Meet Zahra Rahimi

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zahra Rahimi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zahra , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I believe my purpose was shaped by two childhoods: my mother’s and my own. Growing up, she often shared stories about her girlhood in Afghanistan. She was only in fifth grade when the Taliban first took control and banned girls from school, and her parents took the risk of teaching her at home, turning their living room into a secret classroom. After years of secret homeschooling, and once the Taliban were gone, she was able to earn her high school diploma. However, she couldn’t attend college until many years later, when we arrived in the U.S., where she finally fulfilled her dream of earning a college degree.
Her story became the foundation of my strength and purpose. From a young age, I understood that education was not something all girls could take for granted in Afghanistan; it was something they had to fight for, something many Afghan girls are still denied today. Learning about her courage and determination taught me to persevere through struggles and challenges, and to hold on to my dreams. Most importantly, my mom’s story helped me discover my purpose: to be a voice for Afghan girls by advocating for their rights and providing them with educational opportunities.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m Zahra Rahimi, an 18-year-old, second-year student at William & Mary, majoring in Government. I was born and raised in Afghanistan. In September 2019, my family and I fled the country and moved to the United States. Arriving in a new country was both challenging and transformative, as I had to adapt to a completely new culture, one very different from where I was raised, and learn a new language.

Since coming to the U.S., I have focused on turning challenges into opportunities. I immersed myself in my education, became actively involved in advocacy work, and began sharing the stories of Afghan women to raise awareness about their struggles and resilience. Drawing from my own experiences navigating life in a new country and adapting to a different culture, I have sought to amplify the voices of those often unheard. I have also been involved in refugee resettlement efforts and in supporting youth in my community, serving as the first-ever Student Representative for the International Academy students on the Alexandria City Public Schools Board of Education for two years, where I advocated for the needs of immigrant and English learner students.
I have also worked with local organizations such as NOVA Resettling Afghan Families Together (NOVA RAFT), where I co-founded a youth literacy program that continues to serve over 100 newly arrived Afghan refugee students, providing tailored English language support to help them adapt to a new educational system and community. Serving these individuals and engaging in advocacy and empowerment work has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life!
My commitment to advocacy led me to direct and co-produce the documentary called “Desperate”, which chronicles the experiences of young Afghan girls following the fall of Kabul in 2021. The film was selected as a finalist in the All American High School Film Festival, among 2,500 submissions from over 40 countries, and was showcased in New York’s Times Square, sharing the stories of Afghan women with a global audience.
I also serve as a mentor with Catholic Charities Social Services in Alexandria, giving back to my community by supporting youth as they adjust to and succeed in their new country. Through these experiences, I have not only found my voice as an advocate for Afghan women’s rights but have also cultivated a deep commitment to education, social justice, and community empowerment, using storytelling and mentorship as tools to uplift marginalized voices and foster resilience.

Additionally, following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, millions of Afghan girls are deprived of their right to education and forced into silence. Witnessing this deliberate denial of education and gender apartheid, stripping Afghan women of one of their most basic human rights and attempting to erase them from public life, reignited my commitment to stand against such injustice. Leading me to create a platform that amplifies the voices of Afghan girls and women and provides them with opportunities to learn. Therefore, I founded Zahra Insight Academy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for young Afghan girls.

At Zahra Insight Academy, we focus on providing educational opportunities and raising awareness through media and storytelling. Our mission is not only to provide young Afghan girls and women with access to education but also to be a voice for them and advocate on their behalf. Despite the challenges they face, these girls continue to show remarkable courage and resilience, finding ways to keep learning even when they are forced to stay at home. Although balancing the program with my college studies can sometimes be demanding, the most rewarding aspect of my work is speaking with our students over the phone during our monthly check-ins. I find each conversation deeply moving, especially when they share how happy they are to have the chance to learn. I know they deserve to live in a place where they are encouraged to learn openly, not forced to do so in secrecy. They are full of potential but face an uncertain future. Their strength continually reinforces my commitment to advocate for them and provide the education they so bravely pursue.

Through our work at Zahra Insight Academy, I hope to inspire others to join us in dismantling barriers, amplifying silenced voices, and fostering a future where every girl can learn and live freely. As Khaled Hosseini said, “A society has no chance of success if its women are uneducated.”

Currently, I am working on the launch of our podcast, which will serve as an extension of our advocacy through media and storytelling. This podcast will not only share powerful stories of courage, resilience, and empowerment but also highlight the experiences of women from diverse backgrounds. Our goal is to create a space where voices that are often overlooked can be heard. I strongly believe that every story is worth hearing, especially those of women fighting for their rights and freedom against all challenges they face.

Overall, since arriving in the United States over the past five years, my life has been a journey of challenges, resilience, growth, and purpose. So much has changed since I arrived. I have embraced opportunities, gotten involved in meaningful initiatives, and learned more than I ever imagined possible. None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my parents, the guidance of my mentors, and the encouragement of my community. My story is shaped by both Afghanistan and the United States, and by the incredible people I have met in both countries. I am deeply committed to giving back to these communities, advocating for Afghan women’s rights, and continuing to serve and uplift those around me here in the U.S.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I believe the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, storytelling, and purpose.

Resilience: Resilience has been essential at every step of my path. From my early years in Afghanistan to adapting to a new life in the United States and navigating the challenges of advocacy work, I have faced many obstacles and hardships. Yet, resilience has allowed me to keep moving forward, even when situations felt overwhelming. I have learned not to be afraid of failure, not to let obstacles discourage me, and to always hold onto my purpose.

Storytelling: During my first year of high school, while attending online classes during COVID, I had a conversation about my experiences in Afghanistan with one of my teachers. Although my English was very limited, and I had to use Google Translate to convert my sentences from Farsi/Dari to English before reading them aloud, he told me, “You are a good storyteller.” Even now, going into my second year of college, I still remember his words because they reminded me of the power of sharing one’s experiences, no matter the challenges. Storytelling has allowed me to connect with others, raise awareness about Afghan women’s struggles. Whether through my work in documentary filmmaking, social media, writing, or one-on-one conversations, storytelling has been the most powerful tool for amplifying the voices of Afghan women.

Purpose: For me, my purpose has been advocating for Afghan women and those whose voices are often silenced. By dedicating myself to providing educational opportunities and amplifying their stories, I have seen firsthand how commitment can empower others and inspire hope. When we align our efforts with a cause we truly believe in, our impact can be transformative, not only for those we serve, but also for ourselves!

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

If I had only one decade of life remaining, I would spend my time continuing to advocate for Afghan women and girls, amplifying their voices and expanding access to educational opportunities. I would commit myself to fighting for their freedom and challenging the system of gender apartheid that continues to oppress them in Afghanistan. I would stand in solidarity with the girls who are punished simply for being girls and for daring to exist beyond the confines of their homes.

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