the educational ban went into effect, Zuhal endured depression, as opportunities seemed unavailable, she recounted. “There was no school, no university, no courses, and it affected me deeply,” she said. Determined to persevere, ZuhaI decided against giving up, vowing to help Afghan girls, she remarked.
Currently pursuing a degree in computer science through the University of the People, an American online university, Zuhal overcame financial and infrastructural challenges while supporting her vast student base. “The academy can't afford premium services for large meetings, and sometimes I struggle to maintain internet access,” she admitted. Yet, her conviction remains unshaken. “I'm driven by my goal to support girls, as stopping our work would deeply impact more than 4,000 or 5,000 students.” (AP)
(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)