Online education seeks refuge by Afghan women amid Taliban's prohibition on formal education
Empowering Afghan Women Through Online Education: The Afghan Geeks Story
In a world where the Taliban's restrictions have limited opportunities for women in Afghanistan, online education initiatives like Afghan Geeks are proving to be essential lifelines. Founded by Murtaza Jafari, a refugee-turned-tech mentor, Afghan Geeks provides free coding courses entirely online, in the native Dari language, to Afghan women.
The story of Afghan Geeks began when Murtaza, a 25-year-old Afghan refugee, arrived in Greece as a teenager, knowing nothing about computers or English. He was helped to enroll in a computer coding course, which sparked his passion for technology and his desire to give back to his community, especially Afghan women. Today, Afghan Geeks serves around 28 female students at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
One of the women who have benefited from Afghan Geeks is Zuhal. Faced with the education ban in Afghanistan that left her feeling depressed and seeking a solution to support girls of her country, she continues to struggle to afford her internet service but remains committed to the academy's mission. Another student, Sodaba, found a free computer coding course for women in Afghanistan taught in Dari by a young Afghan refugee living in Greece, which helped her regain confidence and clarity in her direction.
Afghan Geeks is not alone in its mission to empower Afghan women. The Vision Online University, with a crew of 150 teachers and administrators and more than 4,000 students, runs courses in various subjects, including psychology, foreign languages, Quranic studies, nursing, public speaking, and more. These initiatives have become crucial in a context where the Taliban has imposed restrictions on women's lives, including bans on visiting parks, gyms, eating in restaurants, working, and receiving education beyond primary school.
By offering virtual spaces for women to learn, connect, and earn remotely, Afghan Geeks and similar online platforms are helping women sustain their personal development and financial independence under severe repression. These initiatives provide educational access where banning policies block formal schooling, teach marketable digital skills such as programming that enable women to find remote internships and jobs, offer hope and mental resilience by creating communities of learners and mentors despite social isolation and repression, and respect cultural and security concerns by allowing anonymity.
Murtaza Jafari also mentors his students in finding online internships and jobs using their new skills, as the opportunity for online work is a lifeline for women in Afghanistan where nearly all professions are banned. As he continues to mentor and empower Afghan women, Murtaza is not only giving back to his community but also contributing to a meaningful goal: supporting women in Afghanistan.
References: [1] The Guardian [2] BBC News [3] Al Jazeera [4] The New York Times
- In the face of Taliban restrictions limiting opportunities for Afghan women, important lifelines like Afghan Geeks, providing free online coding courses in Dari, are proving essential.
- Vision Online University, with over 4,000 students and 150 teachers, offers courses in various subjects, including women's health, technology, and education-and-self-development, becoming crucial in a context where the Taliban imposes strict restrictions on women's lives.
- Murtaza Jafari, the founder of Afghan Geeks, mentors students to find online jobs using their new skills, serving as a lifeline for women in Afghanistan where most professions are banned.
- The government's restrictions have left women like Zuhal seeking solutions to support their country, with Afghan Geeks helping her regain confidence and direction through online education.
- By offering educational access, teaching marketable skills such as programming, and creating online communities, these online platforms like Afghan Geeks and Vision Online University contribute to women's personal development, financial independence, and mental resilience despite social isolation and repression.
