Roya Mahboob, an Afghan entrepreneur and technology advocate, is working to provide education to Afghan girls who have been denied access to formal schooling under the Taliban’s restrictions. With the Taliban’s strict policies limiting girls’ access to education, Mahboob is leveraging technology to create alternative learning opportunities for young women in Afghanistan. Her efforts include the development of offline applications, encrypted communication channels, and collaboration with local partners to establish underground networks that facilitate education in secret.
During her speech at the Doha Forum in Qatar in 2022, Mahbo, who has previously worked with the World Bank and Google, emphasized the role of technology in overcoming the challenges posed by the Taliban’s policies. She highlighted the importance of women-led community networks in sustaining educational initiatives and ensuring that Afghan girls can continue their learning despite the ongoing restrictions. Mahboob’s project is part of a broader global movement to support education for girls in conflict zones and to leverage technology for social change.
The initiative is gaining attention from international organizations and tech advocates who are calling for continued support for educational programs in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban’s continued enforcement of its policies remains a major obstacle to the long-term success of Mahboob’s efforts. Despite the challenges, her work underscores the resilience of Afghan women and the potential of technology to serve as a tool for education and empowerment in the face of adversity.
As the situation in Afghanistan continues to evolve, Mahboob’s initiatives represent a critical effort to preserve access to education for girls in the face of growing restrictions. Her work also highlights the broader implications of the Taliban’s policies on the future of girls’ education in the country and the potential role of global cooperation in supporting such efforts.