Qissa and Women Rise are absolutely thrilled to speak with Shabana Basij-Rasikh, Founder of School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA) about girls’ education in Afghanistan and the ongoing situation in the country.

Shabana was 6 years old when the Taliban seized power in 1996. Girls were completely forbidden from attending school and yet, across Afghanistan, secret schools began to open. Shabana dressed as a boy to avoid detection by the Taliban and attended school in Kabul. After the regime fell in 2001, Shabana finished high school in the US.

In 2008, Shabana set up the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA) to provide access to quality education for girls across her homeland. We are so saddened and angered to see history repeating itself, as the Taliban once again ban girls from education in Afghanistan. It is now the only country in the world that bans female education. However, it is stories like Shabana's that bring us hope. We are so inspired by her work and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her in conversation on the Qissa stage.

You can find out more about SOLA by visiting their website.