Findings by Salam Watandar, based on interviews with 25 youth across 11 provinces of the country, show that the majority of them lost part or all of their capital after investing in online platforms and network marketing companies—without receiving the promised profit.
Salam Watandar’s interviews with 20 women who had independent incomes before becoming unemployed show that, besides covering their personal needs, they also contributed to their families’ expenses. They say unemployment has now pushed all of them toward a shared fate: dependence — a situation the interviewed women describe as difficult and worrying.
The survey on Artificial Intelligence and Afghan youth was conducted with 1,154 respondents across 32 provinces of Afghanistan. The findings indicate that artificial intelligence has become more deeply embedded in the daily lives of Afghan youth than expected.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer merely a scientific concept; it has become part of the daily lives of youth. From education and work to personal advice, this technology is gradually finding its place among Afghan youth as well. A survey by Salam Watandar, based on 1,154 young respondents (50.6% men and 49.4% women) across 32 provinces of Afghanistan, shows that 84.1% of youth have used artificial intelligence at least once in areas such as work, education, and personal life, while 92% of respondents are familiar with AI.
Findings from Salam Watandar, based on interviews with experts and 20 women who have experienced gender inequality within their families, show that this issue has had serious physical and psychological effects on women.
Increased self-confidence, skill development, improved educational status, financial independence, and access to better career opportunities are among the achievements that youth say they have gained by making use of available opportunities. These accomplishments demonstrate that opportunities can fundamentally transform the lives of youth and open new paths toward progress and success.
A number of women interviewed by Salam Watandar say that social restrictions have limited their access to in-person educational materials, while online educational resources have become the primary means for continuing their education.
Findings from interviews conducted by Salam Watandar with 20 students who have come to Kabul from 8 provinces to continue their education indicate that rising economic hardship is one of their main challenges.
Findings from Salam Watandar’s interviews with 13 girls who were given to adoption show that these girls face identity confusion and, in some cases, discriminatory behavior.
Findings by Salam Watandar from interviews with 30 youth—20 girls and 10 boys—show that having practical skills, in addition to academic qualifications, plays an important role in job selection. Youth who have learned practical skills such as computer use and English are more likely to be employed in related fields. In contrast, youth who lack practical skills are mostly engaged in jobs unrelated to their field of study.
Findings from Salam Watandar’s interviews with 20 women in Afghanistan show that AI is mostly used by women in areas such as education—especially language learning—editing writing, content creation, accessing health information, and generating business ideas. However, alongside these opportunities, deep concerns about privacy, data security, and the accuracy of responses have made their experience with AI complex and ambivalent.
This national survey was conducted in 2025 to assess levels of humor and happiness among youths aged 18 to 35 in Afghanistan. The findings indicate that 62% of young respondents consider themselves humorous, and 81.5% use humor to reduce stress.
