A youth in Sar-e Pol, relying on determination and self-taught skills, has taken practical steps toward serving society by designing and developing several software applications. Hussain Rahimi, a 28-year-old resident of the village of «To Ghani» in central Sar-e Pol, says he studied economics and has designed more than eight software applications and five digital games over the past six to eight years. His journey began with a simple idea and continued through persistent effort and self-learning.
Rahimi says each application was created to address a specific need, including programs for telecommunication services, online access to radio stations, and applications featuring cultural, literary, and motivational content for users. He says,
“When I saw people waiting for hours at service centers just to activate a simple telecom package, I told myself there should be a solution. That was where I found the motivation to enter this field. The mobile services application allows users to easily manage telecom network services and activate or check call, text, and internet packages without visiting service centers in person.”
He says he has been interested in technology since childhood, and this passion led him to learn programming, software development, and application design. He explains,
“So far, I have built around seven or eight applications, four of which are functional. I have also designed five digital games. My first application was a mobile services app through which users can easily activate or deactivate call, text, and internet packages.”
He has also worked in the field of cultural and entertainment content production by designing applications.
“One of my important projects was developing applications for radio stations. I managed to create software for seven or eight radio stations so their broadcasts could be heard online from anywhere in the world,” he adds.
Referring to the challenges he faced at the beginning of his journey, he says this initiative has paved the way for local media to expand their programs on a broader scale, allowing users to access their content more easily.
“Most of my challenges were both financial and emotional. I had neither access to educational resources nor the ability to afford them. Some people insulted me instead of encouraging me, but I never gave up,” he says.
Rahimi emphasizes that he has acquired all his skills through self-learning and, up to now, has not received any financial support from institutions.
“One of my biggest goals is to build an online marketplace in Afghanistan, similar to applications available in other countries, so people can shop and meet their needs from home. My message to youth is to pursue their goals, never lose hope, and continue working toward their dreams because, in the end, they will succeed,” he says.
Mohammad Rasul Mohammadi, an economic affairs expert, emphasized the important role that innovative youth play in economic growth, noting that such innovations can create new markets and improve the quality of services. He says,
“Innovative youth play a key role in economic growth because, by introducing new ideas and solutions, they can create new markets and improve services. Such initiatives not only reduce unemployment but also contribute to the growth of the digital economy and self-reliance in society. If government and private institutions support these talents, they can become major economic opportunities and play an important role in the country’s sustainable development.”
Faizullah Fayez, head of Youth Affairs at the Sar-e Pol Department of Information and Culture, highlightes the important role of youth in society, describing them as an active and influential segment that holds a significant position in the community.
He adds that, with the support of the ministry, the department has launched various programs aimed at strengthening youth capacity and empowering their growth through professional training, technical skills development, and motivational programs. He says,
“We have an educational center here. At this center, we offer daily classes with active instructors in freelancing, online marketplace business, computer studies, graphic design, English language learning, and youth skills development. Praise be to God, we have continuously collected and submitted the activities and achievements of many youth to the ministry. We support youth in various ways — academically, educationally, through encouragement, and by supporting their activities. We are also working to create employment opportunities for youth.”
Rahimi represents a generation that continues on a path of effort and innovation despite numerous challenges. He has proven that perseverance can sometimes compensate for limited resources — a journey that, with support from relevant institutions, could lead to broader opportunities and a more hopeful future for the country’s youth.
Reporter: Sabrina Gunish
