Michka aids adults who want to teach their children how to identify and report sexual abuse.Michka, an e-book and computer game, tells the story of a gender-neutral insect whose wings are a private part that should not be touched by others. When one day Mr. Koopoom, an adult insect, touches Michka’s wings, Michka becomes confused about what it should do. The story tells a tale of how children can talk to their parents about things that are confusing.

Sahar Shams, the project lead behind Michka, is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. She created the app as a resource for Iranian parents to talk about the difficult topic of sexual abuse in a language that is appropriate, understandable and non-threatening for children.

Toranj is a groundbreaking mobile app that allows women, members of the LGBTQ community, and anyone at risk of violence in Iran to receive immediate help when in danger. With the push of a button, the app safely and discreetly sends out a series of text messages to the selected contacts or the police, notifying them of the danger and the location of the victim. Toranj offers special resources to victims of domestic abuse including a database of legal aid and social workers who provide pro bono help, as well as legal documents and sample briefings that guide victims to get out of an abusive marriage.

Toranj was created by our dedicated partners at NetFreedom Pioneers.

RadiTo, which means “Radio You” in Persian, was IranCubator’s first app. It serves as an audio-only Iranian YouTube app for illicit ideas and entertainment. RadiTo is an Android app uniquely suited to the conditions of Iran’s internet: it navigates slow, expensive data connections to offer censorship-free podcasts to a wide range of audiences. The app’s interface not only offers Farsi and English, but four other Iranian minority languages as well. RadiTo allows users to download content and listen offline, which is a crucial setting in a country where intentional government throttling slows internet speeds.

Defying government repression is a risky task. Hafez is designed to provide human rights defenders with additional layers of protection to address their strategic needs. Anyone with an Android phone, which is the majority of people in Iran, can use Hafez to: record and securely report incidents of human rights violations, access an extensive digital rolodex of attorneys and their areas of expertise, receive the latest human rights-related reports and news without needing to use internet censorship circumvention tools; and more.

The security of our users is our number one priority. You can review Hafez’ extensive security report, carried by the cybersecurity firm Cure53. Once a user closes the app, all the information reported will be deleted.

Nahoft, which means “hidden” in Farsi, is a state-of-the-art encryption mobile app custom-built for Iranian users. While not a messenger, it can be used with any messaging app, even the ones controlled by the Iranian state. If there is an internet shutdown or if the international messaging apps are unavailable, Nahoft can make private communication secure in an insecure network.

Nahoft’s objective is to offer Iranians an extra layer of confidentiality and digital freedom and to show the Islamic Republic of Iran that its efforts to limit its citizens’ internet freedom will be thwarted at every step of the way.

Akharin Dar (Persian: آخرین در, meaning “last door”) is a self-journey in an interactive game format, in which the main character represents the teenage boys playing this game and trying to find a way to start a conversation with a girl he likes to be romantically involved with.

The game uses visual storytelling, mindfulness practices, and principles from cognitive behavioural therapy to teach Iranian teenage boys how to build healthy, respectful, and equal relationships with girls.

Unfortunately, gender-based violence is widespread in Iran. As activists, we can tackle this social problem in many ways. One is by educating boys who have not yet fully accepted the traditional, Islamic beliefs and attitudes toward girls and women. Their minds are still malleable and open to learning—and unlearning.

The game was made for boys ages 12-16 who are attracted to girls and interested in striking a friendship and possibly a relationship with them. Sahar Shams, the creator of Akharin Dar and Michka apps, designed this game in partnership with Iranian psychologists. The game uses principles from cognitive behavioural therapy and emotionally focused therapy to invite teenage boys on a journey of self-exploration and self-awareness.