At the Omid Foundation, we work with women who refuse to be silenced. Despite facing oppression, violence, and systemic discrimination, women in Iran and Afghanistan continue to fight for their rights with remarkable courage. Their struggle is not just about survival—it is about reclaiming their voices, their dignity, and their futures.
The Battle Against Oppression
Women in Iran and Afghanistan live under some of the harshest restrictions in the world. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has erased women from public life, banning them from education, employment, and even public spaces. In Iran, women who defy the mandatory hijab laws risk arrest, imprisonment, or worse.
But oppression has never stopped women from fighting back.
Resistance in Education
The Taliban’s ban on girls’ education was meant to silence them. Instead, it has sparked underground movements. Across Afghanistan, secret schools operate in homes and hidden locations, where women and girls continue to learn despite the risks. Online education has also become a lifeline, allowing them to access knowledge in defiance of the restrictions.
At Omid Foundation, we provide online English and computer classes, helping women gain the skills they need to build independent lives. Education is one of the most powerful tools of resistance—because an educated woman is harder to control.
Protests on the Streets and Online
In Iran, the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement has shown the world the power of women’s resistance. Since the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in 2022, women have taken to the streets, removed their hijabs in defiance of the regime, and demanded an end to oppressive laws. Even as protests are violently suppressed, the resistance continues—on social media, in underground feminist groups, and through daily acts of defiance.
Afghan women, too, have risked everything by protesting against Taliban policies. Despite brutal crackdowns, they continue to march, demanding the right to education, employment, and basic human dignity. Their courage in the face of such extreme danger is nothing short of heroic.
Economic Independence: A Path to Freedom
One of the most powerful ways women fight oppression is by achieving financial independence. In societies where women are often forced into marriage or economic dependence, the ability to earn an income can be life-changing.
Women in both Iran and Afghanistan have turned to online work, using skills like translation, digital marketing, and remote teaching to support themselves. Others have started small businesses, selling handmade goods or offering online services. By gaining financial independence, they are reclaiming control over their own lives.
The Power of Hope and Solidarity
The struggle for women’s rights in Iran and Afghanistan is far from over, but the resilience of these women proves that hope is stronger than fear. They continue to fight, not just for themselves, but for future generations.
At Omid Foundation, we stand with them. We believe that every woman deserves the right to learn, to work, and to live without fear. And as long as they continue to fight, we will continue to support them—because their voices, their courage, and their dreams can never be erased.
