Teach Young Afghan Women to Teach Afghan Girls

Dear Friends of Sahar,

Since the program’s founding in 2009, 943 teachers have graduated from our teacher training program. This incredible achievement could not have been possible without the dedication of our outstanding local staff. The women who have graduated from the TCC have gone on to become local school teachers, opened schools for adult learners, and helped girls who are out of school get back in the classroom. In this sense, TTC does much more than train women to become teachers, it empowers women to empower others to generate income earning opportunities. 

Despite increased challenges due to COVID-19 and security concerns, Sahar has continued to support our teacher training centers. We are excited to be adding computer training to the curriculum, as digital literacy is such a vital element of modern education. Additionally, our program also includes english language training and ancillary programs in the sciences.  

We believe this program continues to provide valuable opportunities to students from these rural areas where the majority of the schools we have built still exist. Your support of work is so important, especially during this time, and we could not be more grateful. 

With Gratitude, 

Ginna Brelsford

Dear Friends of Sahar,

Thank you for supporting the Dawlat-Abad Teacher Training Center (TTC). As you know, the TCC is the only center of its kind in the areas that we work that provides female high school graduates with career training. 

The women who have graduated from the TCC have gone on to become local school teachers, opened schools for adult learners, and helped girls who are out of school get back in the classroom. As our longest running program, the TTC does much more than train women to become teachers, it empowers women to empower others.

In keeping with national policy, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education closed all educational institutions, including the TTC in March 2020 in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. While we were unable to continue our work in the classroom, we continued to support the Afghan communities we have served for nearly 20 years - supplying families with food, masks, and hand soap. The TTC reopened with limited capacity in August 2020. At the moment, the TTC is closed for winter break, but we’ve been able to continue limited computer, English, and STEM training for teachers. 

As this new year begins, we look forward to reopening the TTC after the winter break. We are also working to make sure that our students and teachers have the resources they need to learn and teach in a COVID-19 compliant way. We look forward to keeping you updated as the next generation of Afghanistan’s teachers get back to learning.

On behalf of our team, thank you for your continued contributions. Your support is so important, especially during this time, and we could not be more grateful. 

Best regards, 

Ginna Brelsford