Self Development Internship (SDI) focused on socio-emotional and tech competencies in Afghan women

The central issue being addressed is the prohibition of girls' education beyond the sixth grade in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, which has widespread implications on individual rights, the nation's economy, and social progress.

This educational restriction uniquely impacts approximately 1.2 million Afghan girls who are barred from secondary education, thereby affecting their future prospects and violating their basic rights to education as stipulated by international treaties like CEDAW and the Convention against Discrimination in Education (United States Institute of Peace).

Economically, the denial of secondary education for Afghan girls results in substantial national losses, estimated at 2.5% of Afghanistan's annual GDP, equating to around US$500 million. Allowing these girls to complete their education and participate in the job market could add at least US$5.4 billion to the economy (UNICEF). Beyond financial losses, the lack of female education leads to increased child marriage, lower overall educational attainment, and significant health and social issues (UNICEF).

Efforts to counteract these restrictions include informal education networks and international advocacy aimed at policy changes (The New Humanitarian). Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that involves local community initiatives, policy reform, and sustained international support to ensure that education is accessible and inclusive for all Afghan girls.

Our solution is designed to empower Afghan women between age 15-30 years, by providing them with the critical skills and knowledge they need to thrive in their communities and the wider world. This comprehensive educational initiative, known as the Self Development Internship (SDI) provided in collaboration by the Women in Tech Afghanistan chapter, Camp Afghanistan and University of Toronto, combines skill acquisition with personal development and professional networking, leveraging technology and international collaboration.

Program Timeline: The program spans six months, divided into a three-month learning phase followed by three months dedicated to building a real-world project.

Program Structure:

Self Development Internship (SDI): Participants are divided into two groups, each comprising two students from Afghanistan and two from University of Toronto, along with one technical mentor and one growth mentor, a total of 5-6 per group. The program kicks off with the self-discovery and learning phase followed by a real world project, where participants set seemingly impossible goals in several key areas as follow:

- Personal Development: Focuses on enhancing physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through activities like healthy eating, exercise, and meditation.

- Professional Skills: Each participant develops technical skills (such as building a full-stack application), creative skills (like writing a novel), and interpersonal skills (through assignments like drafting a reflective paper on productivity).

- Social Engagement: Encourages building strong relationships within their families, friends, and professional circles.

- Financial Acumen: Involves creating a project that generates income. Community Contribution: Participants are encouraged to give back to their communities, fostering a sense of responsibility and charity.

- Future50 for Humanity: Challenges participants to envision and plan for long-term impacts on humanity - if you were to live 50 years from now, what will you change now.

Project Development: Following the first phase, participants build a real-world project that not only serves as a potential income source but also benefits society.

Collaborative Learning: Afghan students are paired with peers from universities like the University of Toronto, promoting cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning. Canadian students may earn academic credit, while Afghan students gain insights into international educational systems and professional practices.

Technology Integration: The program utilizes a mobile app powered by OpenAI's API, providing a personalized learning experience tailored to each student’s progress and needs. The mobile app is for the learning part, while for the communication and events part, we will be using the Women in Tech's platform (see pitch video for both).

Key Benefits:

Educational Empowerment: Directly addresses the educational restrictions faced by Afghan girls by providing alternative pathways to learning Economic Impact: Through income-generating projects, participants can contribute economically to their households and communities, Professional Networking: Offers Afghan girls the chance to connect with international peers and mentors, expanding their professional networks and opening up new opportunities. Skill Development: Equips participants with contemporary skills in technology and problem-solving, crucial for adapting and thriving in a globalized world.

By integrating technology and fostering international cooperation, we create a robust platform for these young women to break barriers and redefine their futures.

Our solution is designed to serve young Afghan girls and women, a group that is critically underserved in terms of educational opportunities and personal development due to current governmental restrictions in Afghanistan. Specifically, this includes girls who are prohibited from attending school beyond the sixth grade, effectively blocking their access to secondary and higher education, as well as any form of professional training that could lead to economic independence and societal participation.

Target Population:

Demographics: Young Afghan women, typically ages 15-30, who are currently unable to continue their education due to the Taliban's ban on girls' secondary education.

Geographical Focus: The program initially targets girls from regions with particularly stringent restrictions, but aims to be accessible to those from all parts of Afghanistan.

Current Challenges: These young women face not only the denial of education but also the broader implications of that denial—increased risks of child marriage, diminished economic opportunities, and reduced personal agency.

Impact of the Solution:

Educational Opportunities: By providing an alternative pathway to education through online platforms and informal schooling setups, our solution circumvents the restrictions imposed on formal education. This not only resumes their stalled educational journeys but also helps them catch up and potentially excel beyond the standard curriculum.

Professional and Technical Skills: The program equips participants with modern, marketable skills such as data analytics, full-stack development, and AWS solutions architecture. These skills are critical for participating in today’s global digital economy and can open doors to remote working opportunities, thereby circumventing local employment barriers.

Social and Emotional Development: Through the Self Discovery Internship, participants engage in activities that enhance their personal development across various dimensions—physical, mental, spiritual, and social. This holistic approach is designed to build resilience, foster a positive self-image, and nurture a supportive community among peers and mentors.

Economic Empowerment: By enabling participants to develop and launch income-generating projects, the program directly contributes to their economic independence. This empowerment can have a transformative effect, reducing their vulnerability to economic coercion and increasing their contributions to their families and communities.

Global Connectivity and Cultural Exchange: Pairing Afghan girls with students from Canadian and Australian universities offers them a window to different cultures and educational systems, broadening their worldviews and helping them build international networks. These connections can be invaluable for personal growth and career development.

Long-Term Societal Impact: The inclusion of components like community contribution and futuristic thinking (Future50 for Humanity) in the curriculum encourages participants to think critically about the long-term impacts of their actions on society. This aspect of the program aims to cultivate a generation of thoughtful, proactive citizens who are prepared to lead and inspire positive changes in their communities.

In essence, the solution addresses the immediate need for education while also preparing participants for future challenges and opportunities. By focusing on a mix of hard skills, soft skills, and personal growth, the program aims to mold participants into well-rounded individuals who can navigate and succeed in complex global environments.

Our team, comprised of Dr. Zahra Nazari, Naqib Sarwary, and Diva Turial, is uniquely qualified to deliver this solution due to our direct ties with the Afghan community and professional engagements that provide us with actionable insights into the educational needs of Afghan youth.

Dr. Nazari, as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Alberta, specializes in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a focus on Machine Learning applications. Her directorship at Women in Tech Afghanistan and chairing the IEEE Afghanistan Subsection equips her with the acumen to align educational solutions with technological advancements, ensuring relevance and empowerment.

Naqib Sarwary, a Philanthropy Specialist at Amnesty International Australia (previously Canada), also leads Camp Afghanistan, an organization committed to expanding educational opportunities for Afghan youth globally. His multifaceted international experience and understanding of the challenges faced by refugees enhance our solution's responsiveness to the needs of displaced Afghan youth seeking education.

Diva Turial's experience as a tech startup founder and her extensive work in product management provides the operational backbone for our solution. Her track record in developing and scaling educational tools tailored to diverse learning needs is crucial for our project’s success.

Our program is informed by continuous engagement with the Afghan community, ensuring our solutions are not only practical but resonate with the cultural and social aspirations of Afghan girls. We blend technology with lived experience to create educational pathways that are both innovative and grounded in the real-world scenarios of our target population.

In summary, our team's direct experience within the Afghan community and professional expertise in education, technology, and international development positions us to deliver a culturally competent and technologically advanced educational program for Afghan girls.

We selected the prototype phase because we think our solutions uniquely blends the work of the three team members and the organization they blong to, some are in pilot phase some are in growth phase: 

Zahra who already runs workshops and events as the Director of Women in Tech Afghanistan and the portal through which all members communicate is already there provided by Women in Tech Global - this gives us an edge where we can connect with Afghan women. See LinkedIn page for Afghan Women in Tech (https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/women-in-tech-afghanistan/) - this is similar to pilot and growth phase

Naqib, who is already running Camp Afghanistan will give us access to youth there and his personal and professional experiences with the community.  This is similar to pilot phase

Diva who has a startup and tech background and is affiliated with University of Toronto, will bring the main resource, that's the Rotman's Self Development Lab (University of Toronto School of Business) expertise. She is also working to finalize the mobile app that provides the learning resources and tech skill development - this pilot phase

As for the technology part, the communication between SDI members will be happening through the Women in Tech Platform that provides a nice place where members can chat with each other, see each other's bios, make a public post, explore and join events, and have access to other resources. The tech learning part will happen through a combination of tech skill certificates via Udemy and Google IT Certificates the mobile app we have developed specifically for this program

Our main goal right now is to get connected with partners who can help guide us to further improve our solution through monetary and/or non-monetary support. We need partnership with other educational institutes and mentors who can help us grow in the right direction.