At EmpowerHer, we believe every Afghan girl and woman has a story worth telling and a future worth fighting for. Through mentorship programs and publication opportunities, we help them find the tools, confidence, and platforms they need to raise their voices and become changemakers in their communities and beyond.
Since September 2021, all Afghan girls over the age of 12 have been banned from attending school.
More DetailsEmpowerHer Presents
Courage, identity, and storytelling — by Afghan girls and women, written from within Afghanistan.
2026
Winners
300+
Submissions
3
Honorees
5
Cash Winners
By the Numbers
Message From Our Co-Founders
EmpowerHer was born from the hope and strength that you carry within you—even in the darkest of days. You are not forgotten. Your dreams, your voices, your potential—they matter. They are powerful, and they are needed in this world.
We know that many of you are facing unimaginable challenges. Barriers to education, threats to your freedom, and a world that too often refuses to see your worth. But we believe in your resilience. And through EmpowerHer, we are building a path forward—together.
Our mission is simple: to support you, to uplift you, and to walk beside you. Whether through education, mentorship, leadership workshops, or simply being a voice when yours is silenced, we are here for you.
Please don't give up. There is a growing community—inside and outside Afghanistan—that believes in your power to lead, to learn, and to rise. And we are proud to stand with you.
Mahdi Rahimi & Nahid Karimi
– Co-Founders
“For too long, Afghan girls have been written into history as victims. This time, let's write our own.”
Nahid Karimi
Co-Founder
“WE RISE, WE RISE, WE RISE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY”
Mahdi Rahimi
Co-Founder
What We Do
Our projects are designed to meet Afghan girls where they are—and help them grow into who they're meant to be. Each initiative provides a safe, inclusive space where participants gain the tools, guidance, and community they need to rise. From leadership workshops to storytelling programs, every project builds confidence, sharpens skills, and encourages bold self-expression. Together, we're creating spaces where Afghan girls can learn, lead, and shape their own futures.
A platform for Afghan girls to share their stories, amplify their voices, and inspire change through creative expression.
ExploreEmpowerHer's core program offers Afghan girls free workshops and mentorship to build resilience, gain support, and launch impact projects.
ExploreMedia Coverage
Our mission to empower Afghan girls has been recognized and celebrated by local media, amplifying the voices of resilience and leadership within our community.
EmpowerHer was featured in a local Virginia newsletter through our former partnership with Rappahannock News. This acknowledgment underscored our mission to empower Afghan girls and amplify their narratives of resilience and leadership within a broader community.
Watch & Listen
Our co-founders, Nahid Karimi and Mahdi Rahimi, joined the NSHSS Scholars Connect Podcast to share their personal journeys from Afghanistan to the United States and the experiences that inspired them to launch EmpowerHer. In this episode, they discuss the challenges facing Afghan girls under Taliban rule, the role of education and mentorship in creating opportunity, and how young people can transform adversity into meaningful impact and leadership.
Trusted Partners & Supporters
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