News - September 2024

The International Olympic Committee granted broadcasting rights to a local television station. This channel, considering the athletes' attire to be scandalous, immoral, and incompatible with Afghan culture and morals, decided not to broadcast the women’s events. As a result, we authored an article published in Libération, calling for the broadcasting rights to be given to Begum TV.

The Islamic Emirate has recently enacted the "Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice", which came into effect in Afghanistan and was published in the Official Gazette on July 31, 2024. This legislation imposes severe restrictions on women's freedoms, requiring them to cover their entire bodies and faces to avoid any form of temptation. Concurrently, it prohibits them from making their voices heard in public, whether by singing, reciting poetry, or reading, as these acts are considered "awrah," or parts of the body that should be concealed according to religious interpretation. Furthermore, the media must ensure that they broadcast only content compliant with Sharia, excluding any representation of living beings. Violators face warnings, fines, imprisonment, as well as penalties not foreseen by the courts. This legislation signifies a substantial tightening of social control and an increased repression of individual freedoms in Afghanistan.

Our latest advances

Hamida Aman carries the Olympic Flame to the Sorbonne for Afghan women

On July 14th, Hamida Aman, founder of Begum, had the honor of carrying the Olympic Flame at the Sorbonne, a profoundly symbolic event. While, since the return of the Taliban to power, girls and women in Afghanistan have been excluded from secondary and higher education, this event highlights the contrast with the open and prestigious academic environment of the Sorbonne. By carrying the flame in this symbolic place, Hamida not only embodies the hopes of thousands of Afghan women deprived of education but also represents the resilience and commitment of Begum to women's rights and education.

Organization of futsal tournaments

A series of futsal tournaments organized by Begum and broadcast live on our Jawanan Sport radio has recently achieved great success across the country. The events, held in Kabul, Wardak, Nangarhar, and Takhar, attracted considerable attention. On average, each tournament brought together around 1,430 spectators and generated nearly 132,000 online views. Additionally, these competitions received extensive media coverage, with approximately 34 media outlets participating per tournament. The success of these events highlights the importance of such initiatives in promoting sports and strengthening community cohesion.

Friba Rezayee: Afghan women's sports icon on Begum TV

In the studios of Begum TV, Diba Akbari had the pleasure of interviewing Friba Rezayee, an Afghan judoka and pioneer of women's sports in Afghanistan. Friba, the first woman to represent Afghanistan at the Olympic Games in 2004, not only made history in sports but also played a crucial role in inspiring hundreds of young Afghan women to engage in various athletic disciplines. Today, through her organization Women Leaders of Tomorrow and the GOAL (Girls of Afghanistan Lead) project, Friba continues to advocate for access to sports and education for Afghan women and girls, despite the challenges posed by the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. This interview on Begum TV highlights her ongoing commitment to the empowerment of women and girls in Afghanistan.

Partnership with Arizona State University

We have recently established a partnership with the prestigious Arizona State University, creating new opportunities for our students. Through this agreement, they will have the chance to take online English courses and receive a certificate validating their proficiency, thus enhancing their academic and professional paths. In a country where women are deprived of rights and opportunities, this program opens a true window to the world. It represents a major step forward in their development, offering international opportunities and broadening their horizons for the future.

Next steps

Development of professional training courses in computer science and coding with Womanity

We have recently established a partnership with Womanity, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of women, to offer professional training programs focused on mastering computer tools and coding. The IT training will enable participants to better manage essential digital tools, while the coding courses will focus on developing technical skills to access jobs in the technology sector. This partnership aims to provide practical and sought-after skills, representing a significant step towards professional empowerment and the expansion of career opportunities.

Image taken from a recording for primary school classes (decor still in preparation).

Launch of educational programs for primary schools

Faced with the ongoing challenges in ensuring quality education for girls in Afghanistan, we continue our commitment by enhancing our educational offerings. After developing pilot programs for primary levels, we are preparing to begin recording the courses to make them available as soon as possible. Although education is permitted up to the 6th grade, the quality of teaching often remains inadequate. Therefore, we are committed to providing excellent instruction accessible directly from the students' homes through broadcasts on Begum TV and on the Begum Academy website. Our mission remains unchanged: to provide high-quality educational solutions accessible to everyone.

Portrait of a Begum

Rohina Hashimi - General Manager of Begum in Afghanistan

My name is Rohina Hashimi, and I currently live in Kabul. I have a passion for white coats and stethoscopes. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to become a doctor. I spent many days in the hospital, not as a doctor, but as a companion to a patient because my mother was ill. I wanted to be a compassionate doctor, one who could bring patients closer and solve their problems in a warm environment. To achieve this goal, I studied diligently and achieved excellent results at school. Then, I studied even more to pass the entrance exam for Kabul University of Medical Sciences. I reached that goal and began my medical studies.

However, there was always something on my mind, even when I was in 9th grade: I wanted to teach others what I had learned, the things I had worked hard to understand, staying up many nights to master them. So, after 9th grade, alongside my school studies, I started teaching all the subjects I knew. Gradually, our home became a small educational center where my sister and I taught neighborhood students. This continued even after I entered university, and over the years, I taught more than 750 students. But after the changes in August 2021, I could no longer continue my work. I kept looking for a way to continue until December 2022 when I too was forced to stop. I was in my final semester, just weeks away from graduating in medicine from Kabul University of Medical Sciences, when I was banned from attending. At that moment, my childhood dream of becoming a doctor was shattered before my eyes.

I mourned for two weeks, and then I started my own YouTube channel to create videos for girls who had been denied education, uploading them there. A month later, I learned that Radio Begum had started doing what I had been doing alone, but with a larger team and much better resources. After much effort, I joined their team, and by the end of 2023, I had taught more than 870 educational videos for girls from grades 7 to 12 at Begum Academy. After the academy's launch, I received homework from students who had watched my lessons, and that was the best time of my life since 2021. I have worked hard and recently became the new General Director of Begum in Afghanistan, which allows me to continue fighting for my rights and for the education of all girls in Afghanistan. Begum is a beacon of hope for my country.

I don’t know if I will ever become a doctor, but for all the girls in my country, I will continue to learn and find a way to teach them what I know.

News - September 2024

The Afghan team present in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Our latest advances

Hamida Aman carries the Olympic Flame to the Sorbonne for Afghan women

Organization of futsal tournaments

Friba Rezayee: Afghan women's sports icon on Begum TV

Interview with Friba Rezayee by Diba Akbari.

Partnership with Arizona State University

Next steps

Development of professional training courses in computer science and coding with Womanity

Launch of educational programs for primary schools

Portrait of a Begum

Rohina Hashimi - General Manager of Begum in Afghanistan

Our donors

Our operational partners

News - September 2024

The Afghan team present in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Our latest advances

Hamida Aman carries the Olympic Flame to the Sorbonne for Afghan women

Organization of futsal tournaments

Friba Rezayee: Afghan women's sports icon on Begum TV

Interview with Friba Rezayee by Diba Akbari.

Partnership with Arizona State University

Next steps

Development of professional training courses in computer science and coding with Womanity

Launch of educational programs for primary schools

Portrait of a Begum

Rohina Hashimi - General Manager of Begum in Afghanistan

Our donors

Our operational partners

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