A bootcamp built for women and girls in Afghanistan
The 2026 Web & AI Development Bootcamp is a 12-week, fully-live program created specifically for women and girls in Afghanistan — at a time when their access to technology education has been disproportionately constrained.
We received 476 applications from women and girls across Afghanistan. After a careful selection process, 50 participants were admitted. With generous support from the Linda Norgrove Foundation, 30 learners were awarded full scholarships, with internet access covered so they could stay connected to classes. GiveInternet provided laptops to 10 students and three months of internet support to more than 30 students.
Program structure: step by step
The bootcamp is designed to guide learners from the basics of technology to building real projects they can share proudly.
1. Foundations
Students begin with computer basics, the internet, Git, and essential digital tools — building confidence with the core literacy needed for everything that follows.
2. Frontend Development
Learners move on to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, responsive design, and the React framework — learning to create modern, user-friendly websites and applications.
3. Introduction to AI
Participants explore the growing field of artificial intelligence, including how to connect large language models (LLMs) to web applications in practical ways.
4. Capstone Project
The bootcamp ends with a capstone where each student designs and develops her own application. Graduates present that work at Demo Day — in 2026, 20 of the 25 graduates presented live.
By combining guided lessons with hands-on practice, the bootcamp helps learners gain both strong technical skills and the confidence to use them in the real world.
Who teaches
Shaheer Kochai, our Lead Instructor, guides students through this year’s structured curriculum. A group of dedicated female mentors from Afghanistan and abroad also join live sessions to share professional experiences, answer questions, and encourage learners with their own stories.
This mentorship helps students see what is possible — reminding them that a career in technology is within their reach.
Student work
Each 2026 graduate chose a problem, planned a product, and built her own AI-powered application. Twenty of the 25 graduates presented live at Demo Day on 27 August 2026.
Read the 2026 Bootcamp story →
The program first ran in 2025. In that cohort’s first weeks, Mahdia Khamoosh from Panjshir built and launched her own personal website from scratch — a platform where her voice can be seen and heard. Read Mahdia’s story →
Future cohorts
Our plans for 2026 and beyond include expanding the bootcamp to reach more students, building new AI-focused learning tracks alongside web development, and strengthening partnerships and funding opportunities. If you’d like to be notified when the next cohort opens, subscribe below or email us at hello@codeweekend.net.