Shabana Basij-Rasikh
Founder, SOLA | Afghan Girls' Education & Empowerment
About
Shabana Basij-Rasikh is the founder and president of SOLA, the School of Leadership, Afghanistan. SOLA provides world-class education and leadership training to Afghan girls, empowering them to become the next generation of leaders in their country.
As a TED speaker, Shabana has shared her personal journey of escaping Taliban rule to pursue her dreams. Her keynotes inspire audiences to tackle seemingly impossible challenges with resilience and courage.
Featured2 with video
The dream of educating Afghan girls lives on
In this deeply moving talk, educator Shabana Basij-Rasikh shares the harrowing story of evacuating more than 250 students, staff and family members from the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) -- the country's first and only all-girls boarding school -- to Rwanda after the Taliban took power in 2021. An exceptional story of hope, resilience and dreaming big for future generations of Afghan girls -- and a challenge for the world to not look away.
Shabana Basij-Rasikh at Skoll World Forum 2026
| Event | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Skoll World Forum | 2026 | Oxford |
| TEDWomen 2021 | 2021 | 🇺🇸Palm Springs, United States |
| TEDxWomen 2012 2012 | 2012 |
At a Glance
Industries
Get in Touch
Save for Later
Is this you?
Claim this profile to edit your bio, add talks, and get verified.
Know a talk we're missing?
Similar Speakers
Related by topic and shared stages
Explore related directories
Conferences, directories, and industries connected to Shabana Basij-Rasikh