Learning Centers for Rural Afghan Women

Afghanistan is in the news a lot these days. As a donor to a project in Afghanistan, you may be wondering if change is happening, and if your donation really makes any difference. Following is a message from Dr. Sakena Yacoobi that answers your questions. It’s part of our annual newsletter, where we also share progress reports from several areas, and the impact AIL’s work is having in Afghan lives. This newsletter is below in a PDF format; we invite you to click on it and read ALL the details……

From Sakena Yacoobi: First, I want to thank all of you for supporting the work of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL). Your support is so important. Yes, the funds you send help us to bring education and health to so many Afghan women and children. But, more importantly, in this time of increasing violence and insecurity in Afghanistan, your support helps Afghans to know that they are not forgotten. It gives ordinary Afghan women, men and children the courage to keep studying, to keep going to clinics and to keep working for peace.

Today you probably hear that Afghanistan is a place of war, terrorist bombings, burning of schools, kidnapping, drugs and all kinds of other horrible things. And it is true that in every province of Afghanistan, including the capitol, every single day, these kinds of things are happening. But what you might not hear in your news is that everyday many women, men and children of Afghanistan get up in the morning….. say goodbye to their family…..and go to work….. go to schools and centers ….. go to trainings……because they know that they must be educated. They know that the only way they can stop these problems is to be educated. So they are learning, they are teaching and they are not afraid.

And when there is no electricity or no clean water or no school or no road or no job and there is no help from the national government or the international agencies, Afghans, particularly women, are joining together in community or with their local officials to find ways to solve their own problems. And, with your help, AIL is helping them to do this. I want to let you know that as dark as it seems to be in Afghanistan now, much is happening. Afghans, themselves, are changing. They are educating themselves; they are making sure that their children are educated; they are finding new ways to solve their problems. I would ask you to walk with us a little further on our journey towards peace.

TO READ the rest of our annual newsletter, please click on the PDF link below and it will open for your inspection-

• 2009 Newsletter (PDF)
  

Thank you for your support. Your desire to make a difference in this world has made a difference, and we are so thankful that Afghan people have had their lives changed with your help.

We wanted to share with you a very special opportunity to give more than 100% from November 10 through December 1st. Please share this with those you know who care. During this time, we are privileged to receive additional matching funds from your donation through Global Giving of at least 30%. The need is still great. Afghanistan struggles to become a country of strength and stability.

Here are 2 stories that share the impact of your donation in the life of a rural Afghan woman in the province of Herat:

“My name is Fatima. I am 13 years old, and I live in a poor family in Jaghara. I didn’t go to school because we had little money. I felt so unhappy, because other girls my age were literate- they can read and they can write, and I couldn’t. My friend Ruqia said that there are literacy classes for girls at the Mohammadia center, so I told to my parents about it. Fortunately they agreed that I could go. Now it is about six months that I am studying in this center, and I am happy that I can read and write. The teachers are good and they help me practice my lessons with me. I want to thank AIL that opened such a center in our village.”

Homa is 20 years old and is a tailoring trainer. She has a workshop at her house and sews for her family and also the neighbors’ dresses. She is happy that AIL could help her to be literate and a trainer to train others. She says, “I am so happy because economically I am self sufficient and can help my family with my income. She adds “this lesson of leadership I learned from AIL, and I appreciate that this organization helps women to have self confidence.”