Great ideas often start small, and with passion and perseverance, they can become a reality. Some young individuals in Afghanistan have fought through numerous challenges to reach success, and now they share their achievements with the world.
In this report, Salam Watandar spoke with three young innovators who have built drones. These youths emphasize that their goal is to provide practical tools to society.
Barakatullah Akbari, 23, from Kapisa, along with his partner Ahmad Shuja Akbari, says that the drone they created is fully capable of flying.
Reflecting on their journey to building drones, Barkatullah shared, “We’ve had this idea since childhood. When we started our project, we worked on p1, p2, and p3 until we succeeded in making p4 fly. This project took us about five months to complete. Our current project involves building small-scale versions of 30 or 130 aircraft, which will have imaging capabilities.”
Ahmad Shuja Akbari, 25, also from Kapisa, mentioned that from a young age, he was driven by curiosity and a deep interest in technology. This passion led him to pursue his dream of entering the world of drones.
He explained, “Because of this interest, we decided to enroll in a technical and vocational institute to learn more. After gaining some knowledge, we started gathering the parts and resources needed to build the drone, and we finally achieved our goal. In the future, we aim to further enhance our work.”
Support and encouragement play a significant role in motivating youths, boosting their confidence and leading to even greater achievements.
Qalamyar, a resident of Parwan, who built a drone for his thesis, shared that his drone is capable of live filming and recording images at specific intervals.
However, he expressed frustration about the lack of support he received: “Despite all my efforts, after completing the project, I received no support or recognition from the government or any institutions. Even from my family, there has been no support in my academic journey or other aspects of my life. Unfortunately, the lack of financial backing and resources has meant I can’t develop this project further, and I do not plan to continue working in this field in the future.”
Psychologists emphasize that the way families raise their children plays a crucial role in fostering creativity and talent. They highlight that emotional and social support from families can create an environment conducive to progress, intellectual growth, and increased motivation.
Mohammadullah, a psychologist, said, “Focusing on internal strengths rather than external factors can increase motivation in youths. When young people focus more on their abilities, thoughts, progress, and efforts, they can manage external challenges and continue their path, avoiding absolute hopelessness.”
These three young innovators have demonstrated that even without external support, it is possible to achieve great goals. It is their determination and fresh ideas that have led to remarkable success.
