In the interest of supporting the free flow of information, Alive-in/ launched a pilot project in collaboration with Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web (FFDW). Alive-in is dedicated to increasing global awareness and understanding of all people, with a specific focus on the most vulnerable or marginalized communities.
Below you will find the stories that are stored on the decentralized web (DWeb) accompanied by a concise summary and additional details such as location, language, reporter name, and the original post published on Alive-in’s social media pages. Each story is linked to two hyperlinks, detailed as follows:
Folder Link: This hyperlink directs you to the DWeb. In this location, you will have access to a folder containing “Documents,” “Images,” and “Videos.” All materials available therein may be downloaded and used in accordance with the CC-NC-BY-SA license.
Excel Sheet: This hyperlink opens an Excel (.xlsx) file that provides filename, brief captions for each content item, along with specific hyperlinks, size, duration, and notes. All materials referenced may be downloaded and used in accordance with the CC-NC-BY-SA license.
On the modern web, data is usually stored in a single place, or else “in the cloud” – i.e., on a single companies’ computers, usually Amazon’s. Instead of having a single point of control, decentralized architectures enable a wider distribution of data storage, which can reduce the risk of censorship by big corporations and better protect services vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks.
IPFS is a peer-to-peer storage network that promotes the resiliency, immutability, and auditability of data. Through IPFS, content is tracked not by where it is located, but rather by WHAT data is being stored. This means that multiple organizations (or individuals, or communities), can store the same data, and if one of them is taken down, the data remains online. IPFS is an open protocol, which means that there are many implementations and uses – like the “http” of the web.
Filecoin is a web3 incentive system created by the same team who designed IPFS built to encourage anyone who chooses to store and share data, including sharing it over IPFS. It includes a blockchain with a “proof of storage,” and storage providers are rewarded for proving that they are correctly storing user files.
Filecoin and IPFS are complementary protocols for storing and sharing data on the DWeb. Through leveraging these protocols, data is more:
Resilient because single points of failure are avoided by leveraging diverse storage providers,
Immutable because of its inability to be altered once a unique CID is created, and
Auditable because blockchain-based systems help prove data isn’t tampered with during storage and retrieval.
If you’re looking for transcripts of the interviews provided in these stories, feel free to contact us at aliveinarchive@gmail.com. We will do our best to support your request, but we may not be able to address all requests. Please be aware that to the extent detailed transcripts exist, they may only be available in a local language, primarily Dari or Pashto, or as an AI-assisted translation. We encourage you to seek out your own translation to ensure that you understand fully the materials you wish to use.
Finally you can find HERE Google sheet hosted by Alive-in, which contains an overview look of all of the stories below. This includes locations, languages, reporters, hyperlinks for images and videos for each story and their respective sizes.
Alive-in encourages you to download this content for your own use, whether as source material for research or reporting purposes, making your own reports about Afghanistan, or remixing into whatever your imagination can dream up!
We are happy to know if you use our content, so email us at aliveinarchive@gmail.com and we will share your work (if applicable) as we hope for our content to be accessible by all :)
At least 300 families are rumored to make the caves in Jagra Khel and the area surrounding the now destroyed Buddhas of Bamiyan their home. In this story our reporter, Guljan Haidari, speaks with Basgal Rezaei and learns about how she and her husband dug their home out of the side of the mountain and what it is like today.
Location: Jagra Khel, Bamyan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Guljan Haidari ... Date: February 14th 2023. Link to original post.
A woman in southwestern Nimroz province has established an education facility offering courses in computer science, religious studies, and English. In this story our reporter, Samira Wafa explores the initiative’s aims to provide educational opportunities for women and girls barred from seeking education above 6th grade after the Taliban returned to power.
Location: Zaranj, Nimroz, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari and English ... Reporter: Samira Wafa ... Date: October 14th 2023. Link to original post.
Radio Harim-e Zan is a visionary, women-led radio station in Badakhshan that has been broadcasting since 2017, offering cultural, educational, and religious programs aimed at empowering and uplifting women. The story highlights the serious economic hurdles the station faces, as many staff work on a volunteer basis due to insufficient funding, prompting passionate calls for further support from organizations dedicated to championing journalists.
Location: Badakhshan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Shabana Farahmand ... Date: November 7th 2023. Link to original post.
The story centers on Zahra, a 30-year-old blind mother in Jowzjan, Afghanistan, whose deepest wish is to see her children despite living in severe poverty and facing constant economic hardship. Her life is marked by the grueling routine of preparing meager meals, keeping a dilapidated home in order, and coping with health challenges.
Location: Sheberghan City, Jowzjan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Zarghuna Akbari ... Date: May 29th 2023. Link to original post.
In Nimroz, Sahila Alizai has become a beacon of hope for women facing severe economic hardship. She used her modest savings to establish a sewing workshop that offers vital training and sustainable employment to women, especially widows, orphans, and single mothers. The story shows how, through this initiative, dozens of women have learned valuable tailoring skills that not only help them earn a living but also empower them to achieve financial independence.
Location: Zaranj, Nimroz, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Shaima Seddiqi ... Date: July 11th 2023. Link to original post.
In this story from Herat, a group of dedicated women is reviving the traditional art of silk weaving—a craft once celebrated by the elite but nearly lost to decades of war and economic decline. Although daily earnings do help support local families, ongoing challenges such as outdated equipment, market limitations, and a lack of institutional support underscore the urgent need for enhanced backing to ensure that this cherished cultural heritage continues to thrive.
Location: Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari / Pashto ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: April 5th 2023. Link to original post.
Dr. Hajera is the first female obstetrician in Badakhshan, Afghanistan and a trailblazer who devoted her life to public service, despite overwhelming challenges. The story shares her remarkable journey and selfless dedication to stand as a shining example of resilience and the enduring spirit of service in a country striving for peace and development.
Location: Badakhshan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Shabana Farahmand ... Date: March 7th 2023. Link to original post.
In Faizabad, the center of Badakhshan, Afghanistan women are defying severe restrictions by embracing morning exercise as a means to boost both their physical and mental well-being. The story showcases how despite limited public space and fewer opportunities throughout the day, many local women gather by the Kochkesh river each morning after prayers, engaging in activities like walking, jogging, and even showering outdoors.
Location: Faizabad, Badakhshan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari and English ... Reporter: Shabana Farahmand ... Date: July 4th 2023. Link to original post.
Ruqia Hosseini, a 49-year-old widow from Bamiyan, Afghanistan, has spent 22 years fighting against adversity on a small piece of land that she inherited from her late husband. Her daily routine is a testament to resilience, the story documents her life from early morning bread-making in a traditional clay oven to diligent fieldwork and caring for her livestock. Ruqia mingles the grueling labor of farm life with poignant recollections of past tragedies and loss.
Location: Bamyan, Afghanistan ... Language: Pashto and Dari ... Reporter: Guljan Haidari ... Date: June 5th 2023. Link to original post.
Bibi Gul is a 28-year-old single mother in Faizabad, Badakhshan, whose life has been defined by the harsh realities of gender-based educational deprivation and longstanding economic and social oppression in Afghanistan. In this story we learn how, after a series of personal tragedies, Bibi Gul turned to baking as a means to support her five children, and maintaining a home-based business.
Location: Chenar Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari and English ... Reporter: Shabana Farahmand ... Date: March 2nd 2023. Link to original post.
In this story Amina, a 65-year-old widow from Jowzjan, has spent the past 30 years weaving carpets in the modest confines of her courtyard to support her extensive family after the loss of her husband. Once part of a thriving traditional craft valued by local buyers, the market for handmade Afghan carpets has significantly declined, leaving Amina and many other artisans struggling to secure enough earnings from their labor-intensive work.
Location: Sheberghan, Jowzjan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Zarghuna Akbari ... Date: June 13th 2023. Link to original post.
Special needs children in Afghanistan are among the most vulnerable and neglected, as critical educational facilities remain out of reach in public schools. In Zaranj, Nimroz, our reporter Samira Wafa highlights the experiences of students like 11-year-old Niyayesh, 10-year-old Hania Baloch, and 7-year-old Husna. Despite their persistent challenges, the commitment of the school’s staff ensures that these children are given a chance to learn and grow.
Location: Zaranj, Nimroz, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari and English ... Reporter: Shaima Seddiqi ... Date: March 13th and 25th 2023. Link to original post.
In a primary school in Faizabad, Badakhshan, two dedicated women, Shahnaz Khala (50) and Halima Khala (55), work as janitors and support staff despite having been denied education in their own youth. Their stories, woven with personal tragedy and perseverance, underscore how decades of warfare and cultural restrictions have robbed many Afghan women of educational opportunities.
Location: Faizabad, Badakshan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Shabana Farahmand ... Date: May 22nd 2023. Link to original post.
Golsum Bibi, an illiterate woman in her mid-twenties from Faizabad, Badakhshan, has spent the past eight years making her famous Halwa—a traditional Afghan sweet dish—using skills passed down from her mother and grandmother. In a context where girls are systematically denied education and taught only to perform housework, Golsum never had the chance to learn reading or other subjects, a fact she regrets bitterly as she recounts in this story how societal values and early marriage left her with no other options.
Location: Faizabad, Badakhshan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari and English ... Reporter: Shabana Farahmand ... Date: May 31st 2023. Link to original post.
Shakila, a 25-year-old Afghan woman living in poor conditions in Kabul’s Nawabad area, struggles to support her family—comprising ten members, including herself, her six children, and a drug-addicted husband—through menial street vending. Shakila’s story is a stark illustration of the compounded hardships faced by Afghan women who, deprived of education and hindered by oppressive policies, are forced into dangerous, low-paying labor to survive.
Location: Nawababad, Kabul, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari and English ... Reporter: Razia Jafari ... Date: May 29th 2023. Link to original post.
In Takhar, a determined young female journalist struggles to keep her dreams alive despite overwhelming obstacles. Once part of a vibrant era of democracy and freedom of expression where women fought for equal rights side by side with men, her decade-long career in journalism has been reduced to hopelessness in the blink of an eye. In this story we see how she is now barred from working politically and forced into a state of isolation, she grapples with extremely low wages, the constant burden of a failing economy, and the heartbreaking responsibility of caring for her ailing mother.
Location: Taloqan, Takhar, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Sima Yoldoz ... Date: March 8th and 10th 2023. Link to original post.
In Herat, an entrepreneur known as Nafs Gul has established a food production center—named the Malka Jami Food Company—that directly and indirectly employs nearly 100 women. The story is about Malka Jami’s initiative which not only empowers women by providing them with essential income and skills but also serves as a call for greater institutional support and smarter allocation of resources to bolster women’s entrepreneurship in Afghanistan.
Location: Bakrabad, Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Pashto ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: January 26th 2023. Link to original post.
The story is set in Nimroz, where a pioneering woman entrepreneur named Zori has launched a facility for “nanizko”—handcrafted play items and traditional textile products—offering much-needed employment to local women. Despite challenges such as high electricity costs, limited workspace, shortages of machinery and raw materials, Zori’s innovative venture aims not only to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports but also to empower hundreds of women by transforming local craftsmanship into sustainable entrepreneurship.
Location: Zaranj, Nimroz, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Shaima Seddiqi ... Date: November 4th 2023. Link to original post.
Maktab mobile application is a distance learning platform developed by Afghan volunteers in Herat to provide education for girls and women who have been barred from attending school since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. The story is on the application which not only provides a beacon of hope for students but also serves as a cultural act of resistance against restrictive policies, urging the authorities to reopen schools and universities for Afghan girls and women.
Location: Herat City, Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: July 4th 2023. Link to original post.
The story is about Masouda, a determined young woman from Yangi Areigh village in the northern part of Jawzjan province who, against overwhelming odds, managed to secure a place at Kabul Medical University. Excelling with nearly top scores, she chose medicine driven by the pressing need for experienced female doctors in her region. However, her hard-won success now hangs in the balance as the Taliban's policies have closed universities for women, leaving her future—and that of many talented Afghan girls—shrouded in uncertainty.
Location: Yangi Areigh village, Jawzjan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Zarghuna Akbari ... Date: March 18th and 26th 2023. Link to original post.
Maryam, a 25-year-old carpet weaver from Herat, Afghanistan, has spent the past 15 years as the sole provider for her family of nine, including her elderly parents, siblings, and the wife and children of her drug-addicted brother who has been missing for five years. The story portrays Maryam’s challenging life, and how despite her remarkable skills in creating various carpet designs, market demand has dwindled, forcing her family to sell her carpets door-to-door.
Location: Dasht-e-Gazergah, Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: December 4th 2023. Link to original post.
This story highlights six women in Herat who have launched a factory called the "Inspiring Herbal Workshop" to produce herbal medicines, providing employment for over 210 women in urban and rural areas. Despite their success, financial constraints hinder expansion, workers rely on their daily wages of 200–250 Afghanis to sustain their families. Their efforts not only preserve Afghanistan's traditional herbal medicine practices but also showcase the resilience and entrepreneurship of Afghan women amidst adversity.
Location: Bakrabad, Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: December 4th 2023. Link to original post.
After the Taliban's takeover, working women in Afghanistan face relentless challenges, especially those in the health sector. The story highlights the journey of Sara Hosseini, a dedicated midwife in Takhar, who overcame significant obstacles to build her career but ultimately quit due to daily harassment by the Taliban's enforcers. The narrative underscores the urgent need for policy changes and support to safeguard the rights and contributions of women in Afghanistan's workforce.
Location: Takhar, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Sima Yoldoz ... Date: May 31st 2023. Link to original post.
The Online Women's University, founded in December 2022, serves as a vital educational platform for Afghan girls and women who have been barred from attending traditional schools and universities under Taliban rule. The story tells of the university's success underscores the potential of modern technology in bridging educational gaps while promoting women's development in Afghanistan.
Location: Badakhshan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Shabana Farahmand ... Date: March 28th 2024. Link to original post.
The story documents Eid al-Fitr in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, which is marked by colorful traditions where women play a central role in crafting delicious homemade sweets such as Metai, Salay Qazi, and Kolcha. Despite the joyous atmosphere, economic hardships have limited the community's ability to fully embrace past festive practices, highlighting the resilience of Badakhshan's people in preserving cultural and familial connections during challenging times.
Location: Badakhshan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Shabana Farahmand ... Date: April 9th 2024. Link to original post.
Zeinab Firozi, a 40-year-old entrepreneur from Herat, shares her story of transforming her passion for carpet weaving into a thriving workshop that employs over 110 women. Zeinab is determined to sustain her workshop, driven by her dedication to empowering women and preserving traditional crafts. Her vision extends beyond the workshop, advocating for better marketing opportunities and trade support to ensure that Afghan women's labor achieves its deserved recognition and rewards.
Location: Baraman, Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: April 7th 2023. Link to original post.
Najiba Saidi, a skilled Hazaragi embroidery artisan from Bamiyan, Afghanistan, has turned her passion for crafting traditional clothing into a self-sustaining livelihood. Overcoming challenges such as limited access to resources and education, Najiba started her journey by borrowing tools and gradually gained recognition for her intricate embroidery designs. Her story exemplifies resilience and the power of traditional craftsmanship in sustaining Afghan women amid economic and social hardships.
Location: Baraman, Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Guljan Haidari ... Date: May 8th 2023. Link to original post.
Balqis, a 50‐year‐old resident of Herat’s Angil district, has experienced firsthand the devastating psychological toll that repeated earthquakes and aftershocks have inflicted on her community. After losing her husband and son in a tremor, she now lives in constant fear. Her story stands as a stark reminder of how natural disasters can intertwine with socio-economic hardships, urging urgent interventions and community support to help restore hope and resilience within a society battered by relentless insecurity.
Location: Injil, Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: December 3rd 2023. Link to original post.
In Oruzgan—a neglected province where generations have grown up in educational darkness—Ghousuddin "Jalalzi," a devoted teacher with decades of experience, has established a personal school that now educates nearly 500 children, including 77 girls, despite immense challenges. Ghousuddin’s initiative not only fills a critical gap left by formal institutions under Taliban rule but also sparks hope and resilience among families who once dismissed schooling as an unattainable luxury, proving that unwavering commitment and community support can rekindle the dream of knowledge even in the harshest of circumstances.
Location: Oruzgan, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari/Pashto ... Reporter/s: Collaborative ... Date: June 13th 2023. Link to original post.
In Takhar, Mehrnasa— a 50‐year‐old mother who became her family’s sole provider after her husband’s disabling accident—struggles to make a living under harsh conditions. In this story, Mehrnasa and her peers persist in selling homemade, freshly baked bread to support their families, even as customer demand fluctuates and humanitarian aid remains unevenly distributed.
Location: Taloqan, Takhar, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari ... Reporter: Somaya Yoldoz ... Date: June 13th 2023. Link to original post.
Atina Soltani, a passionate young artist from Herat, channels the silent suffering of Afghan women through her evocative paintings, which depict the harsh realities of oppression, deprivation, and the loss of hope under Taliban rule. Her canvases, filled with raw emotion and symbolic imagery, serve not only as a personal catharsis but also as a rallying cry for social change—a plea for the reopening of schools and the restoration of women's rights—thereby illuminating a path toward both cultural resistance and collective empowerment in a society steeped in darkness.
Location: Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari and English ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: May 23rd 2023. Link to original post.
In Herat, entrepreneur Quresha Malikzada has revitalized the ancient art of miniature painting by launching a workshop that empowers 18 underprivileged young women and sustains her nine-member family. Drawing on skills learned during a challenging period in Iran with just minimal capital, she now produces intricately decorated items that honor Herat’s rich cultural heritage. Despite grappling with delayed material supplies and limited market access, her initiative not only provides essential income and relief from economic hardships but also highlights an urgent need for greater institutional support to secure this timeless craft for future generations.
Location: Herat, Afghanistan ... Language: Dari and Pashto ... Reporter: Abdul Karim Azim ... Date: May 17th 2023. Link to original post.
