Sara Wahedi Uses Tech to Bring Hope

Quick Smiles:

• Sara Wahedi turned early challenges into a mission for change.
• Her app, Ehtesab, kept Afghans informed during dangerous times.
• She now advances access to vital resources through technology.

Sara Wahedi’s childhood journey from a refugee shelter in New York shaped her sense of resilience. Her mother’s sacrifices and her own perseverance inspired Sara to help others facing hardship.

As she grew up, Sara worked with refugee support groups and returned to Afghanistan to aid in rebuilding her homeland. “I was so much in love with the country, with being able to contribute to its development,” she said.

Daily threats and traumatic experiences led her to develop Ehtesab, a free mobile app that provided real-time alerts during emergencies. She worked with a major Afghan tech company and recruited a team to gather data and crowdsource reports, making crucial information accessible to all Afghans.

Even after the app’s closure in 2024 for safety reasons, Sara continued her mission. As a student at the University of Oxford, she remains optimistic, using her new startup, Civaam, to create safe pathways to healthcare, education, and support in crisis areas. “The work we’re trying to do is facilitating covert pathways to healthcare, to education and psychosocial support in crisis regions, that we do behind the scenes or underground,” she explains.

Sara hopes for a future where every Afghan can live freely and safely. Her story proves that hope and technology can open new doors together.

Feeling inspired? Share Sara’s story and remind someone that courage and innovation can change lives.

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