By Nicole Musimbi
“The Sister-to-Sister Program taught me how meaningful global connection, collaboration, and shared experiences can be in building stronger communities. This understanding will help me approach my work with a more inclusive, global mindset and greater cultural awareness.” 2025 Sister-to-Sister participant
From March 17 and April 28, 2025, fifteen young Afghan women , eight living inside Afghanistan and seven outside, came together across borders and time zones for a powerful six-week journey. They were welcomed into a special edition of the Sister-to-Sister Program, hosted by Nobel Women’s Initiative, designed not only as a space for learning, but as a space for connection, reflection, and collective strength.
At a time when Afghan women’s rights are under relentless attack and voices from within the country are systematically silenced, this gathering was more than a program—it was an act of courage and resistance. Across screens and across continents these young leaders found one another. All carried stories shaped by struggle and dreams defined by vision, courage, and fierce hope.
What united them was not only their shared identity as Afghan feminists, but also a commitment to grow, learn, and act despite the many, many challenges they face. Through this program, they explored how to campaign for change in hostile environments and build meaningful strategies for sustaining activism. The sessions were shaped around their realities and needs from framing gender apartheid for global advocacy, to learning how to stay safe online, assess community needs during crises, and raise funds to support grassroots initiatives.
But this program wasn’t only about skills. It was also about sisterhood. Inspiring guest speakers, including Nobel Peace laureate Dr. Shirin Ebadi and world-renowned Afghan feminist leaders and activists , joined the space not just to share their experiences, but to listen and stand in solidarity with young Afghan women seeking ways to resist and advocate for change against the odds. Each session became a bridge: between generations, between experiences, and between women who, though joining from across the world, recognized pieces of themselves in each other.
More than anything, this was a space where young Afghan women shared their stories, celebrated their successes, uplifted one another, and felt they are not alone. Through constructive conversations, learning, and the showing of trust, they began to form something lasting: a cross-border network of feminist resistance and care. The Sister-to-Sister program, at its core, is just that— a growing movement to support young women activists from conflict-affected and fragile environments, rooted in feminist leadership, advocacy, and the power of connection.
What began as a networking space quickly evolved into something much deeper — the building of a true community of care. Participants redefined feminist solidarity not as a transactional exchange, but as a powerful, ongoing commitment to show up for one another in pursuit of justice, healing, and collective joy. Through honest dialogue and shared struggles, they built relationships rooted in trust, empathy, and mutual accountability.
As one participant beautifully put it, “I realized that the real feminist solidarity comes from trust, honesty and standing beside each other with open hearts. It is about supporting and lifting up together.”
For many, the program became a transformative chapter in their personal and political journeys. Some found the courage to speak publicly for the first time, while others learned to lead not by authority, but through listening, collaboration, and care. One participant shared how her once-silence voice has become a tool for resistance and transformation.
As one participant highlighted: “I learned that my voice, shaped by my journey as a girl who fought for education in Afghanistan holds power even when it trembles. I discovered that leadership doesn’t always mean leading from the front; sometimes it means listening deeply, making space for others, and trusting collective wisdom. I also learned that vulnerability is a strength in activism, not a weakness.”
Central to this journey was the understanding that strong feminist movements are not just built on strategies or structures, but on shared healing, commitment and accountability. Participants embraced the emotional labor of activism, recognizing that being strong also means taking time to recharge when needed. They experienced feminist communities as spaces where pain could be acknowledged, joy could be celebrated, and growth could be nurtured together. This deepened their appreciation of collective and self-care as essential components of sustainable activism.
As the program ended, what remained is a vibrant momentum — a deep motivation among participants to bring their learnings to life in powerful and practical ways. Many are excited to build stronger networks of care within their advocacy work, cultivating spaces where women feel seen, heard, and empowered.
One participant noted: “I am excited to carry forward the values of feminist leadership, solidarity, and care in every space I enter. I want to continue building bridges across differences, creating communities where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to lead. “
Participants shared their commitment to carrying forward the values of feminist leadership, solidarity, and co-leadership, with a focus on sustainability rather than urgency. They are eager to create inclusive communities across differences, where connection becomes the foundation for collective action.
For some, the next step is writing proposals, seeking donor support, and bringing community-based projects to life. Others plan to expand their advocacy through storytelling, using their art and voice to highlight themes of resilience, economic empowerment, and lived experience.
They are not only prepared to lead , they are determined to do so confidently and without fear. Several are already planning to reach more women and girls, especially those in remote areas, and to build on the Sister-to-Sister program by sharing its impact and expanding its reach.
This is not the end — it is a continuation. A movement grounded in care and driven by hope, where each participant walks forward carrying the tools, wisdom, and strength to transform their communities and beyond.
The journey of these fifteen young Afghan women is not just theirs alone—it is a call to all of us. Their stories remind us that solidarity is not a distant ideal, but a daily practice: listening deeply, amplifying silenced voices, supporting feminist leadership, and making space for care and connection across borders. Because true solidarity isn’t only about standing beside one another when it’s easy — it’s about continuing to work together in uncertain times like the ones we are facing today, where attacks on women’s rights are escalating and feminist organizations are at risk of shutting down. And as these young leaders have shown us, when we come together with intention and care, the journey - though difficult - is full of purpose, power, and possibility. The work becomes not only effective, but also sustainable and deeply impactful.
Nicole Musimbi, Sister-to-Sister Program Coordinator, Nobel Women's Initiative.