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Hello, I’m Joshua T. Berglan, creator of The World’s Mayor Experience. Today, I’m shining a spotlight on an incredible human—Nahid Salimi, an 18-year-old from Afghanistan who’s rewriting the rules of possibility. As the host of UnMasking Humanity , I recently spoke with Nahid about her nonprofit, Youth Digital Literacy. When I connected with her recently from across the globe, I was floored by her heart and hustle. So, I’m here to tell you why Nahid and her mission deserve the world’s stage.
Picture this: it’s 2021, and Nahid’s just 14 when the Afghan government falls. Education—a lifeline for girls like her—gets ripped away overnight. But Nahid doesn’t fold. With no resources, she turns to YouTube, teaching herself English from scratch. “It wasn’t easy,” she told me. “There were moments of frustration, but I kept repeating words, mimicking sentences—I didn’t want to quit.” That hustle paid off. She became fluent, and then she kept going, learning French and German too. Each language opened a new world, defying every barrier in her path.
But Nahid’s journey isn’t just about her—it’s about the girls she saw stranded around her in Kabul, their dreams locked away. That’s when she had a spark: a nonprofit to teach Afghan girls languages and coding. What started as one girl sharing her knowledge has exploded into something global.
Today, Youth Digital Literacy serves over 100 students, offering courses in Python, machine learning, and more. Volunteers from across the planet have joined her, teaching languages like Korean—yep, K-pop’s reach is real! Nahid shared a story that stuck with me: one of her students landed a teaching job after finishing her classes. “That was everything,” Nahid said. “It’s proof we’re changing lives.” From a single idea to a worldwide network, her nonprofit’s growth is a beacon of hope in a place that desperately needs it.
Let’s not sugarcoat it—Nahid’s work is tough. In Afghanistan, she faces government restrictions and risks just for teaching girls. Operating under the radar isn’t easy, but she’s unwavering. “We know the dangers,” she told me, “but education is worth it.” She’s betting on digital literacy to unlock independence for Afghan women—skills that can’t be taken away. That resolve? It’s rare, and it’s why I’m so fired up to amplify her voice.
Nahid’s not stopping at Afghanistan. Her dream is to take Youth Digital Literacy global, spreading digital literacy and equitable education to underserved communities everywhere. “I want a world where every girl can learn, no matter where she’s born,” she said. She even dreams of leading Afghanistan toward a fairer future. Our talk gave her a boost—she said it felt like the world was finally seeing her. Now, I want you to see her too.
Chatting with Nahid (even if I flubbed the recording) was electric. Her optimism, her grit—it’s the kind of stuff that fuels The World’s Mayor Experience. She’s not just teaching; she’s empowering a generation to rewrite their stories. That’s why I’m putting her over, big time. Her fight’s not just Afghanistan’s—it’s a global wake-up call.
Nahid Salimi is a force, and Youth Digital Literacy is a lifeline. Want in? Head to youthDigitalliteracy.com to volunteer, donate, or spread the word. From Kabul to your corner of the world, let’s help Nahid keep the doors of education wide open. Stay tuned—I’ll be interviewing her again soon, on video this time, and you won’t want to miss it!
