Afghan women are learning to code

It is constantly discussed in the media that since the Taliban took over Afghanistan’s governance in 2021, that Afghanistan is going ‘backwards’.

It is true that human development indicators in the country have gone backwards. Afghanistan’s Human Development Index has been ‘knocked back’ 10 years. Poverty has also increased. In 2023, 28.8 million Afghans were in ‘urgent need of support’, marking an increase of nearly 60% compared to the previous year. 

It is also true that rules and punishments have also gone backwards. Women in Afghanistan cannot engage in education, cannot be employed, cannot recite poetry out loud and are at risk of stoning. Afghanistan currently ranks 170th out of 170 countries for women’s inclusion, justice and security. 

These ways in which Afghanistan is going backwards are disgusting, unjustified and cruel. 

However, we must also acknowledge that many people within Afghanistan do not want to be going backwards. Especially Afghan women - they want to go forward. 

Particularly in many of the major cities, young Afghan women are trawling the internet looking for any opportunities for education. One of the more popular education pathways that I have seen women taking is coding and information technology. 

These women see coding as their ticket to joining international workforces - an opportunity to learn a skill that will allow them to engage with the rest of the world. 

I would like to talk about my dear friend Arezo, a woman in Afghanistan who has been denied finishing her Bachelors degree due to the Taliban’s backwards rules. She was originally enrolled in economics. However, during her state-induced lockdown, she found passion and intrigue in coding. 

She found these courses online. Many of these programs, including the ones she was enrolled in, are offered for free by various international non-profit organizations and universities. 

She told me she had to apply for these programs and that many Afghan women are applying. However these application processes are competitive so many women were denied entry into these programs. 

At one time Arezo was doing three different online courses on coding and IT. She told me it was occasionally challenging balancing the homework and reading that she had for all three courses. However she never complained, only showed gratefulness, curiosity and excitement. 

There are some issues with these sorts of programs. Most women engaged with these coding programs are embarking on learning this new skill because they are looking for employment and further education. However, these courses are rarely officially certified or recognised. It should also be noted that many Afghan women face challenges accessing patching and expensive internet access. 

The rest of this article is written by Arezo. It is her story about going forward in her country trying to drag her backwards. 

For women deprived of education, entering the world of coding can feel like discovering a wonderland, especially for those interested in technology and programming languages. In Afghanistan, coding has become a beacon of hope for many girls who are confined to their homes but free to explore the internet and the world of coding, allowing them to create and shape whatever they desire.

With the rapid development of technology, many have found inspiration in learning and working remotely, breaking barriers—myself included. In response to restrictions, numerous universities and organizations have aligned to support girls and women in Afghanistan, offering various coding programs. Many students learn about these opportunities through social media channels, scholarship groups, and friends.

Entering a coding program isn't overly challenging, especially for those familiar with computer basics. However, these free coding courses require constant passion and enthusiasm for learning, as well as the drive to use newfound knowledge to solve real-world problems.

Learning coding online is similar to other online educational experiences. For instance, if you're taking a university course, you might use platforms like Canvas to watch lectures and submit assignments. Similarly, if you're learning through an organization or other resources, it might be via official web pages. Remember, these free coding courses are limited, and students are carefully selected based on their applications—so take care when filling out your application.

Hitting the start button is the most important step in beginning a new course. Being disciplined and determined is key to success, including in learning coding, which involves understanding computer and programming languages. This discipline and determination provide a path of hope for many girls denied an education. I know some girls who are active in their coding studies and have even started earning from their work.

I believe that women's involvement in technology, particularly in coding, represents a significant reform in women's careers, especially in third-world countries. It creates a beacon of hope for many young girls and women eager to see themselves on a successful path, not only in a unidimensional world but in the expansive realm of technology and computers.