Online learning surges amongst Afghan women as Taliban enforces ban on traditional education
In the face of severe restrictions on women's education and employment in Afghanistan, a 25-year-old Afghan refugee named Murtaza Jafari has established a beacon of hope. Based in Greece, Jafari has founded Afghan Geeks, an online academy that offers free computer coding courses specifically for Afghan women.
Jafari's journey began as a teenage refugee, fleeing Afghanistan via Turkey. With no knowledge of computers or English, he faced an uphill battle. However, with the help of a teacher who enrolled him in a coding course, he earned his certificate after several months. Inspired by the transformative power of coding education, Jafari decided to create Afghan Geeks as a way to give back to his community, particularly to Afghan women who have been denied formal education by the Taliban regime.
Starting around December 2024, Afghan Geeks has been providing online coding courses entirely in Dari, the native language of most Afghans, to overcome the language barrier. The initiative currently teaches around 28 women across beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Beyond teaching coding skills, Jafari mentors these women in finding online internships and remote job opportunities, empowering them economically despite the Taliban's restrictions.
Afghan Geeks symbolizes a digital education uprising among Afghan women, defying the Taliban ban on female schooling through technology and remote learning enabled by refugee-led efforts. The academy now offers website development and chatbot creation services, providing a diverse range of skills to its students.
Meanwhile, another initiative, Vision Online University, was launched by a young Afghan woman named Zuhal and a university professor. The online academy offers courses in various subjects, including psychology, foreign languages, Quranic studies, nursing, public speaking, and more. Despite facing funding challenges, Vision Online University continues to serve over 4,000 students with a crew of 150 teachers and administrators.
The clients of Afghan Geeks are contributing to a meaningful goal: supporting women in Afghanistan. With clients from Afghanistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and other regions, Afghan Geeks is making a global impact.
Jafari, the founder of Afghan Geeks, has never seen the faces of his students, respecting their culture and choice. Yet, he emphasizes that sharing knowledge is crucial for making a meaningful difference and believes education should remain accessible regardless of political and social obstacles. In a world where the Taliban has imposed a series of restrictions on women's lives, including bans on visiting parks, gyms, eating in restaurants, working in most professions, and receiving education beyond primary school, Afghan Geeks represents a glimmer of hope for the future.
[1] Taliban seizes power in Afghanistan (2021) [2] Taliban imposes restrictions on women's lives [3] Murtaza Jafari creates Afghan Geeks [4] Afghan Geeks: Defying Taliban ban on female schooling through technology and remote learning [5] Afghan Geeks empowers women economically through coding education and job opportunities
- The government in Afghanistan has imposed severe restrictions on women's education and employment, but Murtaza Jafari, a 25-year-old Afghan refugee based in Greece, has established Afghan Geeks, an online academy offering free computer coding courses to Afghan women.
- Despite facing challenges due to the Taliban's restrictions, Afghan Geeks has been providing coding courses in Dari, the native language of most Afghans, to around 28 women across various skill levels since December 2024.
- Beyond teaching coding, Afghan Geeks mentors women to find online internships and remote job opportunities in the rapidly growing field of technology, empowering them to have financial independence and wealth management.
- In a move to expand education and self-development opportunities for Afghan women, another initiative, Vision Online University, was launched, offering courses in different subjects such as psychology, foreign languages, nursing, public speaking, and more.
- Contributing to a meaningful goal, clients from various regions around the globe have supported Afghan Geeks, which has made a global impact in enhancing women's health, wellness, and personal finance, despite the Taliban's restrictions.
- As a result of efforts like Afghan Geeks, education-and-self-development, health-and-wellness, and financial-management resources are becoming increasingly accessible online for women in Afghanistan who have been denied formal education by the Taliban regime, fostering a digital education uprising and offering a glimmer of hope for the future.
