From the very beginning, Robaba’s life was marked by struggle and resilience. Her condition deeply
saddened her family, who—like many others in Afghanistan—were influenced by traditional and often
stigmatizing cultural beliefs around disability. However, with time and hope for a brighter future, her
parents embraced her fully, determined to give her the best life possible.
In 2003, Robaba’s family relocated to Kabul, seeking better access to medical care. Her mother, Masuma
Rahimi, tirelessly carried her daughter on her shoulders each day to the Red Cross Hospital for
treatment. After five years of effort and no improvement in Robaba’s condition, doctors gradually lost
hope. At the age of eight, Robaba became homebound, unable to attend school or explore the outside
world. Her family’s financial hardships meant she didn’t even have a wheelchair.
While her younger sisters went to school, Robaba remained alone at home, drawn to their schoolbooks
and art supplies. One day, filled with curiosity and determination, she decided to try drawing herself.
After failing to use her toes, she held a pencil between her teeth and drew her very first straight line.
That moment marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
With the help of her sisters, Robaba taught herself to read and write, and even helped them with their
schoolwork. But her passion extended beyond literacy—she began teaching herself to draw, discovering
a powerful voice through her artwork.
Robaba’s life took a transformative turn in 2014, when a television network featured her story after
discovering her artwork on Facebook. The segment brought national attention to her talent, opening
doors to a professional career in painting. She stepped into the public eye and was soon recognized for
her incredible artistic ability—developed entirely without the use of hands.
From 2014 to 2024, Robaba created hundreds of paintings and held numerous exhibitions, both
nationally and internationally. Her work has been showcased at embassies in Kabul, Kabul University,
the Presidential Palace, and in cities such as Herat, Bamyan, Mersin (Turkey), and Abu Dhabi (UAE). She
has received multiple awards, medals, and honors, earning widespread acclaim for her creative vision
and resilience.
In 2019, Robaba established the Robaba Art and Cultural Center—a space dedicated to teaching art to
others, particularly those with disabilities. Through this center, she shared the professional and
emotional dimensions of painting with dozens of students, proving that art can be a powerful tool for
inclusion and empowerment.
Tragically, later that year, the center was destroyed in a grenade attack by unknown assailants. Forced
to flee Afghanistan for her safety, Robaba spent two difficult years in exile before returning to her home
country. For a time, she withdrew from the art world.
But in early 2024, Robaba immigrated to Canada, where she once again picked up her brushes and
began creating art. Today, she continues her mission—not only as a painter, but as a symbol of courage,
perseverance, and the transformative power of creativity.