By the time many Afghan girls reach puberty, they are pulled out of school and forced into early marriage for the short-term economic gain of their families. Help the Afghan Children's computer education program is making a difference for thousands of deserving Afghan girls every year, empowering them with computer literacy skills so they can secure jobs, help their families break the cycle of poverty, and become proud, productive citizens.
Although more Afghan girls are attending schools throughout the country, many of them are pulled out of school by the time they reach puberty and forced into early marriage and childbearing for the short-term economic gain of the girl's family. In many conservative regions of Afghanistan, girls do not attend school at all as these families tend to believe that a girl's place is in the home. Without marketable skills, Afghan girls cannot lead productive lives.
Since 2003, HTAC has educated and empowered over 40,000 girls with marketable computer literacy skills, enabling them to successfully compete for jobs in Afghanistan's emerging information technology marketplace, break the sad cycle of early forced marriage and help move them out of poverty. HTAC is providing computer education, not only in major urban areas of Afghanistan like Kabul, but in underserved regions, giving girls life-changing opportunities for themselves and their families.
Providing computer skills to an Afghan girl not only changes her life forever, but helps change the attitudes of her parents, family members and relatives for the better who see the economic benefits derived from an educated, and skilled young woman who can find work and provide a much-needed income to help support her family. In addition, an educated, skilled Afghan woman is a stabilizing figure for her family and the likelihood for her children to become educated increases.
