Defy the Taliban, Coding Classes for Afghan Girls

Our Underground TechSheroes are continuing to make inspiring progress.

This year, 120 young women are participating in Underground TechSheroes, building practical technology skills while also developing the confidence and resilience they need to pursue their futures.

Recently, students completed their CSS training and began learning Bootstrap, a widely used framework for building modern, responsive websites. Through hands-on assignments, coding projects, and a final CSS exam, students have been putting their new skills into practice.

They are now learning how to create websites that work across computers, tablets, and mobile devices, design responsive layouts and images, and use Bootstrap tools to build polished, professional webpages. Most students showed significant improvement in their coding skills and greater confidence in their ability to design websites independently.

But Underground TechSheroes is about much more than coding.

Alongside their technical classes, students take part in weekly Women’s Empowerment sessions. Recent discussions have focused on overcoming failure, building healthy relationships, and managing anxiety and uncertainty. These sessions give students practical tools for handling challenges, strengthening communication, and developing greater confidence in themselves and their futures.

For students like Fawzia, the program represents an opportunity to keep moving forward despite the barriers facing girls’ education in Afghanistan.

Fawzia shared that after educational opportunities became limited, she often felt uncertain about her future. Joining Underground TechSheroes gave her the chance to continue learning and pursue a long-held dream of developing computer skills.

“The IT classes have increased my confidence and prepared me for future opportunities,” she shared. “The Women’s Empowerment sessions have helped me think more positively about my future and taught me important lessons about self-confidence, resilience, and personal growth.”

Maryam, another student in the program, has also seen the impact extend beyond the classroom. In addition to learning computer skills and web design, she says one of the most valuable parts of Underground TechSheroes has been meeting other women with similar goals.

“Learning together has created a supportive environment where we encourage one another and build lasting friendships,” she shared.

This combination of technical education, personal development, and community is at the heart of Underground TechSheroes. Students are not simply learning how to build websites. They are building confidence, relationships, and a stronger sense of what may be possible for their futures.

Thank you for helping make these opportunities possible. Your support is giving young women the tools to continue learning, develop valuable skills, and keep moving toward a future of greater independence and opportunity.

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