Q&A with Ayda Hydapour

1. Tell us about your background and journey as an Afghan Dreamer.

As an Afghan Dreamer, I saw the world from a new perspective, and being part of the team allowed me to experience things I had always wondered about. I was part of the team for over five years. During this time, I learned new skills, served and helped my community, and worked on unique projects. Being part of the Afghan Dreamers opened many doors, allowing me to connect with like-minded individuals and professionals in the STEM field. It gave me the confidence to pursue my passions in technology and showed me the impact we can make through innovation and teamwork.

2.Could you share your experiences with education in Afghanistan, both during the two decades of the Republic and in the current context?

The Afghanistan I grew up in was much different from today. We had many schools and universities, allowing more women and girls to get educated. Women could become engineers and scientists and work in government. Organizations like the Afghan Dreamers enabled girls to work in STEM fields, which are usually male-dominated in Afghanistan. During the two decades of the Republic, there was a significant push for education, with new institutions being built and more opportunities for women and girls. However, when the Taliban took over, it felt like all the progress was undone. More than 2,000 schools were banned for girls, and people started losing hope. The current situation is heartbreaking, with many girls being denied the right to education and their dreams being crushed. Despite these challenges, some still fight for their right to learn and grow.

3. Could you share how you first got involved with Afghan Dreamers? What was the driving force that led you to join this initiative?

I was born and raised in a family of almost all doctors, and my parents wanted me to be a doctor, too. However, I was more interested in math and technology and wanted to explore a limitless world. As a kid, I asked my dad for a gaming console, and he got it for me as a gift. I played a lot and had many questions about the games, but no one to answer them. Then I learned about the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, an all-girls team working on STEM projects. I joined the game development team, starting as a member and becoming a captain. I was impressed by what I was doing daily, working on different 2D, 3D, and VR games. Later, I joined the Robotics Team to work on physical projects like ventilators, UVc robots, and other projects and devices that would help our community. It was a satisfying and fulfilling experience, as if I lived in a limitless world I’d always dreamed about.

4. Could you share your experiences from the day Afghanistan fell and explain how you and your team managed to evacuate under such challenging circumstances?

The day Afghanistan fell was the darkest day of my life, one I will never forget. It was unexpected and shocking how millions of lives changed in one day. At the time, I was the captain of the robotics team, and we were preparing for the First Global Competition. When we moved to Kabul to work on the competition, we were shocked and had many questions. We saw and felt the fear in people’s faces. Women, children, and even men were crying and running to the airport, desperate to leave. The team and I were evacuated to Qatar with the help of the Qatari government. As the team captain, I focused on the competition and worked to keep them together. We worked on the project day and night and eventually won the Judges’ Award among 175 countries.

5. Can you tell us about the people’s and community’s reaction to your and your team’s work?

Initially, as a member of an all-girls robotics team in Afghanistan, we faced challenges due to the community’s conservative views. However, our work has been met with positive reactions from local and global communities over time. Locally, there’s been a sense of pride and encouragement, especially among young girls who see us as role models breaking barriers in STEM fields. Globally, our projects have garnered attention and support, highlighting the potential of Afghan youth despite challenging circumstances. The community’s response has been crucial in fostering a supportive environment for our initiatives, encouraging more girls to pursue education and careers in technology.

6. Could you elaborate on your educational background and the particular study area you are concentrating on? What are your long-term objectives and ambitions?

I am a computer science major at Virginia Tech and the president of Education For Empowerment, where I’ve been focusing on areas like AI and software development. My long-term objective is to leverage technology to make a meaningful impact on communities, particularly in empowering Afghan girls through education and technological innovation. Beyond technical skills, I aim to develop leadership qualities that enable me to advocate for gender equality in STEM and contribute to building a more inclusive tech industry globally.

7. What keeps you motivated and hopeful in the face of adversity? How do you envision a brighter future for Afghanistan?

Despite facing adversity, what keeps me motivated is the resilience and potential I see in Afghan youth, especially girls. Our initiatives, like Afghan Dreamers, are a testament to their determination to learn and succeed against all odds. I envision a brighter future for Afghanistan where every girl has access to quality education and opportunities in STEM, enabling them to contribute to their communities and drive positive change. We can pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous Afghanistan by continuing to advocate, innovate, and collaborate.