Contracts Response
School Department
Fatema Uzgun Nasrat
Volunteer Team
EducationMaster of International Relations
EBA DepartmentVolunteer Team
Biography
Fatema Uzgun Nasrat was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. In 1992, due to the civil war, her family was forced to leave Kabul and move to Andkhoy, her father’s hometown. She completed her school education at Yoldoz Girls’ High School in Andkhoy. She later moved to Kabul to continue her higher education and earned her bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Sharia at Kabul University.
In 2012, Fatema took the bar examination and, after successfully obtaining her license to practice law, began working as a defense lawyer. In 2017, she moved to Istanbul, Turkey, to pursue a master’s degree. In 2022, she earned her master’s degree in International Relations.
Throughout her life, Fatema Uzgun Nasrat has witnessed the closure of schools to Afghan girls twice. She was around twelve years old when the Taliban first arrived in her district in 1998 and girls were banned from continuing their education. It was not until 2001, after the end of that regime, that she was able to resume her education.
Years later, when the Taliban returned to power in the summer of 2021 and once again banned girls above the seventh grade from attending school, Fatemeh was reminded of the same injustice and deprivation she had experienced as a child. This time, however, instead of remaining silent or inactive, she decided to take action to create educational opportunities for Afghan girls.
She founded Behdokht Online Academy, an initiative that today provides educational services to more than 200 girls from different provinces of Afghanistan. Classes at the academy are offered free of charge and are taught by volunteer teachers.
Behdokht Online Academy operates entirely through WhatsApp. This is a deliberate choice, as stable internet access is limited in many parts of Afghanistan, while the cost of internet packages can be a significant burden for many families. As a result, many families rely on more affordable WhatsApp-specific internet packages.
At the academy, teachers share lessons and educational materials with students through voice messages, videos, and written explanations. After reviewing the lessons and completing their assignments, students submit their work to their respective groups and receive guidance and feedback from their teachers.
Fatema Uzgun Nasrat is the founder and director of Behdokht Online Academy. Alongside managing the academy and balancing her personal and professional responsibilities, she also contributes voluntarily to the field of education. She works with Education Bridge for Afghanistan (EBA) as part of the Schools Team, where she volunteers in the area of MoU management and coordination with schools.
Fatema Uzgun Nasrat’s journey—from experiencing the denial of education as a young girl, to working in the legal field, pursuing graduate studies in International Relations, establishing an online academy for Afghan girls, and volunteering in the education sector—reflects her continued commitment to creating better educational opportunities for girls in Afghanistan.
In 2012, Fatema took the bar examination and, after successfully obtaining her license to practice law, began working as a defense lawyer. In 2017, she moved to Istanbul, Turkey, to pursue a master’s degree. In 2022, she earned her master’s degree in International Relations.
Throughout her life, Fatema Uzgun Nasrat has witnessed the closure of schools to Afghan girls twice. She was around twelve years old when the Taliban first arrived in her district in 1998 and girls were banned from continuing their education. It was not until 2001, after the end of that regime, that she was able to resume her education.
Years later, when the Taliban returned to power in the summer of 2021 and once again banned girls above the seventh grade from attending school, Fatemeh was reminded of the same injustice and deprivation she had experienced as a child. This time, however, instead of remaining silent or inactive, she decided to take action to create educational opportunities for Afghan girls.
She founded Behdokht Online Academy, an initiative that today provides educational services to more than 200 girls from different provinces of Afghanistan. Classes at the academy are offered free of charge and are taught by volunteer teachers.
Behdokht Online Academy operates entirely through WhatsApp. This is a deliberate choice, as stable internet access is limited in many parts of Afghanistan, while the cost of internet packages can be a significant burden for many families. As a result, many families rely on more affordable WhatsApp-specific internet packages.
At the academy, teachers share lessons and educational materials with students through voice messages, videos, and written explanations. After reviewing the lessons and completing their assignments, students submit their work to their respective groups and receive guidance and feedback from their teachers.
Fatema Uzgun Nasrat is the founder and director of Behdokht Online Academy. Alongside managing the academy and balancing her personal and professional responsibilities, she also contributes voluntarily to the field of education. She works with Education Bridge for Afghanistan (EBA) as part of the Schools Team, where she volunteers in the area of MoU management and coordination with schools.
Fatema Uzgun Nasrat’s journey—from experiencing the denial of education as a young girl, to working in the legal field, pursuing graduate studies in International Relations, establishing an online academy for Afghan girls, and volunteering in the education sector—reflects her continued commitment to creating better educational opportunities for girls in Afghanistan.
