The members of Afghanistan’s prize-winning girls’ robotics team say they’re on a life-saving mission — to build a breathing machine from used car parts and help their war-stricken country battle the virus. | AP
After the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, girls returned to schools, but gaining equal rights remains a struggle. Farooqi is undaunted. “We are the new generation,” she said in a phone interview. “We fight and work for people. Girl and boy, it does not matter anymore.”
Herat province in western Afghanistan is one of the nation’s hot spots because of proximity to Iran, the region’s epicenter of the outbreak.On a typical morning, Farooqi’s father collects the girls from their homes and drives them to the team’s office in Herat, zigzagging through side streets to skirt checkpoints. From there, another car takes them to a mechanic’s workshop on the outskirts of the city.
So far, Farooqi’s father hasn’t been able to get one, but the girls are in a hurry. “We are concerned about security driving out of the city but there is no other option, we have to try to save people’s lives,” Farooqi said.At the workshop, the team is experimenting with two different designs, including an open-source blueprint from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob, who founded the team and raises funds to empower girls, said she hopes Farooqi’s group will finish building a prototype by May or June. In all, the team has 15 members who work on various projects.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Zamboanga Sibugay mayor calls for calm as 39 COVID-19 patients arriveCAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — Mayor Anamel Olegario of Ipil town in Zamboanga Sibugay urged residents on Saturday to keep calm despite the unease they might feel with 39
Read more »
Elon Musk says he sent ventilators to California hospitals, they say they got something else insteadCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom responded Thursday to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's claim that the company had delivered more than 1,000 ventilators to the state's hospitals treating a surge of coronavirus patients.
Read more »
Netflix reviews: 'Lost Girls,' 'The Last Thing He Wanted,' 'Horse Girl'
Read more »
Gilas Women star Jack Animam helping battle vs coronavirus'Being part of the national team does not mean that you only have to do your part on the court,' says Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jack Animam. COVID19PH
Read more »
Angello Perez honors brother AJ Perez's memory on graduation'This year, I'd like to believe that we are graduating together and I...' Angello Perez writes a bittersweet dedication to his brother AJ Perez, the young actor who perished in a car accident in 2011. READ HERE:
Read more »
Gretchen Ho's tips for finding new passionsGretchen Ho shares her story and some tips on how she shifted from playing volleyball to working in media
Read more »