Pashtana Durrani

Pashtana Durrani (born 1997) is an Afghan feminist, activist, and educator. She is the founder of LEARN Afghanistan, the country’s first digital school network, dedicated to providing education to Afghan children and women, particularly focusing on girls’ education and women’s rights.

Early life and education Pashtana Durrani was born in 1997 in a refugee camp near Quetta, Pakistan. Growing up as refugees, Durrani’s family deeply valued education, adopting the motto: “You can go hungry, but not without a day of learning.”

In 2001, her father, a tribal leader, established a girls’ school in the refugee camp, where her mother and aunt taught. This initiative provided education to local girls despite cultural and logistical barriers, instilling in Durrani a lifelong commitment to education.

Founding of LEARN Afghanistan In 2018, Durrani founded LEARN Afghanistan, an NGO that provides education to Afghan children and women through digital platforms.

The organization also prioritizes girls’ health, training 700 girls in menstrual hygiene management.

Following the fall of Kabul in August 2021, Durrani went into hiding. By 2024, this network expanded to include six provinces, with underground schools in Kandahar, Helmand, Daikundi, Samangan, Herat, and Bamyan, collectively educating 650+ students under covert operations.

At the time of the Taliban takeover, Durrani was studying political science at the American University of Afghanistan. In November 2021, she became a visiting fellow at the Wellesley College, where she focused on how to improve the distribution of humanitarian aid and mitigate financial corruption. 2020 Malala Fund Education Champion 2021 BBC 100 Women 2022 UN Young Activists Award 2023 CEU Open Society Prize 2023 Global Citizen Prize for Human Rights 2024 Women’s Excellence Award, World Economic Forum. 2024 Daughter of Greatness, Muhammad Ali Center

Memoir Durrani’s memoir, Last to Eat, Last to Learn'' (2022, Kensington), chronicles her journey from refugee to activist and her work with LEARN Afghanistan.