I am very interested in knowing the work of all those women who for some reasons decided to get involved in movements although they can endanger their lives. In this interesting Ted Talk, Sakena Yacoobi recounts how she began her work for education in her country, Afghanistan. She was fortunate to study her career in the United States, but when she was already there working as a professional, she returned to her country to help people who had no opportunities. And so she began her work in a refugee camp where there were more than a million people.
Later she founded the Afghan Institute of Learning in 1995, and since then she trains Afghan women, giving education to children across the country. Having lived in an Arab country, and knowing the constraints that exist for women, I find it admirable what women like this are capable of. She makes it very clear in the talk, education transforms people, and is the same education that gives us the values that will then govern our lives. It's so important ...!. Some phrases from the AIL website:
"She is hopeless. I cannot save her. You cannot save her. She must save herself. That is why I give her skills, I give her training, I give her education and I give her love and courage." (from the website
"I pray for the day when the world sees more than the war - when they see the other side of Afghanistan".
Later she founded the Afghan Institute of Learning in 1995, and since then she trains Afghan women, giving education to children across the country. Having lived in an Arab country, and knowing the constraints that exist for women, I find it admirable what women like this are capable of. She makes it very clear in the talk, education transforms people, and is the same education that gives us the values that will then govern our lives. It's so important ...!. Some phrases from the AIL website:
"She is hopeless. I cannot save her. You cannot save her. She must save herself. That is why I give her skills, I give her training, I give her education and I give her love and courage." (from the website
"I pray for the day when the world sees more than the war - when they see the other side of Afghanistan".
The talk is excellent. If you want to listen to it, click on the image: