Code.org in Farsi
“Capable is he who has knowledge; from knowledge, the withered heart becomes young.” –Ferdowsi
This poem is often the first verse of poetry that Farsi-speaking kids ever learn. It shows how integral learning and knowledge are to Persian culture - they are instilled as core values early on in children’s lives.
Empowering Farsi Speakers
Today, there are over 110 million Farsi speakers worldwide. While the majority of native speakers live in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, there are millions living as immigrants, migrants, and refugees around the world. The empowerment that computer science education would provide for these underserved communities cannot be increasingly emphasized.
Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Code.org in Farsi opens a door to an opportunity that would otherwise be closed. With Code.org in Farsi, Farsi-speaking students will have the same access to our curricula that is already available to students in all other major languages of the world.
The Global Impact of Persians in Education & Technology
When you think of an algorithm, you may assume it's something new, but the concept of an algorithm was discovered in Iran over 1300 years ago. “Algorithm” is named after its inventor, the mathematician Al Khwarizmi, who lived in the land formerly known as Persia and now known as Iran. Once the epicenter of mathematics, science, philosophy, and medicine, Iran has made profound advances and impacts in technology.
This importance given to learning and knowledge is clear in how Farsi-speaking people have excelled in a myriad of fields globally. Persians around the world have contributed in countless ways to science and technology — as co-founders or CEOs of technology companies such as Uber, eBay, Intuit, and Dropbox, or inventing technologies such as LASIK surgery or JPEG compression, or in scientific, academic, or engineering roles around the globe.
Elsewhere in Central Asia, the Afghan Dreamers have shown the resilience and intelligence of Afghan girls, showcasing their extraordinary talent in robotics globally. Haroon Mokhtarzada, Afghan immigrant and US Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, showed exceptional drive and entrepreneurship as a CEO and angel investor. Finally, Code.org itself was created by Iranian-Americans Hadi and Ali Partovi, and has grown to become one of the largest education nonprofits globally. Hadi continues to lead Code.org as CEO today.
We invite you to celebrate Persian contributions to technology by supporting Code.org and computer science education so that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science.
Iranian Americans for CS Education
Thank you to the following prominent Iranian American leaders who have come together to support computer science education, with a lead gift to Code.org in Farsi:
- Abstract Ventures
- Anonymous
- Nima Asgharbeygi
- Bita Daryabari
- Nariman and Hoveida Farvardin
- Arash Ferdowsi
- Dinesh Gupta
- Jeffrey Huber and Angel Vossough
- Homan Igehy and Sepideh Pashaie
- Amir Khandani
- Azadeh Khazraee
- Dara Khosrowshahi
- Kaveh Khosrowshahi
- Golnar Khosrowshahi
- Fati and Mehrad Khosrowshahi
- Milan Kordestani
- Farshid Maghami Asl
- Ashkan and Nansi Marsh
- Farhad Massoudi
- Laleh and Mohsen Moazami
- Nushin and Farhad Mohit
- Steve Mohebi
- Shahrokh Mortazavi
- Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani
- Nazgol Moussavi and Reza Hajebi
- F. Francis and Dionne Najafi, Pivotal Foundation
- Nasiri Foundation
- Zod Nazem and Noosheen Hashemi
- Larissa and Hooman Radfar
- Mostafa Ronaghi
- Poorya Sabounchi and Newsha Sharifzadeh
- Shima Safaei and Saman Teimouri
- Mehran and Heather Sahami
- Hilary and Darian Shirazi
- Parisa Tabriz
- AmirAli Talasaz and Maryam Eskandari
- Zahra Tashakorinia
- Leila Yari
Our Founders' Story
Born in Iran, Hadi and Ali Partovi grew up during the Iran-Iraq war. Their neighborhood in Tehran was bombed by Iraqi fighter jets.
When they were 9 years old, their father, a physics professor, brought home a Commodore 64 computer from a trip abroad. This computer was their escape from their surroundings – they learned how to code and create apps, games, and music.
They immigrated to the United States at age 11. Soon after they turned 15, they spent their summers working as software engineers to help pay their way through high school and college.
Upon graduating from Harvard University with Masters degrees in computer science, Hadi and Ali pursued careers in technology.
They attained success in the technology industry and founded numerous tech businesses, accomplishing the American dream. Additionally, they became prolific angel investors, backing companies such as Facebook, Uber, Airbnb, and Dropbox, among others.
In 2013, Hadi and Ali launched the education nonprofit Code.org, which Hadi continues to lead as CEO. Since its inception, Code.org has started a massive movement to teach computer science and coding to K-12 students globally. It is also the largest provider of computer science curricula in the world, with over 80 million student users in 180 countries.
Compliance In Support Of Farsi Translations
As a U.S. nonprofit, Code.org is subject to laws regarding sanctions with Iran. After consulting with U.S. legal counsel experienced in the Iranian Sanctions and Translations Regulations (ITSR), Code.org believes that it may fund, prepare, and distribute the Farsi Translations of CS Curriculum in the United States and elsewhere around the world, including within Iran. The ITSR provides an exemption for “information and informational materials” (the IIM Exemption) and Code.org believes that this exemption will fully shield its funding, preparation, and distribution of the Farsi Translations and thus enable its Farsi Translations effort to proceed in full compliance with U.S. economic sanctions requirements.
