In Taliban-Run Afghanistan, a Hidden Network of Girls Fights to Learn With Little but Hope

In a remote province of Afghanistan, a young woman logs into a WhatsApp group on a borrowed phone. The connection is weak, the screen cracked, but she’s eager to hear this month’s discussion—an audio recording of a BBC podcast on leadership. Around her, the room is silent. Outside, the world has all but shut its doors to her.

She is one of 43.

Across Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where education for girls beyond the sixth grade remains illegal, a quiet effort has taken root. Forty-three young women, scattered across multiple provinces, have formed an underground study circle. It’s not affiliated with any school or organization. There are no official classes. But the women meet virtually each month, exchanging articles, listening to podcasts, and reading books in an attempt to keep learning—if not publicly, then privately.

They call themselves “Voices Behind Walls.”

Since the Taliban’s return in 2021, education for girls and women has unraveled. Public universities are now closed to women. Private courses are being shut down or restricted. The ban extends beyond the classroom—women are barred from gyms, parks, and many forms of employment. But these young women have not lost hope; in fact, they are determined to learn.

Wazhma Frogh, the founder of the group, says the barriers are material. “Some of the girls don’t have smartphones,” she said. “Others can’t afford the $10 needed for weekly internet. Even a $50 used phone is out of reach.”

In a country where the economy is collapsing and humanitarian aid has slowed, these costs are small yet critical. For these young women, they represent the only path to education.

“There is always a dawn after the dark night — that’s what I keep believing. My school has been closed for almost four years now. It’s just three minutes away from my house, and every time I pass by that street, it’s not the bricks or chairs I miss — it’s the dream I used to carry with me,” one group member told More to Her Story. “We’ve been stuck at home for four years. My sisters had to marry. I know my turn is next. But with every book we read, I add another day of hope to my life. For us, learning together feels like a dream now.”

“They aren’t asking for much,” Frogh said. “Just the tools to keep learning. A little bit of internet. A phone that works. A sponsor for a study session.”