As a child, Somaya Faruqi would watch her father fix cars in the motor repair shop that he owns in Herat city, in western Afghanistan. “His work is what got me interested in mechanics and engineering,” says Somaya. “I am the eldest of four children so even though I am the only girl, I used to help him out in the shop after school, and I learned how things work in a very simple sense, but I always wanted to learn more, and have access to more knowledge in this area.” The musty old shop is packed full of old tools and salvaged car parts. “When I was younger,” says Somaya, “I used to only fix car radios but now I help my father with big works also.”