Ideas worth spreading

The dream of educating Afghan girls lives on

2,225,296 views | Shabana Basij-Rasikh • TEDWomen 2021

In this deeply moving talk, educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh shares the harrowing story of evacuating more than 250 students, staff and family members from the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) -- the country's first and only all-girls boarding school -- to Rwanda after the Taliban took power in 2021. An exceptional story of hope, resilience and dreaming big for future generations of Afghan girls -- and a challenge for the world to not look away.

In this deeply moving talk, educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh shares the harrowing story of evacuating more than 250 students, staff and family members from the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) -- the country's first and only all-girls boarding school -- to Rwanda after the Taliban took power in 2021. An exceptional story of hope, resilience and dreaming big for future generations of Afghan girls -- and a challenge for the world to not look away.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Educated women are the key to a peaceful Afghanistan. Donate to School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), and don't look away from Afghan girls.

About the speaker

Shabana Basij-Rasikh

Shabana Basij-Rasikh

Educator, social entrepreneur

See speaker profile

Shabana Basij-Rasikh is the cofounder and president of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), the country's first and only girls' boarding school.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Educated women are the key to a peaceful Afghanistan. Donate to School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), and don't look away from Afghan girls.