For more than 20 years, I’ve been deeply involved in education and advocacy for Afghan girls, women, and boys. I co-founded Afghan Friends Network to support students in Ghazni Province, where we built schools, trained teachers, and created opportunities for families who had been left behind.

Over the years, we raised more than $600,000 and worked side-by-side with community partners to make change from the ground up. We educated 4,300 girls, taught 350 mothers to read and write, and brought English language instruction to more than 1,000 boys. Our scholarships sent 26 girls and 8 boys to college.

One of those students was Fahima, who received a scholarship from us in 2009. Today, she’s a nurse-midwife—one of the most respected healthcare providers in her district—and is known as Dr. Fahima by her community. She now earns more than her father and brothers combined.

Then came 2021.

When the Taliban regained control, we had no choice but to shut down the schools. Our teachers went into hiding. We helped the AFN leadership escape the country. Some are now rebuilding their lives in new places. It was devastating—but we did what we had to do to protect the people who made this work possible.

Since then, I’ve continued supporting Afghan communities in the U.S. I've been helping young Afghan girls who arrived in the Bay Area without their parents, offering mentorship, comfort, and connection as they adjust to a completely new world. I also serve as a mentor with the Afghan Women Judges CA Pod, supporting female judges forced to flee because of their positions and the risks they faced under the Taliban.

Now, my activism has expanded to storytelling and cultural preservation. I sit on the board of Golden Thread Productions, a theater company that champions stories from the Middle East and Afghanistan. As a writer and cultural consultant, I focus on lifting up women’s voices, queer voices, and stories that don’t make headlines—but should.

My commitment to Afghanistan has never been just political. It’s personal. These are my people, my history, my community. And I’ll keep telling our stories as long as I’m able.

AFN Student Testimonials

"I have to say thank you to all my supporters (AFN) that helped me find my way and arrive to my goal – to make my country developed."  

~ Sameera Jafar, Attended AFN sponsored learning centers and then went on to study Computer Science with an AFN scholarship.

"I express my respect and salaam to my dear sister Humaira jan and AFN board who have been so kind to the poor people of this country. I am proud that I’m working in a clinic in Ghazni province. I’m helping the women and babies whose lives are in danger due to complications."

~  Monisa Rami, Attended AFN sponsored learning center and then continued her higher education with a scholarship from AFN. She is now a Midwife.

Affecting Change in Afghan Women's Lives

PLEASE MAKE PRESS AND SPEAKING INQUIRIES AT:

humairaghilzai@gmail.com or by phone 415-269-5252