Girls making robots at home despite Taliban restrictions

In the sweltering heat of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, young women who have been barred from higher education for the past three years huddle together in a house to work on a new project.

This group of women have named themselves ‘Voices of Hope’. The group’s members are former computer scientists who refused to give up their studies despite the Taliban’s strict ban on women’s education.

These women are using the internet and artificial intelligence to reconnect with the subject they once taught at university. In a country where even a walk in the park is forbidden to them, they have built a community of learners behind closed doors.

These women’s education was cut short in December 2022 when a Taliban ban forced them to drop out. All of these young women were in their second semester studying computer science at a private Afghan university. Initially, they clung to the hope that public outrage and international pressure would force the government to reverse its decision. In contrast, the Taliban, who took power in 2021, issued more stringent decrees. Restrictions on women became more stringent and made their lives more difficult.

Israr Parsa, 25, head of a group called Voices of Hope, told Independent Persian that the ban on the university created a wave of frustration. But she and her 20 fellow students decided not to give up. They resorted to online educational resources to continue their studies at home.

Since then, the team has completed many projects with a desire to learn, move forward and keep the dream alive. One of his achievements is that he developed two robots completely by himself. The robot cost about 30,000 Afghanis (about $430 or £330) to build. These expenses were borne by the group members themselves.

Under the Taliban regime, women are not allowed to go out without a male guardian. There is one male member of the team. Israr’s 28-year-old brother Naveed Parsa, a computer science graduate. They have contact with the outside world. They perform essential tasks for the group and bring supplies from the city.

The group started with 20 members but over time 14 members left due to financial difficulties and growing frustration. ‘Our aim was to keep the light of hope alive in our hearts,’ explained Israr. Be inspired and learn about artificial intelligence. But most of the team members were heartbroken and gave up.’

However, some members decided to stay in the group. Hudia Ahmadi says that after the closure of the universities, she suffered from depression and anxiety. But working on small projects with group support and learning to use artificial intelligence helped the 19-year-old woman feel better about life.

Over the past two years, the team has used what they learned in their first year of university and developed them through online tutorials. They built two robots and several other devices. One of these robots can recognize 20 different objects, including humans. This robot is controlled remotely.

The team tested its motion on the kitchen table. It operates via radio frequency and Bluetooth and can be controlled by four different apps. Asrar says that if further developed, it could be used in search and rescue operations after earthquakes or explosions.

An Afghan women’s team is also working on drones. If the project succeeds, they hope it could be used for tasks such as collecting garbage, delivering medicine in emergencies or delivering small items in Kabul.

For Asrar, Hadiya and the rest of the group, experimenting with wires and batteries and listening to online lessons isn’t just limited to robotics or artificial intelligence. At a time when even a woman’s voice and face are considered veil-worthy under Taliban law, these seats are a means of coping with the mental and emotional burden of her isolation.

Asrar says that these meetings are ‘a way to escape from the pain and sorrow caused by the current situation.’ He explained that these seats provide hope. ‘When we are together it seems as if everything is not over. We still have the power to learn and move forward.’

Hadiya adds that meeting the group two to three times a week had a positive effect on her mental health. She studies artificial intelligence. They build robots and discuss their hopes for the future. She says she feels better now than when her university first closed. “We are happy to see the results of our work. It makes us feel that our education is not over and we can still strive to achieve our goals.’

They would get inspiration from another Afghan robotics team known as ‘Afghan Dreamers’. The group was established in 2017 and has gained a lot of attention within the country and abroad. Focusing on technology, engineering and robotics, the team became a symbol of potential and hope despite social and political restrictions. After the Taliban came back to power and banned the education and employment of women and girls, the team members left the country and now continue their work abroad.

Afghan Dreamers are an inspiration for ‘Voices of Hope’. But unlike them, Asrar’s team has not received any support from any external organization so far. Despite all the hurdles, she hopes that one day she will exhibit her work in international exhibitions and get opportunities to fulfill her dreams.

The Taliban has strictly enforced the ban on education for girls above the age of 12. They claim that they are following ‘Sharia law’. These decrees, especially those that deny women access to education and employment, have drawn widespread international condemnation. But Taliban chief Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada dismissed the international pressure as ‘meaningless’.

Over the past four years, Mulla Hibatullah has repeatedly emphasized the importance of ‘education within the framework of Sharia and Islamic principles’. However, he never discussed the issue of education or employment of women and girls in Afghanistan.

This article first appeared in our partner Independent Farsi.