Afghan Dreamers

A look at the inspiring times and trials of an all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan and the tech entrepreneur who was tasked with putting them together—as they struggle against competition, try to secure travel visas, and live under Taliban rule, whose patriarchal norms specifically ban their continuing education. —M.G. When the five members of the Afghan Girls’ Robotics Team were born, education was still forbidden for women under then-Taliban rule. Fast forward to 2017 when the unlikely all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan was formed and quickly gained fame at international competitions. Their success began shifting perceptions back home, where long-held views disapproved of females pursuing STEAM programs. Instead, now they were embraced by hundreds of young girls inspired to emulate their pioneering role models. AFGHAN DREAMERS follows the team around the globe as they proudly represent the version of their nation they want the world to know. But Taliban forces and ongoing violence pose threats to their promising futures. Determined to build a better tomorrow for their country, the women must find a way to pursue their dreams in the face of tumultuous civil unrest. —A.B. GUEST(S) ARE SCHEDULED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE FOR Q&A