Angiza Maryem

Angiza Maryem is an Afghan refugee, women’s and girls’ rights activist, and TESOL-certified English teacher who believes that whether in times of war or peace, women and girls have always carried the emotional, mental, and physical weight of injustice, too often deprived of their rights, especially education. For her, education is the most powerful tool to change the future of the world and create a better life for the next generations.

Forced to leave her country, Angiza lost her home but never her hope. She brought her dreams to Brazil, where she is pursuing her Master’s in Political Science and International Relations at the Federal University of Goiás, focusing her thesis on the Taliban’s ban on education and work for women in Afghanistan since 2021 and its profound social and mental health consequences.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from CCSU in India, and with extensive experience in marketing, project management, and entrepreneurship, with different NGOs, Angiza uses her skills to help Afghan refugee women in Brazil start small businesses, fostering independence and dignity. She also teaches English to girls in conflict zones, determined to open doors to education wherever they are.

Passionate about reading, crochet, and learning new skills, Angiza dreams of a world where no girl is left uneducated. She is guided by the words of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” Every day, she works to turn dreams into reality, empowering girls affected by conflict to learn, grow, and shape their own futures.

As Director of the Afghanistan Women and Girls Initiative, Angiza Maryem leads efforts to empower Afghan women and girls through education, advocacy, and economic opportunities. She coordinates programs that provide access to learning, supports refugee women in building independent lives, and raises awareness about the challenges Afghan women face.