Comic Project
The Adventures of Detective Sanazu
SA = San Diego (USA) NA= Nangarhar (AFG) ZU= Zürich (CH)
©Sanazu is an original storytelling project developed and owned by Afghan Women Support.
Welcome to the exciting world of The Adventures of Detective Sanazu, a unique comic series that intertwines history, culture, and the power of storytelling.
Selai Balkhi and Timothy Stiven 2024 in San Diego - Meeting before COMIC-CON 2024
Sanazu – A Global Comic Project
Sanazu is an original character created by Selai Balkhi, founder of Afghan Women Support.
She is at the heart of a global storytelling project that brings together voices, histories, and perspectives from Afghanistan, Europe, and the United States.
A Story Beyond Borders
Sanazu is a young Afghan-American girl who embarks on a journey through time. Along the way, she discovers powerful female figures from history and uncovers stories that have long remained hidden.
Through her journey, Sanazu connects cultures, generations, and perspectives — redefining what it means to be a hero.
More Than a Comic
Sanazu is more than a fictional character.
She represents a new way of storytelling — one that is rooted in real experiences, cultural identity, and the voices of women who are often unheard.
The project brings together students and young creatives from Afghanistan, Switzerland, and the United States. Together, they explore storytelling, history, and empowerment through a collaborative and creative process.
Concept Overview:
Our protagonist, Detective Sanazu, is a curious young girl with a passion for uncovering the hidden stories of strong women in Central Asian history. With her ability to travel through time, Sanazu embarks on thrilling adventures, visiting various timelines to learn about influential figures who shaped the region's past.
Sanazu – A Global Storytelling Project
Sanazu is an original character created by Selai Balkhi as part of Afghan Women Support.
The project explores identity, female heroism, and cultural connection through storytelling.
Developed across different contexts, Sanazu connects voices and experiences from Afghanistan and beyond, creating space for girls and women to see themselves reflected in powerful narratives.
Comic-Con San Diego 2024 and 2025:
In our efforts to promote this project, Selai Balkhi, the leader of Afghan Women Support, participated in a panel at Comic-Con San Diego. There, she discussed alongside with the team of Flowers of the Future the importance of empowering young voices through storytelling.
Since 2021, the students from Flowers for the Future, an international student-run organization, have been teaching Afghan girls using 21st-century technology that enables these girls to complete their high school education. An Applied Art and Poetry Course has enlisted the help of students at the Harvard Graduate School of Education to program an Afghan-inspired VR art and poetry gallery that allows girls in Afghanistan to safely present their art to a global audience in real time. This VR gallery exemplifies how the global youth of today are impacting a generation of women and girls in the gender apartheid that has become Afghanistan.