Help Educate Women & Girls in Afghanistan

Education may seem like a simple action in a nation ravaged by war for the last several decades, but we have seen tremendous change in the status of girls and women. Providing quality education experiences is about more than just getting more girls into the classroom, it is about empowering them to be free, creative thinkers who can engage in the public discussion of their country’s culture and politics and be respected and heard. We are a long ways off from achieving our goals of gender parity in the Afghanistan education system, but we continue to see tremendous growth in our capability to make this a reality.

More than three quarters of the way through the construction of our 13th school in Mazar-i-Sharif scheduled for opening in April 2015, we held an artist competition for girls. We asked the girls to think about their new school and come up with art that would be installed on the walls of the building. As part of the competition, six art pieces were chosen and 12 received honorable mention. A workshop on how to install their artwork on large panels will be held with a local specialst. Following the workshop, a hands on experience will be provided, guided by the senior artist, to actually transfer their work onto the large walls. 

"I submitted art work because I felt strongly about making the insides of our school beautiful. War has torn our city apart and now we are re building the Gohar Khaton Girls School. I used to be afraid in our old school that bricks would fall on my head. The rain ran along the walls and mildew came forward." Fahima, student at Gohar Khaton School

" I know how to draw but I don't know how to draw my art on a large wall in our building. The master artist will teach me to do this and then maybe I can have some future in this." Rabia

The selected artwork reflects the girls experiences and insights into life in Afghanistan. With engagement in their own education and construction of their new school building, the girls investment in the learning process increases considerably. 

All this work would not be possible without your help. We are so thankful every day for the donor support we continue to receive. We look forward to more innovative progress in the future.

 Thank you.