Empowering Women

In Afghanistan, a country where women’s opportunities were often overshadowed by societal constraints, Roya Mahboob’s story emerges as a beacon of hope and change. Roya’s journey began when she was just 16, a time when she first experienced the boundless possibilities of the digital world. This encounter was not just a moment of revelation but a turning point that propelled her onto a path less traveled by women in her country. Roya broke through traditional barriers to become Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO at 23. This bold step was more than a personal achievement; it was the start of her mission to empower Afghan women and girls through technology. The Digital Citizen Fund (DCF) she founded aimed at bridging the digital divide and opening doors for women, in a landscape dominated by conflict and oppression.

Roya’s passion led to the creation of the “Afghan Dreamers,” an all-girls robotics team that defied odds and societal expectations. These young girls, who had once faced insurmountable barriers, competed internationally, challenging stereotypes and inspiring a generation back home. DCF helped raise funding to support the robotics team’s work and travel, and innovative financial solutions, such as cryptocurrency,  where introduced to Afghanistan. Roya pioneered using bitcoin to circumvent Taliban controls. This not only offered a new level of financial independence for Afghan women but also marked a shift towards greater autonomy and empowerment.

Roya Mahboob’s story is a narrative of resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of technology. It’s about a woman who dared to dream in a restrictive society and used her vision to empower others. Her journey reflects the potential within every woman to break barriers and forge new paths, inspiring change not just in Afghanistan but across the world.

This story is featured in Shadows in the Dark, and can be found here »