GlobalGiving.org: Give Afghans a University Degree

Summer Update from the Afghan Institute of Learning

Sondra Johnson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:50:45 GMT

We’d like to share some great news with you that will give you a better understanding of our project and the work we do in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Through the generosity of the Skoll Foundation, a timely video was produced about life in Afghanistan and the work AIL is doing to make a difference. The film producer and crew did a beautiful job capturing the essence of the best of the Afghan people, and the struggles they work with to achieve a better life. This film is now on YouTube, and it will be the best seven minutes you spend today. Moderated by Sakena Yacoobi, AIL’s executive director, this video offers a true taste of Afghanistan. Here’s the link to view it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t1Xu_MwHg We are also adding this as a permanent link to this project for future viewing. Your donation makes a precious impact on the lives of Afghan men, women and children. We thank you for your past support, and encourage you to forward this message to those who can help to continue this important work.

A reminder: June 16 is a special Global Giving Matching Day! - GlobalGiving will be matching all donations up to $1,000 per donor per project for this project at a 50% match. If you could like to donate again to our project, your donation will go further on June 16th. Thank you for your support….

Links:

Wonderful Video about AIL and Life in Afghanistan

Spring Update

Sondra Johnson — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:09:25 GMT

Afghans, who are refugees in Pakistan, have very few opportunities for post-secondary education. Because of this, AIL opened the Gawhar Shad University for Afghans. This University focuses on Math and Computer Science, and in 2009, had 287 Afghan students. Graduates from these programs can quickly find good jobs in Afghanistan or Pakistan and support their families. Other AIL Accomplishments in 2009 included: • AIL trained over 1,800 Afghan teachers in pedagogy subjects, leadership, human rights, and school health. These teachers went to their classes and directly impacted over 500,000 students teaching these important subjects. • Nearly 23,000 students (primarily women and children) attended classes at AIL educational learning centers. • Over 362,000 Afghans received medical treatment and health education from AIL’s 6 health clinics and community health worker program. • In January 2010, AIL expanded humanitarian aid efforts with the harsh winter and reached out to 22 families in need. AIL staff delivered to each family quantities of rice, cooking oil and tea. Most heads of the family were widows with children from Herat, and were recommended by community members. • In February 2010, flooding in the Enjil district of Herat destroyed many family homes, and AIL responded with a concerted effort of initial food aid. Reminder: On March 16, 2010, GlobalGiving will be matching all donations made to any project on www.globalgiving.org by 30% (up to $1,000 per person)! If you could like to donate again to our project, your donation will go further on March 16th!!!

An invitation to read our newsletter

Sondra Johnson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:47:02 GMT

Afghanistan is in the news a lot these days. As a donor to a project in Afghanistan, you may be wondering if change is happening, and if your donation really makes any difference. Following is a message from Dr. Sakena Yacoobi that answers your questions. It’s part of our annual newsletter, where we also share progress reports from several areas, and the impact AIL’s work is having in Afghan lives. This newsletter is below in a PDF format; we invite you to click on it and read ALL the details……

From Sakena Yacoobi: First, I want to thank all of you for supporting the work of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL). Your support is so important. Yes, the funds you send help us to bring education and health to so many Afghan women and children. But, more importantly, in this time of increasing violence and insecurity in Afghanistan, your support helps Afghans to know that they are not forgotten. It gives ordinary Afghan women, men and children the courage to keep studying, to keep going to clinics and to keep working for peace.

Today you probably hear that Afghanistan is a place of war, terrorist bombings, burning of schools, kidnapping, drugs and all kinds of other horrible things. And it is true that in every province of Afghanistan, including the capitol, every single day, these kinds of things are happening. But what you might not hear in your news is that everyday many women, men and children of Afghanistan get up in the morning….. say goodbye to their family…..and go to work….. go to schools and centers ….. go to trainings……because they know that they must be educated. They know that the only way they can stop these problems is to be educated. So they are learning, they are teaching and they are not afraid.

And when there is no electricity or no clean water or no school or no road or no job and there is no help from the national government or the international agencies, Afghans, particularly women, are joining together in community or with their local officials to find ways to solve their own problems. And, with your help, AIL is helping them to do this. I want to let you know that as dark as it seems to be in Afghanistan now, much is happening. Afghans, themselves, are changing. They are educating themselves; they are making sure that their children are educated; they are finding new ways to solve their problems. I would ask you to walk with us a little further on our journey towards peace.

TO READ the rest of our annual newsletter, please click on the PDF link below and it will open for your inspection-

Attachments:

2009 Newsletter (PDF)

A Special Giving Opportunity.....

Sondra Johnson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:50:32 GMT

Thank you for your support. Your desire to make a difference in this world has made a difference, and we are so thankful that Afghan people have had their lives changed with your help.

We wanted to share with you a very special opportunity to give more than 100% from November 10 through December 1st. Please share this with those you know who care. During this time, we are privileged to receive additional matching funds from your donation through Global Giving of at least 30%. The need is still great. Afghanistan struggles to become a country of strength and stability.

Here are recent updates from a number of our nursing graduates. There is a great demand for qualified nurses and midwives in Afghanistan, and a student can find good work once they have graduated:

Fariba works in the Afghan India Hospital in the Laboratory section where she examines 175 patients daily. Sayda works in the Mirwise Wardak Clinic in the delivery ward where she delivers 9 babies in month . Rushan is working in the French hospital in the emergency room; she take care of 90 patients a day. Fatima works in the Ibn- e- Sina hospital as an admin assistant and she takes care of 35-40 patients by dressing wounds and giving. Sayda workings at the Faisal Hospital in the pharmacy section and she is helps the doctors during operations. In a recent month she attended 3 operations and distributed 155 patients’ medicine. Jamila is a kindergarten health nurse. She provides first aid health care. Farida is working in Amarkhail Clinic in the delivery section. She delivers about 20-25 babies a month in the morning and works in physiotherapy section in the afternoon Lena and Shaima are working for AIL as Health Trainers. They teach reproductive health and other and health workshops and teaches the nursing course.

Sakena Wishes to Thank Her Supporters

Sondra Johnson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:12:52 GMT

There's a new focus on women worldwide. The New York Times magazine dedicated their entire issue one week in August on women in the developing world. Of particular focus was a newly launched book written by the well-known Pulitzer winning couple Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl DuWunn titled: "Half The Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide". The press focus on this timely book is significant- from reviews in Harvard and People magazine, to upcoming segments on shows like "The Today Show", the time has come for women and their issues worldwide to be in the spotlight.

Sakena Yacoobi and her organization the Afghan Institute of Learning is one of the topics in Chapter Nine of the book. Dr. Yacoobi grew up in Herat, Afghanistan and then came to the United States to study at the University of the Pacific and Loma Linda University. Concerned about the condition of her people back in Afghanistan, Sakena returned to Pakistan to work in Afghan refugee camps and later went to Afghanistan. Although the Taliban forbade girls from getting an education in Afghanistan, Sakena was instrumental in establishing a string of secret girls schools with community support.

Today, the Afghan Institute of Learning has multiple education programs in Pakistan and in seven provinces of Afghanistan. There are educational learning centers for women and children, preschool programs, post-secondary institutes, a university, and teacher training programs. In addition, AIL has an in-depth program of health education and treatment for women and small children. Since its start in 1995, AIL has trained nearly 16,000 teachers and over 3.5 million women and children have received a quality education. With the health programs included, AIL has directly impacted over 6.7 million Afghans.

Sakena has been and continues to be recognized for her work. Her philosophy is to develop a program from the grass-roots level so the community members are an integral part of the process. State Kristof and DuWunn in their book Half The Sky- "American organizations would have accomplished much more if they had financed and supported Sakena, rather than dispatching their own representatives to Kabul...The best role for Americans who want to help Muslim women isn't holding the microphone at the front of the rally, but writing the checks and carrying the bags in the back."

Dr. Yacoobi and the work of the Afghan Institute of Learning have been supported by multiple grantors and organizations over the years. "I wish to thank everyone who has helped in this important work," states Sakena. "I want to share with each and every contributor the joy of seeing a young woman, who has a renewed interest in life because she can now read, or the happiness of a widow who has learned a skill that will allow her to support her children.

"We now have children who are healthy because of inoculations, and women who did not die during childbirth who have happy, healthy babies. My wish is that these small steps that allow awareness and growth in families will lead to the growth of our country."

Recently, we spoke with Sakena, and she has this message to all the supporters of AIL:

"It is an honor to be included in Nicholas' and Sheryl's book Half The Sky. So many foundations and individuals have contributed to the work that the Afghan Institute of Learning has been able to do in Afghanistan.

"From the bottom of my heart I want to thank all who have understood the plight of Afghan women and children, and have reached out with compassionate, caring support.

"May God reward your generosity......."

Sakena

August 2009 Update

Alison Hendry — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:06:24 GMT

Recently, AIL was asked by the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs to report on the impact AIL’s programs have had. We were amazed by our findings. Since beginning in 1996 through May 2009, 220,970 Afghans have been educated in AIL schools, centers and post-secondary institutions and overall 6,778,026 Afghan lives have been directly impacted by AIL programs.

A leader in private, post-secondary education, thus far in 2009, there have been 148 students studying in the two computer colleges in Gawhar Shad University and 115 females studying in the nurse/health educator/midwife college.

Update on Nursing Students

Alison Hendry — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:10:49 GMT

AIL recently received an update from 9 graduates of its nurse/midwife program, including where they are working.

One is working in a hospital laboratory, examining and testing 220 – 270 patients daily. The second is working in the delivery ward of a clinic and delivered 15 babies in the month of April, including preventing a women from having surgery by successfully delivering a baby in the breech position. A third is working in a hospital emergency room as well as working with pre- and post-op patients. The fourth is working as an administrative assistant in a hospital, and also dresses patients wounds. The fifth graduate is working in a pharmacy as well as assisting in surgeries. Graduate number six works in a children’s health clinic providing first aid for 30 – 25 children each month. The seventh graduate is also working in the delivery ward of a clinic. When she’s not helping to deliver babies, she dresses wounds and works in the physiotherapy department. The eighth and ninth graduates are working with AIL as health trainers teaching Afghan women various health workshops and assisting in one of AIL’s clinic when they are needed.

We would like to thank you for your support. It is because of donors like you that these bright young women were able to have career in hospitals and clinics around Afghanistan.

A Success Story to Share

Alison Hendry — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:36:07 GMT

Afghans have very few opportunities for post-secondary education in Pakistan because they are refugees. Because of this, AIL opened Gawhar Shad University for Afghans. Following is the story of one of the students who attended the university in 2008. Yelda also attended other AIL programs and the story shows how AIL is empowering females through education.

“My name is Yelda. I am a student in the Computer Science College of Ghowar Shad University. 18 years ago my family, including my father, my mother, my sister and brother and I, like other Afghan people immigrated to Pakistan because at that time there was a great war in Afghanistan between the government and the mujahdin. This war destroyed all Afghanistan and killed thousands of people and the people tried to leave Afghanistan and go to other countries like Pakistan, India and Iran so we were one of those families to come to Pakistan. When we came to Pakistan, our economic situation was very bad. My father was jobless and we three were children. My father tried to find a job to support his family. Day by day we grew. My brother and sister were younger than me and we needed and wished to learn something and go to school but our life situation didn’t let us go to school because of fees. In Pakistan we lived on Arbab Road and one day one of our neighbors came to our house. She was a teacher in Ghowar Shad Begum primary and high school. She asked my mom about me and why I don’t go to school. My mom told her about our bad economic situation. Our neighbor told her that the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) works in Peshawar as an NGO and supports many schools and one of them is Ghowar Shad Begum school where I teach and this NGO helps the poor people and gives them scholarships so you can send your daughter to this school. The next day we went to Ghowar Shad Begum school and I joined this school and I tried my best to be an intelligent student and complete my education because it was my wish. I was in this school from class 1st up to class 12th . When I was in class 12th the trainers came from AIL and talked about the Ghowar Shad Begum University. I became very happy that we can learn more and more and all of this because of Professor Sakena Yacoobi who helps poor people like us and wants these people to have higher education and work somewhere so they can support themselves. Then my other classmates and I went to the AIL office for entry test and fortunately I passed this entry test successfully. In college also I have a scholarship. Then I wanted to help my family so when I was in class two in the 3rd semester, during summer vacation I participated in the teacher training technique seminar in AIL’s office to learn the new teaching methods and be a good and successful teacher. After I completed the technique seminar and received a certificate, since 2007 in the morning I teach in a girls school and in the afternoon I come to the college and continue my lessons. Now I am very happy because Anshaallah after one month I will graduate from college and also with my salary I can help my family & support my young brother & sister and I can say again all of this is because of the help of AIL. My family and I always are thankful and pray for Professor Sakena Yacoobi that God gives her a long life, complete health and more success with all the AIL staff.”

Stories to Share

Alison Hendry — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:56:44 GMT

Following is the story of Mustafa, a student taking part in AIL’s post-secondary education courses. Not all students are able to travel to the university to study, so AIL has begun offering post secondary courses at institutes in it’s centers to allow these students to continue their education.

I am Mustafa, a student in AIL’s Information Technology (IT) class. First of all, I would like to thank the AIL office that is supporting us and helping us to get a quality education. I am studying IT here and all of the teachers are very talented and very kind. Many of them teach at Kabul University as well. I am 18 and finished school this year. I wished to study IT, and a friend studying here advised me to join AIL’s Institute. Now that three months have passed and I only have one left, I feel that my dreams are coming true. I am hoping to finish this program as soon as possible.

Below is another amazing story about the people that attend AIL’s university. Not only are they working to advance themselves, but they are also concerned about the advancement of those around them.

“My name is Rahima, I am 26 years old and have 4 children (2 daughters and 2 sons). I have not been what you would call lucky. My husband became addicted to opium, so I had to find a way to help myself and my family. I am now studying to be a nurse and my two children are going to school. I live in a rented house. I am thankful for the AIL Health Department for providing me with some food during this month. The donation was from one of the nursing course students. I hope that AIL will be able to continue their donations to me, and am thankful for the private donation from one of my fellow students.”

One of the other students in the nursing course saw that Rahima was struggling to feed her family. Rather than see Rahima have to leave the course to try to find a job that would feed her family, another student gave a donation to AIL that AIL then gave to Rahima. This allowed Rahima to continue on her path to a brighter future as a nurse.

358 Give Afghans a University Degree

Alison Hendry — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:21:19 GMT

Gowhar Shad University now has four areas of study: computer science, business administration, health and teacher training. Computer science and business administration are in the College of Math and Computer Science, located at the university’s campus in Peshawar, Pakistan. Since January 2006, 65 students have graduated from the College of Math and Computer Science at Gawhar Shad University. The Business Administration degree was just added this year and is a four year degree. There are currently 62 student in the Business Administration course. Entrance exams for new students were given in July 2008.

In the area of health and teacher training, the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL) is offering a nurse/health educator/midwife course and an in-service master teacher training program through its institutes in Kabul, Afghanistan. Presently there are 46 women studying in the nurse/health educator/ midwife course. AIL now has 22 Master Teacher Trainers (MTT) in the Kabul and Peshawar offices who have received their MTT certificates and 15 teacher trainers in Kabul and Herat who are continuing their studies.

In the last 12 months, Gawhar Shad University has added a four year Business of Administration degree in addition to its three year degree in computer science. There are presently 127 students in the two colleges at the university. Entrance exams for new classes were given in July 2008.

Snapshot of the University Project for Afghans—August 2007

Toc Dunlap — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:59:26 GMT

Kabul nursing class in 'remodeled" container

The Afghan Institute of Learning’s Gawhar Shad University continues to provide excellent post-secondary education to Afghans in Kabul, Afghanistan and Peshawar, Pakistan. Gawhar Shad University was founded in 2003 by AIL in response to the lack of post-secondary education opportunities for Afghan youth. Today, the University has three curriculum tracks; the College of Nursing/Health Education, the College of Math and Computer Science, and the College of Education.

The Nursing/Health Education program provides female students with a broad knowledge-base and skill set in nursing, health education, vaccination, midwifery, and disease prevention. This nine-month intensive program requires students to complete practical as well as classroom work and provides instruction on over 100 medical topics. To date, 77 women have graduated from this program and are providing urgently needed health care services to thousands of Afghan women who would not otherwise have access to care.

The College of Math and Computer Science course subjects include Computer, Math, Dari, Psychology, and English. To date, more than 400 students have studied in this college and 147 students are continuing their studies. 38 students have graduated from the 3 year course and many former students have transferred their credits and entered four-year programs at Kabul University or other universities abroad.

In the College of Education, teachers study student-centered, interactive methods of teaching and learn how to train other teachers to use these methods. They also learn to develop workshops and curriculum. The College of Education had graduated 14 Master Teacher Trainers and 23 teacher trainers.

Annual Report

Afghan Institute of Learning — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:06:49 GMT

Attachments:

AIL 2005 Annual Report (PDF)

Update

Afghan Institute of Learning — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 21:03:27 GMT

The Afghan Institute of Learning’s Gawhar Shad University continues to thrive. 25 students have graduated from the College of Math and Computer Science and have either found jobs or gone on for further study. 59 women have graduated from the College of Health with certificates as a nurse/midwife/health educator and a class of 19 is now finishing its practical work in Kabul. In the College of Education, 4 women have completed the rigorous in-service requirements to become a Master Teacher Trainer. There are presently 154 students continuing their studies in the College of Math and Computer Science.

Accomplishments in 2005

Afghan Institute of Learning — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 18:53:56 GMT

Creating Hope International shares this mid-year report from the Afghan Institute of Learning, highlighting some of AIL's recent successes!

Attachments:

AIL Report (DOC)