Learning Centers for Rural Afghan Women in Herat

Dear Friends, 

AIL just completed its latest monthly review of the Learning Center (LC) program in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the progress is overwhelmingly positive.  In Herat, 10,223 students (including 6,751 females 4,313 of them adolescent girls) participated in Learning Center education last month.  In much of rural Afghanistan, schools are either inadequate or nonexistent.  AIL centers often provide the only academic and life- skills education that many of these adolescent girls and older women get. 

As a result of AIL training and classes, many students are able to apply for professional jobs after school and earn money for their families.  Here is one story from a rural LC in Herat: One of our center’s achievements this month is that one of our students, Zahra was the only applicant selected from a pool of about 100 persons for a job as an employee for an organization.  She completed English and Computer learning programs at our center.  She was usually the best in all her classes.  We are very happy for her success and that she can now help her family.  Her whole family is illiterate and suffering from the weak economy.  Zahra’s new salary will help them to have a better life.  She is thankful for the AIL Learning Center that created this change in her life. 

Thank you for your continued support of the LC program that equips women and girls with the skills they need to better themselves and their communities. 

Dear Friends, 

Matching funds are available for donations made to all Creating Hope International and Afghan Institute of Learning projects on Global Giving. 

TODAY ONLY 9am ET to midnight March 16th! Donate anytime within these hours, up to $1,000 per individual donor per organization.

Here are links to our projects on Global Giving: CHI projects and AIL projects.

All donations are final.  The match is pro-rated so we will know the percentage of match at the end of the day, but everyone gets some matching funds from a pot of $75,000.

Special Alert!!  Two of our projects are eligible for 2 different matching funds  TODAY! 

Donations to these two projects get a 50% match under the Safer World Fund AND a  match on this March 16^th Bonus Day!!  Check the SWF leaderboard! SWF allows matching by unique donors up to $1,500 per donor per project with project max of $15,000 in matching. 

1073 Save Rural Afghan Women and Children with Healthcare

1155 Fast Tracking Education for Afghan Women and Girls 

AIL has started the year 2016 with a full roster of education classes in many subjects as diverse as, literacy, English, carpet weaving, computers and physics. In the month of January, there were 9,682 students (6,132 female) in classes at 42 Learning Centers (LCs) in Afghanistan and 1 LC in Pakistan.  The health program has provided 19,226           patients with treatment and given health education to 11,854 people. Here is a story:

“My name is Somayeah and my twin sister is Masomah. We live in a poor family and we are both interested in learning, but we always missed the chance to study because people were laughing at us. Fortunately AIL’s teachers promoted self-confidence and self-esteem in us with great advice. Now we are happy and no longer ashamed. Our minds changed since attending AIL’s literacy and sewing classes. We also found out about the dignity of women in the community and we are proud to be twins. We also made very good educational decisions about our future.” 

Your donation will help AIL continue its valuable work providing education and healthcare, emergency relief and legal aid to poor Afghans. 

Thank you.

Dear Friends,

AIL runs 24 Learning Centers in Herat Province which served 17,813  people including, 11,592  women and girls in 2015. One of the centers is for the disabled and there are 30 residents including 5 women. The center provides them a place to learn and receive care as there are 3 nursing staff on hand. Most recently the center opened a library to help with the residents' education and for enjoyment. This resident’s comments explain what the center means to the people.

“My name is Fariba. I am a 21 years old woman. I am disabled because of my legs and I can’t walk. I am not feeling any mental disability since I came to this center. The nurses helped me get out of a dangerous depression. I never believed in my abilities and I thought I was useless, but I found out about my capacity here. I have a lot of new friends and study literacy here. My mind has changed I have got good feelings about myself and I believe that I can do a lot of good things. I go to the city in my wheelchair a few times a week and attend classes where I learn to live happily and love others in the community. I have also learned about leadership and I have made big decisions for my future.”

This center helps women cope with their disability and look to learn new skills. Many students are now attending regular school and 11 are at university.

Please read the attached CHI 2015 Newsletter featuring AIL for information on activities last year. 

We are thankful for your continued support for Learning Centers for women in Herat. Together, we are making a difference in lives of the women and girls.

• CHI_Newsletter_2015.pdf (PDF)
  

Dear Friends,

AIL runs 24 Learning Centers in Herat Province which served  17,813  people including, 11,592  women and girls in 2015. One of the centers is for the disabled and there are 30 residents including 5 women. The center provides them a place to learn and receive care as there are 3 nursing staff on hand. Most recently the center opened a library to help with the residents' education and for enjoyment.This resident’s comments explain what the center means to the people.

“My name is Fariba. I am a 21 years old woman. I am disabled because of my legs and I can’t walk. I am not feeling any mental disability since I came to this center. The nurses helped me get out of a dangerous depression. I never believed in my abilities and I thought I was useless, but I found out about my capacity here. I have a lot of new friends and study literacy here. My mind has changed I have got good feelings about myself and I believe that I can do a lot of good things. I go to the city in my wheelchair a few times a week and attend classes where I learn to live happily and love others in the community. I have also learned about leadership and I have made big decisions for my future.”

This center helps women cope with their disability and look to learn new skills. Many students are now attending regular school and 11 are at university.

We are thankful for your continued support for Learning Centers for women in Herat. Together, we are making a difference in Afghan lives.

Latest News!!

Dr. Yacoobi was honored to receive the 2015 WISE Prize for Education. A prestigious award given to those who are tireless advocates for the right to education. “I know from my life that education gives power, status and opportunity. I see women who are smart, intelligent but did not have opportunity so I gave them that. It is education and not guns that can transform society and give us a peaceful tomorrow. “ Sakena 

Dear Friends,

AIL developed its Learning Center program many years ago and the approach has proven effective in educating women of all ages. So far in 2015, 11,022 women in the Herat area have attended classes in varying subjects including, math, literacy, Arabic, computers and sewing. Many students have never had any formal education or very little. Here is one story of a life transformed by AIL. 

Fatima was brought to the girls’ orphanage in Herat when she was about 8 years old by her relatives.  Both of her parents had died and she had no brothers or sisters.  She was very unhappy and devastated when she came.  She went to school and, when AIL began working with the girls’ orphanage setting up a Learning Center and offering computer and tailoring classes in the afternoon, she joined them.  She is now in the 8^th grade and has excellent computer and tailoring skills.  She works for a small NGO in Herat teaching their students tailoring and doing their computer work.  They are paying her so she has begun to earn money for herself.  All of this has transformed her!!  She is happy, always helping the younger students with their homework and is looking forward to finishing high school, going to university and becoming a teacher. 

Happy Giving Tuesday! We are thankful for your continued support. Together, we are making a difference in lives of the women and girls. Thank you!