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Artificial intelligence

Voices of Hope: Afghan Women Defy Taliban Ban on Education

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

In the midst of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, a group of young women has formed a community of learners, determined to continue their education despite the regime's ban. Calling themselves "Voices of Hope," the group consists of former computer science students who refuse to abandon their pursuit of knowledge. Using online resources and artificial intelligence, they have created their own community of learners behind closed doors, working on projects such as building robots and drones.

Key Takeaways:

  • The group, led by 25-year-old Asrar Parsa, consists of 6 members, including 1 male member, Asrar's 28-year-old brother, Navid Parsa, who serves as their link to the outside world.
  • Since the Taliban's ban on education, the group has taken on several projects, including building two robots from scratch, which cost about 30,000 Afghanis (roughly $430 or £330) to build.
  • The team has been supported by online tutorials and has used their knowledge to create robots and devices, including one that can recognize 20 different objects and is controlled remotely.
  • The group is working on building a drone, which they hope could be used for search and rescue operations, collecting rubbish, delivering emergency medicine, or transporting small items across Kabul.
  • The meetings offer hope and a way to cope with the mental and emotional toll of their isolation, providing a space for the women to escape "the pain and grief brought about by their current situation."
  • The group draws inspiration from the Afghan robotics team, "The Afghan Dreamers," which was founded in 2017 and gained widespread attention for their work in technology, engineering, and robotics.

Statistics:

  • The group has built 2 robots from scratch, costing about 30,000 Afghanis (roughly $430 or £330)
  • The team consists of 6 members, including 1 male member, Asrar's 28-year-old brother, Navid Parsa.
  • The group has been working on their projects for approximately 2 years.
  • The team is working on building a drone, which they hope could be used in various applications.

Sources:

  • "Voices of Hope: Afghan Women Secretly Go Online for Education Amid Taliban Crackdown" (Independent Persian)
  • "The Afghan Dreamers: Afghan Robotics Team Gains Widespread Attention" (2017)

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