By Elizabeth Appleyard | Program Officer
Dear Friends,
AIL has an emphasis on educating females but has always provided educational opportunity to boys and men through its network of Learning Centers. AIL has 3 LCs that have male students only. One of them is at a Boys Orphanage in Herat. There are 50 students who attend classes in English, Literacy and Arabic.
These boys are some of the most vulnerable youth who don’t have families or the families are unable to care for them. In addition to their care and well-being, the boys are also taught gardening which is a skill useful for gaining employment later on. The boys are now safe and in a safe and educational environment where they can grow in knowledge and confidence enabling them to go out and make their way in the world.
“I am Mahmood and I am 16 years old and have been living in the Boys Orphanage for 4 years. I am disabled as one of my hands, my foot and my tongue have palsy. I felt useless and hopeless. When I was living with my parents, they were fighting with each other because of the living problems and my disability. My father was always repressing my mother because of me and never sympathetic about her pain. He was always thinking that it is my mother's fault that I was born disabled. Finally, my parents got divorced, and I couldn't do anything. My father was left alone, and he did not know whether to work or to look after me. He kept me locked in a room at home and was gone to work. When he was back home, I was crying and my father was becoming angrier and didn't know what to do.
With the help of the AIL office I was transferred to the orphanage. I wasn't familiar with the orphanage environment but from the other side I was very happy that I was freed from the room that I was locked in. I was included in a new environment but was unable to walk and faced with many problems. I was falling down and it was hard for me to stand up again, and others were making fun of me. An AIL staff member came to the orphanage and when they asked how I was, I said I wanted to register for the English class and he agreed. I was now part of the English class and continued my lessons. It was later that other boys were influenced by the advice of teachers and others and they changed their behavior to me and became friends with me. My life is completely changed now positively.”
We are thankful for your continued support for Afghan boys.
By Elizabeth Appleyard | Program Officer
By Elizabeth Appleyard | Program Officer
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