When the Taliban shut girls out of school after sixth grade in Afghanistan, Roya Mahboob did not stop teaching.
Mahboob, a tech entrepreneur who has focused her work on girls’ education, was the first female CEO of an Afghan technology company. She later left Afghanistan and resettled in New Jersey after receiving death threats.
After she left, her nonprofit, the Digital Citizen Fund, closed all 13 of its technology centers.
Mahboob then rebuilt the Afghan Dreamers, the all-girls robotics team that now spans multiple countries and inspired the 2025 film “Rule Breakers.” She also launched Inoura Academy, a STEAM program for children aged 11 to 18 with a global reach.
“Our robot, Ruby, is a conversational, AI-powered girl who teaches children to code and financial literacy through play, movement, and empathy,” Mahboob told The New York Times. “We combine robotics with art, storytelling, and comics to make learning fun.”
Mahboob is also continuing her work in Afghanistan. Instead of technology centers, she now uses encrypted channels, underground classrooms, and a free offline app called Edy to teach young girls in the country.
“Based on my conversations with them, I estimate that we have reached 500 students this year,” she said. “And we have our app, Edy. My goal is to reach thousands of students when it officially launches. It’s dangerous work, but the courage of our students keeps us going.”
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