Our Story

​Pol-e-Omid, meaning Bridge of Hope, is a community-based ( nonprofit organization or program) founded by Shogofa Amini, an Afghan immigrant and lifelong advocate for justice.

Born and raised in a country where opportunities for girls were systematically denied, Shogofa's earliest lessons were taught not in a classroom but at home by her mother, Mariay Athaye, a courageous principal of a girls’ high school. When the Taliban first came to power in Afghanistan, Mariay’s quiet defiance inspired Shogofa, instilling in her a fierce commitment to education and equality.

In 2010, Shogofa made the difficult decision to leave her home behind and pursue an education that was unjustly stolen from her and countless other Afghan girls. Her journey to the United States was not merely an escape it was an act of resistance and a promise to herself that she would stand up against injustice, wherever it existed.

For the past 15 years, Shogofa has dedicated her life to building bridges between communities, empowering Afghan women and girls locally and internationally. Through her work in diverse organizations, she has championed the rights of immigrant and refugee communities, created pathways to education and economic empowerment, and advocated for healing and resilience.

Pol-e-Omid is more than an organization; it embodies Shogofa’s unwavering belief that every woman and every community deserves dignity, opportunity, and a voice. It is a bridge of hope for those who, like Shogofa, dare to envision a world transformed by courage, education, and solidarity.