Empower an Afghan Girl to Find Her Voice

by Sahar Education
Play Video
Empower an Afghan Girl to Find Her Voice
Empower an Afghan Girl to Find Her Voice
Empower an Afghan Girl to Find Her Voice
Empower an Afghan Girl to Find Her Voice
Empower an Afghan Girl to Find Her Voice
Empower an Afghan Girl to Find Her Voice
Empower an Afghan Girl to Find Her Voice

Project Report | Jul 27, 2026
Building Skills, Confidence, and Connection

By Allie Renar | Operations & Finance Manager

A Message from a round 1 graduate of SSO
A Message from a round 1 graduate of SSO
During June, Secret Scholars Online continued helping Afghan girls and young women access education despite the barriers that prevent many of them from attending school in person.

This month focused on helping students begin and continue their courses, become comfortable using the Learning Upgrade platform, strengthen their English skills, and receive timely academic and technical support. Through regular live classes, WhatsApp communication, and individual follow-up, students became more confident using digital learning tools and more independent in completing their lessons.

A total of 15 live sessions were held during the month. These included student check-ins, problem-solving sessions, and supplementary English classes for pre-intermediate and intermediate learners. During the English sessions, students practiced speaking, listening, and vocabulary through discussions, educational videos, cartoons, and other interactive activities.

Progress and Achievements

By the end of June:
  • 61 more students had started their studies.
  • 38 students who had not begun their courses were contacted through WhatsApp.
  • 11 of those students responded, allowing the team to better understand the obstacles preventing their participation.
  • Students received ongoing assistance with platform access, lesson navigation, internet connectivity, and other academic or technical concerns.
The live sessions provided more than academic instruction. They gave students a safe and encouraging space to ask questions, practice English, discuss their progress, and remain connected to their classmates and teachers.

Celebrating Student Success

We were especially proud to recognize three outstanding students for their dedication and exceptional lesson completion:
  • Wajiha completed 438 lessons, earning first place.
  • Soraya completed 381 lessons, earning second place.
  • Faiza completed 348 lessons, earning third place.
Their accomplishments demonstrate what students can achieve when they are given access to learning opportunities, consistent encouragement, and the tools needed to continue their education.

Challenges

Students continue to face serious obstacles to online learning. During June, 14 additional students requested internet data support because of limited mobile data or unstable connections. An additional three students lacked access to a personal device, making consistent participation difficult.

Some students also experienced technical problems with the Learning Upgrade application because of device compatibility or connectivity limitations. Changed telephone numbers and inactive contact information made it difficult to reconnect with several students.

WhatsApp remained the most accessible communication channel. Because students were already familiar with the platform, it allowed the team to share updates, answer questions, provide individual support, and encourage students who were falling behind.

Looking Ahead

In July, the Secret Scholars Online team continued to:
  • Follow up with students who have not yet begun or who are behind schedule.
  • Provide individualized academic and technical assistance.
  • Deliver supplementary English and speaking-practice sessions.
  • Help students secure internet access and suitable learning devices when resources allow.
  • Recognize student achievement and encourage consistent participation.

Thank You

Your support makes it possible for these students to continue learning under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Every online lesson, English conversation, technical support session, and successful student follow-up represents another step toward greater confidence, independence, and hope.

Thank you for standing with the students of Secret Scholars Online and helping them continue their education.

Links:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.

Sign up for updates

Organization Information

Sahar Education

Location: Seattle, WA - USA
Website:
Facebook: Facebook Page
X / Twitter: Profile
Project Leader:
Allie Renar
Seattle , WA United States

Learn more about GlobalGiving

Teenage Science Students
Vetting +
Due Diligence

Snorkeler
Our
Impact

Woman Holding a Gift Card
Give
Gift Cards

Young Girl with a Bicycle
GlobalGiving
Guarantee

Get incredible stories, promotions, and matching offers in your inbox

WARNING: Javascript is currently disabled or is not available in your browser. GlobalGiving makes extensive use of Javascript and will not function properly with Javascript disabled. Please enable Javascript and refresh this page.