Today is a day when you can make a big impact on the lives of our students in Afghanistan who are overcoming social, cultural, and security barriers to be empowered through technology, become financially independent and raise their voices.

We aim to enable our and empower our female students to learn how to code and be difference makers in their community. Our female students represent the bright future of Afghanistan.

With your help,we’ll raise funds to educate, inspire, and empower young women of Afghanistan to pursue their dreams in the technology field and to be a role models for the next generation.

How you can be part of it? Here are a few simple ideas:

• Consider making a donation to Code to Inspire. Donate here.
• Join us for volunteer activities
• Help us get the word out on social media by using our fundraiser flyer
• Using @CodeToInspire Twitter handler and the hashtag #AfghanGirlsCode #GivingTuesday
• Take photos demonstrating why you love our organization and post on your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

#WOMENCRUSHWEDNESDAY & An Interview with One of Our Female Mentors

Today we are one week and two days out from our first annual graduation ceremony and fundraiser! Good news! There is still time to sign up and invite friends and family to this meaningful event.

We also had the privilege of interviewing one of our female mentors, Nahid Ahmadi to learn more about her experience, goals and why she is investing in the lives and future of our students at Code to Inspire.

What female leaders / tech leaders do you look up to? 

As today there are many successful women in the world. Everyone has their own features and ideas and achievements. I respect to all of them, but I am also trying to improve my own way.

What inspires you in life?

As I have knowledge of coding, I am able to teach other girls and help them improve their skills to change their life for the better. This inspires me in my life. 

When you were a little girl, what did you dream to accomplish and be one day? 

When I was a little girl in that time for females, we were not allowed to study, but my parents enrolled me in a home school and worked hard so I could continue my education. In that time I had a dream to improve my education and through this way become an educated and successful female so I could help my family and other women who need help.

How did you first get involved in Code to Inspire? 

After completing my graduation from university, one of my university teachers suggested I work at Code To Inspire as a mentor. This was a great opportunity for me to improve my skills and to learn and inspire other females in terms of coding to implement their ideas and change their lives.

What are your future goals and where would you like to see CTI in the next 1-5 years? 

In Afghanistan there is still a lack of security and women women are not able to study and improve their knowledge and work to be able to earn an income as much as they should be able to. CTI is a good environment and safe for Afghan women and all of us to work relentlessly to improve our skills in the part of web development, game development and mobile app development with the goal to become successful tech leaders in near future, to start working, to earn an income, and to help others and our families as well as creating gender equality.

What is some insight you can provide about how innovative and new the CTI concept is for Afghanistan? 

As we know coding is a real career choice which can improve our country in the part of technology, and Code To Inspire is the first coding school in Afghanistan for Afghan girls to take part in solving the country’s challenges and to participate in the local and global economy.

What excites you the most about technology and computer coding? 

It excites me when I solve problems through coding or creating an app that provides options for people to resolve their needs using it from each point of the world. This provides a feeling of intellectual satisfaction for me.

ICYMI: Code to Inspire was featured in the Guardian! Check out this article.

Thank you again for your support so we can enable women like Nahid achieve their dreams and empower other women!

November marks our first graduating class and our one-year anniversary.

We could not be prouder of our students and all they have accomplished and learned in the past year.

That’s why we’re celebrating them at our graduation ceremony at Rise New York on Friday, November 18.

Join us for an evening with the Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Hamdullah Mohib, and hear his remarks! Additionally, we’ll have an auction with exciting prizes like a hand-signed original LeRoy Neiman.  We will also hear from our Founder, Fereshteh, as well.