"Fighting for girls' education, because every girl deserves a future.”

When I started to write this article (well, now, lol), I remembered what Kristina Wiese, teacher of English and French from Germany, told me: “It’s important that you are chairing and still doing MUNs so you can prove to the girls that there is room for them here too.“ Robina Azizi is a perfect example of this message.

Robina was born in Afghanistan, and she grew up under the oppressive Taliban rule, where girls were denied the fundamental right to education. But when the Taliban returned to power in 2021, everything changed. Schools and universities were shut down, and the dreams of many women were put on hold. Robina, who had once dreamed of attending university and helping her country, suddenly found herself having to flee from her home. Leaving not just her belongings, but also her friends, school, and ambitions. 

Her journey into activism began there and continued when she moved as a refugee to Pakistan before finding a new home in Germany. “I couldn’t sit back and let girls’ futures be taken away.” For Robina, education isn’t just a privilege; it is a right. Robina created ‘Girls on the Path of Change’ (GPC) in April 2023, an international online platform inspiring thousands of girls deprived of education in Afghanistan and globally. Together with international volunteers at Girls on the Path of Change, she campaigned against the closure of schools and universities, raising the voices of Afghan girls. 

GPC’s first project, The Story of Schoolgirls, brought together girls from different provinces in Afghanistan to speak up for their right to education. Since then, the platform has expanded to offer free online classes, writing workshops, mental health sessions, and seminars with both Afghan and international volunteers. Over 500 students joined the first round of programs. GPC has helped girls organize creative exhibitions to share their poetry, art, and handmade crafts.  Now, Robina continues to lead GPC with a team of volunteers from around the world. Their work has reached far beyond Afghanistan, inspiring girls everywhere to believe in their power and potential. In 2024, Robina received the Diana Award for her advocacy.

Her MUN journey started during a conference organised by the Aurel Steinert Foundation with support of Karlshochschule International University in Karlsruhe in February. “MUN it’s about listening and collaborating to create real solutions,” Robina explained. “Through MUN, I met people with the same values and objectives.” She was a delegate to UNESCO, and she truly learnt a lot.  And, of course, no MUN conference is complete without a funny story. During the conference, Robina told me a funny moment when the chairs “stole” the table. “We were all standing, trying to figure out what happened,” Robina laughed.

I hope that one day I will see Robina speaking at the United Nations, advocating for girls' education and women’s rights on a global stage. I look forward to following her progress. Her leadership and passion will continue to inspire generations of girls to take their seats at the table.  Her story reminds us all that leadership is not just about titles, it is about using your voice when others are silenced, and pulling up a chair when others are left standing.