In this episode of The Afghan Times Podcast, we welcome Simin Nadeem, a young woman from Afghanistan.
Listen now
After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Simin Nadeem and her family fled the country, seeking safety and education. With schools closed to girls and women and security threats escalating, they moved first to Iran and then to another country in Asia. Legal barriers prevented Simin from enrolling in formal institutions, but she continued her education through online platforms, including Classroom Without Walls (CWW). She also taught herself English through YouTube and online courses.
Beyond academics, Simin turned to painting as a form of expression. She describes art as “a language that transcends words,” capturing emotions and experiences often left unspoken. Through self-study, she explored classical, modern, and postmodern styles, using her work to reflect the struggles and resilience of Afghan women.
Determined to help others, she founded Strength and Steam, a free online school offering courses in English, cybersecurity, and health. Over four months, 40 Afghan women and girls benefited from these lessons. She also created an online library to provide learning resources for women denied education under Taliban rule.
Despite the challenges, Simin continues her studies. She passed the entrance exam for Afghan American University and is now enrolled in pre-university courses. She remains committed to advocating for Afghan women, emphasizing that even small efforts can create lasting change.
My message to Afghan women and girls is simple; Never lose hope, keep learning, keep moving forward.
Simin Nadeem
Open Mic is The Afghan Times podcast, where Afghan women share their stories in their own voices, on their own terms—open to every Afghan woman.
