Herat | Portal Profile Site Overview The Herat_Portal is hosted by the Doorbin Cultural Hub, a community arts center dedicated to providing space and resources for emerging artists, designers, and creatives. Programmatic partners include Code to Inspire, a nonprofit committed to teaching female students in Afghanistan how to code, and Hariwa Institute of Higher Education, a university dedicated to world class higher education in science and technology. The best times to connect to the Herat_Portal are between 3:30pm - 8:30pm local time. Connection Interests About the Curators Saied Habibi was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. At the age of 19, he moved to the Herat province of Afghanistan. He is currently studying Science and Technology at Herat University where he serves as an Assistant Professor and will soon be a Full Professor. Khaled Salar is both a doctor and an entrepreneur. He loves working with people, event planning, and interactive projects. He lives in Herat and enjoys travelling the world, exploring, and meeting new people. Main Areas of Interest for Connections ● Music + DJ Connections (Album releases, artist interviews, dance parties) ● Architecture + Urban Life (explore Afghanistan’s rich architectural history and engage conversations about similarities and differences in urban life around the world) ● The Universal Language of Coding (collaborate through the universal language of coding and share high tech skills) ● Afghani Identity + Culture Ready-to-Go Connection Topics Here are a few connections that the Herat has implemented at their Portal that you may want to bring to your Portal! Afghanistan’s Architectural Landmarks Architectural historians from Hariwa University present on important architectural icons in Afghanistan, including the great mosques of Herat and Mazar-e Sharif, Great Arch of Qal'eh-ye Bost, the Chel Zina, and Babur’s tomb. They provide a comprehensive overview of the historical significance of these landmarks. Hip Hop in Herat Fist Band, and their lead rapper Sami Enteqad, perform their latest songs from Herat in collaboration with hip hop groups and students. Programming can be supplemented by a rap battle and a conversation about the challenges of making rap in Afghanistan. Next Steps 1) If you’d like to brainstorm a connection idea with this Portal,, please email the curator(s) at : [email protected] 2) If you’d like to accept one of the ready-to-go connections and are ready for scheduling assistance or if you have any other questions, please reach out to Victoria Marino [email protected]. .