Once again, in the heart of Afghanistan, bans on women’s rights have only accelerated. Yet, Radio Begum has offered an important lifeline to education. This inspiring little radio station is the only women-led broadcaster in the entire country. It directly impacts almost three million Afghan girls who have been barred from attending any form of in-person schooling since the Taliban took power again. Radio Begum took to the airwaves in March 2021. This Paris-based NGO, founded by media entrepreneur Hamida Aman, delivers geography, math, and English lessons over mobile phones to give women the tools they need to succeed.
Radio Begum operates under challenging conditions. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the limitations on the station’s ability to operate have compounded tremendously. This past February, the Taliban conducted a raid on Radio Begum and its sister station, Radio Jawanan, shutting down both stations’ broadcasts. Although Radio Begum was allowed to resume operations, it now faces stringent content limitations that prohibit discussions on politics, music, and even laughter.
Sabba Chaman, the 26-year-old director of Radio Begum, told.
“We follow all the restrictions, we have no choice,” – Sabba Chaman.
Having lived through the effects of the Taliban’s past rule on women and education, Chaman has seen it all unfold firsthand. Kandahar and Helmand provinces have gone a step further by banning the airing of female voices. The decree meant that Radio Begum was no longer searchable within those provinces. Each case illustrates the broader, deepening crisis Afghan women face. More than 80 percent of women media workers have been unemployed due to the Taliban’s media shutdowns. Yet, in the face of all this adversity, Radio Begum has continued to be a unique woman’s haven. Here, they work together and do their best to teach others.
The station’s programming has in turn made the station a vital resource for students like Aina and Hafsa, both 16 years of age. Aina listens to Radio Begum from her home in her family’s parlor. In addition, she enjoys how it continues to challenge and stimulate her intellectually, despite the lack of traditional educational institutions.
“We’ve been banned from conventional schools but we’re still learning, and the radio helps us with that. It gives us the feeling of sitting in a real classroom, and that’s our only motivation,” – Aina.
Hafsa loves using Radio Begum too and especially likes learning about history. Through the station’s daytime broadcasts, millions of media-savvy Afghan girls are learning and kindling hope. This is more crucial than ever during a period where their schooling has been dramatically deprived.
Chaman points out the nimbleness of Radio Begum in addressing these challenges.
“And all our strength comes from our ability to adapt, no matter how many restrictions we face,” – Sabba Chaman.
And the Taliban’s all-out assault on women’s rights has reached far outside an education. As a result, female professionals have experienced a loss in their opportunities as beauty salons, female sports clubs, and women-operated businesses shut down. Today, journalism is one of the last professions still open to women in Afghanistan—although even that is rapidly changing as the Taliban continue tightening their grip.
Chaman, center, expressed her fears about how society will view women living under the Taliban.
“The Taliban believe that girls are inherently degraded and that their role is to stay at home, good for nothing,” – Sabba Chaman.
Her sentiments capture a painful reality for many Afghan women today. They are the ones fighting back against systemic oppression with courage and dignity while fighting for freedom through education and empowerment.
