355 Harris Ave.
Afghanistan’s wars, which have been going on for over 40 years, have had a dramatic impact on the education of girls and women. We examine those impacts as well as the current situation for girls in Afghanistan and the food scarcity affecting Afghan children today.
This course is a mix of lecture, interactive forum answering student questions and Shogofa’s eyewitness account as a girl living in Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover and afterward. We break into small groups to discuss what was learned and formulate additional questions.
Shogofa believes that being a woman in Afghanistan is not about being oppressed, weak and afraid, but about learning what is necessary to become strong.
Instructor: Shogofa Amini
Shogofa Amini is a native of Afghanistan. Her childhood education was interrupted in 1996 due to the ascendancy of the Taliban. She came to the U.S. in 2011 to earn her B.A. in International Relations from Regis College, then her Master’s of Global Health from the University of Washington. Shogofa has spoken across the U.S. on issues facing girls and women in Afghanistan, promoting the education and rights of women and advocating for gender equality. She was accorded the Mary C. Brayan Award for her essay on women’s rights in Afghanistan and was named a “Pillar of the Community” honoree. Shogofa interned at the Feminist Majority Foundation and has worked in the office of U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, researching immigration issues. Shogofa currently works for Sahar, a non-profit organization whose mission is to create real, positive change for the girls and women of Afghanistan.
