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Somaya Faruqi

Somaya Faruqi is an Afghan robotics team leader whose team built a prototype ventilator from used car parts during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis. Born in Herat in 2002, she developed her interest in engineering in her father's mechanic shop and joined Afghanistan's first robotics team in 2017. Her team also built a UV-light robot that killed viruses and a robot that sprayed disinfectant; she advocated for girls' education at the United Nations and became an Education Cannot Wait Global Champion. After fleeing Afghanistan in 2021, she was a first-year student at Missouri S&T by August 2022 and planned to study mechanical engineering. Sacramento State awarded her the President's Medal in 2026; as of October 2026, she is a student assistant at California's Water Resources Control Board.

Now at
Afghanistan's first all-girls robotics team and California State Water Resources Control Board

Timeline

  1. 2002

    Engineering in her father's shop

    She is born in Herat, Afghanistan, in 2002 and develops her interest in engineering in her father's mechanic shop.

  2. 2017

    Joining the Afghan robotics team

    She joins Afghanistan's first all-girls robotics team in 2017.

  3. 2020

    A ventilator from car parts

    In 2020, at 17, she leads a five-girl robotics team from Herat as it develops a prototype ventilator from spare car parts for the COVID-19 response.

  4. 2021–2022

    From evacuation to engineering study

    She and her teammates flee Afghanistan in August 2021 after the Taliban takeover. By August 2022, she is a first-year student at Missouri S&T and plans to major in mechanical engineering.

  5. By August 2022

    UV and disinfectant robots

    By August 2022, her team's inventions include a robot that uses UV light to kill viruses and another that sprays disinfectant.

  6. September 2022

    A United Nations speech

    In September 2022, she speaks at the United Nations General Assembly and urges countries to fund education in Afghanistan and reopen girls' schools.

  7. February 2023–March 2023

    Education Cannot Wait champion

    At the High-Level Financing Conference in Geneva in February 2023, she calls on donors to invest in education. In March 2023, she is Education Cannot Wait's Global Champion.

  8. Since July 2026

    Student assistant in California

    In May 2026, Sacramento State awards her the College of Engineering & Computer Science Dean's Award and the 2026 President's Medal. Since July 2026, she is a student assistant at California's Water Resources Control Board.

Sources and credits

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  1. Education Cannot Wait Interviews Somaya Faruqi, ECW Global Champion educationcannotwait.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. Q&A: Afghan girls must ‘believe in themselves’ - Asia & Pacific scidev.net. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Afghanistan’s Girls’ Robotic Team Breaks New Paths unicef.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Keeping the dream alive newswise.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. Somaya Faruqi: Speech at the United Nations General Assembly malala.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Somaya Faruqi: From Robotics Pioneer to President’s Medalist csus.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. Somaya Faruqi's email & phone number - Student Assistant at Water Resources Control Board, California | SignalHire signalhire.com. Checked 15 October 2026.