PWF and Afghanistan

June 1, 2025

I was born in Afghanistan and when I was just three years old, my family moved to Iran, I was raised and had my education there. From an early age, the shadows of borders and bans pressed against my ambitions, but they also sharpened my purpose: to pursue and bring the light of knowledge where it's most needed. Physics became my chosen path not only as a subject of study but as a universal language of truth and beauty. In 2013, After completing my Bachelor and Master of science in Iran, I got an scholarship to pursue my education in Diploma program in International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy. It was through this lens that I connected with Physics Without Frontiers (PWF), a program of the ICTP. PWF works to empower young minds in countries where academic access is limited by conflict, poverty, or politics. In many ways, I was not just a participant in its mission, I was its living proof. Afghanistan has endured decades of war and instability. Particularly for Afghan girls and women, education has has been always challenging.

As a woman in science, I knew that pursuing my education was not just personal, it was a statement of resistance and hope. With the support of PWF, I began to contribute to science outreach and training for Afghan students especially for girls who were banned from universities. From organizing online workshops on physics, and coding, to providing open resources for educational programs, to planning student conferences and helping them to apply abroad for their educations. This journey is ongoing. It’s powered by collaboration, defiance, and an unshakable belief that education is a right, not a privilege and that science belongs to everyone.