Thirty Rural Afghan Girls to Teacher Training

Thank you for your contribution - for enabling future female teachers to attend their teacher training! Since Sahar has been involved with teacher training, we have graduated 737 from the teaching training center and have enalbed 308 of them to make it to the center through transportation support. You have been a part of making that happen. Thank you! 

According to Afghanistan National Education for All (EFA) Review 2015 Report, only 31.7% of total teachers in Afghanistan are female. "The reasons behind the low number of female teachers outside the major cities originate in the patriarchal social norms restricting the movement of adolescent and adult females in the Afghan society. The importance of female teachers can hardly be exaggerated as they are closely correlated to increased enrolment figures, not only in the lower grades but particularly so for girls in the higher grades." (Direct quote taken from report). In particular, enabling rural women to Sahar's Teacher Training Center is one of the key factors at changing that statistic and those circumstances. You are part of making that happen. 

To paint the picture of the impact of your contribution, we'll let Omida and Hasibaa's story speak for itself:  

Omida and Hasibaa are students at the Teacher Training Center. We spoke with them while they were attending their computer class. One graduated from our girl’s school in Qarshigak and the other from our Rabia Balkhi girls school. They are two success stories of not only their families and village but also of Sahar. Because of the schools Sahar built for them, they are now able to get a higher education and return to serve their communities.

Had they not had the opportunity to finish school, they wouldn't be able to attend the TTC. Hasibaa told us, "We are so grateful for the TTC, we can come learn to become good teachers and to pass on our education to the children in our villages. When we have presentations, we first practice it within our families. We ask our parents and siblings to be our students and we present to them. They get to learn too. Because for them what we present is new so they ask questions about our presentations and challenge us to answer their questions. If we don't know the answer, we try to find the answers from our school and teachers." From what they told us, they are seen as role models in their communities because the education they have earned.

Even though Omida is married, she still comes to the TTC and the English & computer classes that are offered to the girls. She said she has full support of her husband and her her in-laws. In Omida's opinion, marriage should never be the reason for a girl to stop pursuing her education. She hopes to become a journalist someday. Since she learned how to use a computer, her family has purchased a computer for her. She gets to teach others how to use the computer as well. Omida said. "Because our parents didn't get to learn how to use the computer, they want and encourage us to learn it. We are happy that we can help others in our neighborhood." 

Thank you for enabling the next generation of Afghan women to gain an education. Your support is life-changing!