{"id":67520,"date":"2023-08-15T10:15:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T14:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=67520"},"modified":"2023-08-16T13:46:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T17:46:56","slug":"the-founder-of-afghanistans-first-all-girls-coding-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-founder-of-afghanistans-first-all-girls-coding-school\/","title":{"rendered":"The Founder of Afghanistan\u2019s First All-Girls Coding School"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67587\" width=\"850\" height=\"507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269.jpg 687w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-525x313.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-101x60.jpg 101w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>When Fereshteh Forough was studying computer science in Herat, Afghanistan, she faced verbal and sexual harassment. She now lives in Boston and remotely runs Code to Inspire. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>For our <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/afghan-women-we-are-not-fragile\/\">Afghan Women<\/a> project, we spoke with Fereshteh Forough, the Boston-based founder of coding school <a href=\"https:\/\/www.codetoinspire.org\/\">Code to Inspire<\/a>. She helped us get in touch with women who are still in Afghanistan, two years since the Taliban takeover.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forough\u2019s parents fled Afghanistan in the early 1980s because of the Soviet invasion. Growing up in Iran as an Afghan refugee, she was privy to discrimination and a sense of \u201cotherness.\u201d During tough times, she always looked to her entrepreneur mother \u2013 who sold dresses and used the money to invest in her daughters\u2019 education \u2013 for inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGreat things can start with empty hands \u2013 you don&#8217;t need to have everything ready for you to do something,\u201d Forough\u2019s mother taught her. \u201cYou can just use the resources that are around you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forough and her family moved to Herat in Western Afghanistan in 2002 after the fall of the Taliban \u2013 but they still faced a number of challenges due to lack of infrastructure, limited water supply and only a few hours of electricity per day. Forough, who began studying computer science at the university, didn\u2019t have a laptop or internet access, so she stayed at the university until late in the evening and went to internet caf\u00e9s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhich wasn&#8217;t a pleasant experience, because at that time, not a lot of the girls and women went to internet caf\u00e9s,\u201d she said. \u201cSo you were very outnumbered and people looked at you, you would face verbal, sexual harassment within education and even doing social activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_1cea2576eb59f6ad0f7b3042ee3f468d\" class=\"wp-block podcast-player alignwide\">\n              <div class=\"player_container player-67379\" ><div class=\"spp_player_textabove\"><b>Listen to the Episode  <\/b><\/div><div id=\"sm2-67379\" class=\"sm2-67379 playercontent sm2-bar-ui compact flat full-width full-width-player\"><div class=\"bd sm2-main-controls\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-inline-element sm2-button-element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-button-bd\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/podcast_channel_artwork.jpg) repeat scroll 0% 0% \/ cover ;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"spp-player-background\"> <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#play\" class=\"sm2-inline-button play-pause\"><\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"loader\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eq\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bar bar-1\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bar bar-2\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bar bar-3\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bar bar-4\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"sm2-inline-element sm2-inline-status progressbar\">\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-button-bd\" style=\"display:none;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch0\" style=\"display:none;\">0.75x<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch1\">1x<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch2\" style=\"display:none;\">1.25x<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch3\" style=\"display:none;\">1.5x<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch4\" style=\"display:none;\">2x<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-button-bd\" style=\"display:none;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"secrewind\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-playlist\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-playlist-target\"><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-bd\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-track\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-bar1\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-bar\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-ball\"><div class=\"icon-overlay\"><\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-row timestamp timetext\"><div class=\"sm2-inline-time timestamp\">0:00<\/div><div class=\"sm2-inline-duration timestamp\">37:37<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-inline-element sm2-button-element sm2-volume\" style=\"0\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <div class=\"sm2-button-bd\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sm2-inline-button sm2-volume-control volume-shade\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#volume\" class=\"sm2-inline-button sm2-volume-control\" style=\"\"><\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bd sm2-playlist-drawer sm2-element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-playlist-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"sm2-playlist-bd\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/chtbl.com\/track\/4DAC6F\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/thestoryexchange\/Afghan_Podcast.mp3?dest-id=296878\">Afghan Women: &#8216;We Are Not Fragile&#8217;<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n          \n  <\/div>\n\n\n<p>Forough came to the United States in 2012, but still wanted to help Afghan women in STEM. She kept asking herself, \u201cHow can I change this environment in a way that would be safe and welcoming for girls and women?\u201d and also, \u201cHow can we create an ecosystem that can help them to get into the job market and be financially independent?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In November 2015, she found her answer and opened up Afghanistan\u2019s first coding school for girls and women, Code to Inspire, in Herat. In following her mother\u2019s advice she learned at an early age, she started with empty hands. She raised money from an online fundraiser and got 10 laptops in donations, which she shipped to Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8242.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67899\" width=\"779\" height=\"429\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8242.jpg 750w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8242-525x289.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8242-150x83.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8242-109x60.jpg 109w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 779px) 100vw, 779px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Students helping with school renovations in 2021. (Credit: Code to Inspire, Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It was difficult to recruit students at first, because there was a lack of role models. \u201cThey couldn&#8217;t see anyone that had been [learning to code] and making money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But once students saw coding as an avenue to financial independence, the school gained more students every year \u2013 until the Taliban came in August 2021, and many businesses and schools \u2013 including the coding school \u2013 shut down. It was able to open again in 2022 under the Taliban\u2019s condition that boys be admitted as well, but following the December ban on girls\u2019 education, the school had to shut down once more. Currently, students are learning remotely on Google Classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Forough hopes in-person classes can resume in the future, she said the students\u2019 and teachers\u2019 safety is the number one priority. \u201cIt\u2019s just taking one step at a time every day. Because it&#8217;s absolutely not possible to come up with a solid plan in an environment like Afghanistan, where everything is changing every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_891f00e09d1004746f5330c92d0dc427\" class=\"wp-block featured-category alignwide style-1\">\n  <div class=\"section-title\">\n          <h2>The Women We Talked To<\/h2>\n        \n  <\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"row\">\n          \n                       <article id=\"post-67507\" class=\"post-item  post-67507 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-humanitarian-aid tag-refugee-support tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-israeli-american-journalist-who-led-the-escape-mission\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271-525x386.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271-525x386.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271-150x110.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271-82x60.jpg 82w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-israeli-american-journalist-who-led-the-escape-mission\/\">\n            The Israeli-American Journalist Who Led an Escape Mission\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Danna Harman didn&#8217;t have any tools or resources, but she knew she had to do something to help the Afghan girls who reached out to her.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67518\" class=\"post-item  post-67518 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-journalism tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-aspiring-journalist-following-in-the-footsteps-of-her-father\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-525x394.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Marwa Dashty at the restaurant in Toronto where she now works. She and her family fled Afghanistan in 2021, but her father stayed behind to join the resistance. (Credit: Colleen DeBaise)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-525x394.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-800x600.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-150x113.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-80x60.jpeg 80w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-aspiring-journalist-following-in-the-footsteps-of-her-father\/\">\n            The Aspiring Journalist Following in the Footsteps of Her Father\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Marwa Dashty&#8217;s father, a well-known journalist, was killed after the Taliban took over. Now, the 20-year-old wants to continue his legacy by becoming a journalist herself.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67510\" class=\"post-item  post-67510 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-cultural-identity tag-refugee-experiences tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-pop-star-whose-fan-helped-her-get-out\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279-525x354.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279-525x354.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279-89x60.jpg 89w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279.jpg 566w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-pop-star-whose-fan-helped-her-get-out\/\">\n            The Pop Star Whose Fan Helped Her Get Out\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>After Shakiba Teimori showed her long, flowing hair on television, it was as if she were exiled. And then she fled for real. <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67512\" class=\"post-item  post-67512 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-education tag-political-resistance tag-womens-rights\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-teacher-who-chose-to-stay-behind\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"368\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272-525x368.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272-525x368.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272-86x60.jpg 86w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-teacher-who-chose-to-stay-behind\/\">\n            The Teacher Who Chose to Stay Behind\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>When Munireh&#8217;s father first received news of the Taliban takeover, he sent all the women in the family to Iran \u2013 but she refused to leave Afghanistan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67516\" class=\"post-item  post-67516 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-education tag-societal-norms tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-mobile-app-developer-secretly-working-online\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-525x350.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-525x350.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-90x60.jpeg 90w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-mobile-app-developer-secretly-working-online\/\">\n            The Mobile App Developer Secretly Working Online\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Parima hides the fact that she works remotely, as many of her neighbors in Afghanistan don&#8217;t believe women should have jobs. <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67520\" class=\"post-item  post-67520 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-education tag-entrepreneurship tag-women-in-stem\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-founder-of-afghanistans-first-all-girls-coding-school\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-525x313.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-525x313.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-101x60.jpg 101w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269.jpg 687w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-founder-of-afghanistans-first-all-girls-coding-school\/\">\n            The Founder of Afghanistan\u2019s First All-Girls Coding School\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Fereshteh Forough opened Afghanistan&#8217;s first coding school for girls and women \u2013 but the Taliban&#8217;s ban on education prevents students from learning in-person. <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67522\" class=\"post-item  post-67522 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-human-rights tag-judiciary tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-judge-who-escaped-we-lost-all-of-our-achievement\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-525x350.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Women who served as judges in Afghanistan were immediate targets when the Taliban seized control. (Credit: anindyoandar\/Shutterstock.com)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-525x350.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-90x60.jpg 90w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-judge-who-escaped-we-lost-all-of-our-achievement\/\">\n            The Judge Who Escaped: &#8216;We Lost All of Our Achievement&#8217;\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Since the Taliban&#8217;s return to power, women judges \u2013 who once dared to sentence men for their crimes \u2013 have been forced into hiding. We spoke to one whose identity we are protecting.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67513\" class=\"post-item  post-67513 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-cultural-identity tag-refugee-experiences tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-college-student-getting-a-fresh-start\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-525x394.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Rodaba Noori, now a student at Bard College, stands in front of Montgomery Place, a mansion overlooking the Hudson River. (Credit: Kate Brennan)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-525x394.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-college-student-getting-a-fresh-start\/\">\n            The College Student Getting a Fresh Start\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Rodaba Noori is enjoying her new life at Bard College in upstate New York, but she still doesn&#8217;t consider it home. <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                    \n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<div id=\"block_a4ce0a28fc15e6d56c2378c6c784c962\" class=\"wp-block timeline-cta alignwide\">\n    <div class=\"timeline-cta-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"timeline-cta-text\">\n        <h2>A Timeline of Women in Afghanistan<\/h2>\n        <p>Breakthroughs and Setbacks<\/p>\n        <a class=\"button red\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/a-timeline-of-women-in-afghanistan\/\">Explore<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2014-Women-in-Kabul-Wikimedia-Commons-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"timeline-cta-background\">\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"block_d7cce9119c42d40b36155984ae584c7e\" class=\"wp-block footer-cta alignwide\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"background-image\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/zabihullah-habibi-b522ia5vG5c-unsplash-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n        <div class=\"wrap\">\n      <h2>Ways to Support Afghan Women<\/h2>\n      <p>Learn about the resources and organizations you can support to help Afghan Women.<\/p>\n      <a class=\"button red\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/ways-to-support\/\">Learn More<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fereshteh Forough opened Afghanistan&#8217;s first coding school for girls and women \u2013 but the Taliban&#8217;s ban on education prevents students from learning in-person. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":161,"featured_media":67587,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":false,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[],"autoblue_post_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187],"tags":[19632,19606,19683,19723],"class_list":["post-67520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-afghan-women","tag-education","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-women-in-stem"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Founder of Afghanistan\u2019s First All-Girls Coding School<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fereshteh Forough opened Afghanistan&#039;s first coding school for girls and women \u2013 but the Taliban&#039;s ban on education prevents students from 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