Grow Peace in Afghanistan: Educate 3000 Women

Challenge

Due to refugee status, decades of war, or early marriages, it is often difficult to enter traditional public schools in Afghanistan. Illiteracy rates are sky high: 87% for women and 57% for men. Because of the extreme poverty and the need for extra income, most people, even children, cannot wait 12 years to get a high school diploma. Therefore, many women fall through the cracks and do not receive an education. Without an educated population, Afghanistan cannot move forward.

Solution

The single greatest predictor of change is the mother's education level. An educated woman is more likely to survive childbirth. She marries later, earns a higher income, and has children who attend school, are vaccinated, well nourished, and have access to water and adequate sanitation. AAE educates marginalized populations to give them the tools they need to improve the livelihoods of their families and communities.

Long-Term Impact

As our students graduate, some stay to become teachers. Many go on to university. Others grow businesses. All focus on peace-building and strengthening their country against extremists. The 72% illiteracy rate in Afghanistan will be reduced more rapidly due to our accelerated curriculum and our focus on women who are currently excluded from the public school system. Educating mothers helps educate future generations, reduces domestic violence, and improves the community.

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a XLSX file (projdoc.xlsx).

Resources