Parastou Ashori is a women’s rights advocate and journalism student at Suffolk University in the United States. Born in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, she has been dedicated to advancing gender equality and access to education for Afghan girls from a young age. After witnessing firsthand the cultural and political barriers that prevent girls from learning, Parastou began organizing educational opportunities for those excluded from school. Now based in the U.S., she continues to use her voice as a writer and activist to raise awareness about the struggles Afghan women face and to advocate for their rights on a global stage.