Nastaran Halim
Nastaran Halim is an Afghan education advocate and founder of a digital learning platform that expands access to schooling for girls across Afghanistan. Her work combines online instruction with scholarship guidance, empowering students to pursue higher education and leadership opportunities. She believes that education is the most powerful tool to unlock girls’ potential and transform communities from within.
What does your work focus on?
I founded an innovative platform dedicated to providing online education for Afghan girls, addressing the urgent need for accessible learning opportunities in a context where traditional education has often been disrupted. Our platform offers a wide range of courses and supports students in navigating scholarship opportunities, ensuring they can pursue higher education despite the significant barriers they face.
We use technology to create an inclusive learning environment where Afghan girls can acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for personal and professional growth. Our online classes cover key subjects like STEM and language arts, providing a comprehensive educational foundation. This work helps bridge the digital divide and gives young women the opportunity to actively participate in their communities and the global economy.
We prioritize girls who are often excluded from formal schooling due to cultural, economic, or political reasons. By giving them access to quality resources and fostering confidence and resilience, we help prepare them to take on leadership roles
What is the impact and scalability?
Our platform has empowered hundreds of Afghan girls by offering them access to quality education and digital skills. Many have gone on to pursue higher education and become role models in their communities. This initiative enhances digital literacy and addresses systemic gender inequality in education.
Our model is highly scalable. We are exploring replication in other underserved regions and leveraging mobile technology to increase accessibility. We are also working to expand our curriculum to include vocational training, preparing students for diverse career paths.
This project transforms individual lives and contributes to structural change, promoting a more equitable future for Afghan communities
What does being selected as an ITU160 Gender Champion mean to you, and how will you use this platform?
As an Afghan girl, becoming an ITU160 Gender Champion represents hope for the 5 million girls in my country who deserve access to education and technology. Through my platform, I have seen the power of learning to transform lives and communities.
I am passionate about advocating for my peers and ensuring their voices are heard in digital spaces. Joining the ITU160 initiative would allow me to collaborate with other advocates and share solutions to the barriers Afghan girls face.
This platform would enable me to influence policies that support girls’ education and empower them to pursue technology and leadership roles. I want to represent the dreams of Afghan girls and help create a future where every girl can thrive, lead, and contribute to a more just and inclusive world.
Technology is never neutral. It can liberate or exclude. I want to be an ITU160 Gender Champion to fight for AI governance grounded in gender justice, protect against digital GBV, and ensure African feminist leadership in global tech policy. At ITU, I will bring technical expertise and lived experience to ensure women are not just consumers of technology, but the architects of a safer, more inclusive digital future.