Meet the Afghan women leading alternative learning initiatives

Pashtana Durrani, Axana Soltan, and Freshta Karim have carved out space for education in Afghanistan — which for girls, is particularly powerful. Meet the three Afghan education advocates making education accessible.

This September marks two years since the Taliban enacted a ban on girls’ secondary education. Today, restrictions affect every aspect of women and girls’ lives; from the forced shutdown of beauty salons to prohibiting women from working for NGOs. But, in the spirit of resilience, Afghan activists across the globe continue their efforts to increase girls’ education access in any way possible.

Pashtana Durrani

Pashtana was 7 years old when her family turned their home into a school for Afghan child refugees. She grew up in a family that recognised the value of an education and it inspired her to advocate those who could not access it. In 2018, she co-founded the organisation LEARN, with the intent to provide digital literacy resources to students in community schools. Now, she is using those resources to reach girls across Afghanistan who are no longer allowed to attend school. Her commitment to Afghan girls’ education remains steadfast; LEARN continues its distribution of digital learning materials to girls who study in secret. For Pashtana, leading efforts for girls’ education in Afghanistan remains her biggest priority.

“We are a traditional family. But one thing that was understood by everyone: women and girls have the right to be in school. They have the right to work and that it's important for the men to cater to those needs and provide for those spaces.”

Axana Soltan

Growing up in Afghanistan, Axana Soltan attended an underground school during a previous span of Taliban rule in the 1990s. Her secret schooling inspired her to advocate for girls’ education throughout her country. In 2014, she founded a women’s library and café named Afghan Girls Roaring Louder than a Lion to improve literacy rates and provide a safe space for women and girls. 

After its forced closure in 2021 due to the Taliban takeover, Axana started an underground school for girls to continue their education. With the increasing danger of discovery, Axana took her efforts to the radio waves. Her organisation broadcasts lessons in science, maths, geography and so much more. Axana’s incredible work as an advocate, lawyer and initiative founder ensures that even in the midst of danger, Afghan girls continue to learn.

“Today, through my work I want every child in my country to feel that they are not invisible, and forgotten in the ashes of war, that we see them in their moments of joy, their struggles, and their challenges. ”

— Freshta Karim

Freshta Karim

Freshta Karim spent her childhood fascinated by the ways in which media could connect people from across the globe. She spent many years working in Afghan radio and television interviewing children about their struggles and bringing those issues to the attention of government officials. Freshta’s work with young people inspired her transition into the advocacy world. In 2018, she founded Charamghz; a network of mobile libraries providing  books, games and other educational materials to children across the country.

Through Charamghz, Freshta’s efforts led to the creation of 26 mobile libraries, reaching more than 2,500 children. Her organisation not only provides resources to improve child literacy rates, but also inspires them to be curious and recognise their power. Even in the wake of the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education, she refuses to let anything stop a girls’ right to learn.

“Today, through my work I want every child in my country to feel that they are not invisible, and forgotten in the ashes of war, that we see them in their moments of joy, their struggles, and their challenges. Each of them possesses a unique sense of agency, individuality, needs, and talents that deserve recognition and nurturing. And many of us work every single day of our life to bring any change that is within our control, even if it's small.”