Mariam Paktiawal

21|Afghanistan

Mariam Paktiawal, from Afghanistan, is an aspiring software engineer and advocate for women in STEM. Despite the Taliban’s restrictions on education and work, Mariam founded her high school’s first robotics team, inspiring girls to pursue STEM. She has volunteered with Earth Safety Valve on climate research and aims to develop software that empowers women in tech. Currently studying computer science online, Mariam aspires to attend an Ivy League university and create an online university for women. She seeks to expand her leadership through the Future Blue Youth Council Fellowship.