“I have never, ever had any doubt in my mind about SOLA’s mission and vision. For me, it is as critical as breathing air.” (Shabana Basij-Rasikh, Founder of SOLA)

The world watched in horrified disbelief, and with great compassion, as Kabul, Afghanistan was re-taken by the Taliban in August 2021. Those who care deeply about the education of girls around the globe were especially worried about a generation of girls who may be denied education in the new regime. Recent headlines tell us that worry was well-founded.

In this episode, listen in as Shabana Basij-Rasikh, the founder and head of SOLA (School of Leadership, Afghanistan), and Megan Murphy, Executive Director of the National Coalition of Girls Schools, share a compelling story of school leadership in the turbulence of growth and change. Being a leader on the global stage requires bold thinking, flexibility and adaptability, and this story highlights that reality brilliantly.

As Shabana and Megan note, the fight to educate girls in Afghanistan has ramifications for the larger global problem: over 150 million school-age girls around the world are not in school, and that is not okay for these girls, for their countries, and for our future. It will take visionary leadership to tackle this global challenge, and these two women are ready to step up.

The resources you need to know about:

NCGS: www.ncgs.org
SOLA (School of Leadership Afghanistan): www.sola-afghanistan.org
Shabana’s November 21 TEDWomen talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy4iSaJOQQA National Coalition of Girls Schools Website · The School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) · Shabana's TEDWomen talk in 2021 · National Coalition of Girls' Schools · Transcript.pdf — PDF (126.8 KB)

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