Computer Classes Opening Doors for Afghan Women

Women in Afghanistan face a number of barriers to being able access the technology that so many of us take for granted. Many women face a lack of consistent electricity to their homes, and it's rare for Afghans to have internet access in their homes. Many women are illiterate; those who can read in their native language still struggle to use a computer because they cannot read English. The use of mobile phones is expanding rapidly, but cultural norms can make access to a phone difficult for women.

The Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) is working to find culturally appropriate ways to help women gain access to the digital world, become digitally literate and is finding that this leads to the women feeling empowered in a variety of ways. Every day in AIL Learning Centers across Afghanistan women are learning to read. After learning to read, many women choose to continue their education by taking classes in English and Computers. The Computer classes are opening whole new worlds to the women who participate.

One woman, Zainab*, shared that after taking the AIL computer class she was able to start a small internet cafe! While taking the class, she needed access to the internet to complete her homework. Like other Afghans, she didn't have access to the internet at home, so she would go to an internet cafe to do her work. While there, she decided that she would like to open her own cafe after she graduated from the course. She found an investor, and just a few months later she was able to achieve her dream! She said that now she uses the internet to keep up on the news in Afghanistan, and has used social media to meet people from all over her country and the world, to discuss the issues of the day. The AIL computer course has opened up a whole new world for Zainab. She is now an entrepreneur operating a successful small business.

Another young woman, Amina*, was using the computers at the library to complete her homework. Day after day, she went to the library to study, and one day a woman at the library suggested that she apply for an open job at the library. To apply for the job, she would need to take an exam and show that she had the required skills for the job, including computer skills. Amina took applied, took the exam, and thanks to the course she had taken, she was able to pas the exam on her first try and received the position! Amina is now earning an income and is able to help support her family.

Both of these women were empowered by learning to use computers and the internet. Digital literacy led to a career for each woman. Now the women are earning an income for themselves. They are able to use the internet to find and exchange information and ideas with others. AIL is teaching women these skills in a culturally appropriate way, which is leading to thousands of women being trained each year. The women leave feeling empowered and are ready and able to take on new challenges. Their families see the positive changes taking place, and share this with other families, who then allow their daughters and wives to take classes. The change that ripples through the community when a woman is educated and able to use a computer is amazing.

Digitally empowering women is important. So much of the world is moving online, and women who aren't able to access the internet will be left behind. Afghan women face so many barriers to getting online: lack of access, lack of power, lack of security, lack of necessary skills and education. We have to work to eliminate as many of these barriers as possible so that Afghan women are not left behind. When women aren't online, they aren't part of the conversations that are happening. They are left out. So many of the world's big conversations are being had online, and we have to work to give women what they need to access these conversations so that they can help shape the future.

*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the women.