Noorjahan Akbar

Noorjahan Akbar is a student activist and blogger from Afghanistan. She has taught English, computer skills and leadership to women; participated in and organized several protests for women’s rights in Afghanistan; formed a creative writing program for children at orphanages; translated a book of six short stories for children; done research in many fields including women’s folkloric music in North Afghanistan; and worked for several children and women’s organizations in Afghanistan. In 2013, Ms. Akbar published a book of 50 poems and articles written by Afghan women. This book is now distributed throughout the country to empower women in rural areas. Ms. Akbar also has been published in The New York Times and Al-Jazeera English and she regularly writes for national and international media outlets. Akbar was listed as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World by Forbes Magazine in 2012 and the grand prize winner of Glamour Magazine’s Top Ten College Women award in 2013. She is currently pursuing her masters in journalism and public affairs at American University. Photo Credit Rizwan Saffie.