Learning Centers for Rural Afghan Women

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!

Dear Friends, 

Today Only!  Matching Funds Available! Last Bonus Day of the Year! 

Can you help? There are matching funds available for donations made to this project today. Starting at 9am EDT on September 16th, Global Giving is providing 30% matching donations on our project! 

Your gift of $30 will be worth $40!! 

Any online donation up to $1,000 made today can go even further to help our work. You can donate any time between 9am and midnight EDT to get the bonus, but funds run out quickly!  

So far in 2015, AIL Learning Centers have educated over 20,000 students , the health program has provided care to over 129,000 people  and health education to 82,000! Your donation will help AIL to continue providing vital education and health services! 

Just click here and support our program today September 16th. 

Thank you.

Dear Friends,

I am honored to announce that this Thursday, August 6 I will be a guest on Beth Green’s radio program, the Inner Revolution. I invite you to listen live, from 6-7pm ET (3-4pm PT) as we discuss my programs in Afghanistan, including the Classes that this project supports. Thursday’s show is titled “The Other Side of Afghan Women: Dr. Sakena Yacoobi and See Courage in Action!” and the description is as follows:

Honored for her courage and vision, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi is human like us, yet has had to face daunting conditions, which continue to the present day. In 1990, Sakena returned from the US to establish education, health and training programs in the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan. In 1995 she founded the Afghan Institute of Learning to continue her work. But when the Taliban took power, they devastated women’s rights, including access to education. Instead of crumbling, Sakena worked with communities to establish home schools. The resulting years have seen an astounding litany of accomplishments including the rebuilding of Afghan society. How has she done it? How did her organization found 80 secret schools under the Taliban at the risk of death? And what about today? Although no longer in control of the national government, the Taliban and repressive attitudes toward women still have a hold. What’s happening now? We often see the anguish of Afghan women. Tune in and see the courage.

I will share stories of the wonderful women and girls supported by the Afghan Institute of Learning. Girls like E., a 19-year old Afghan studying in a Mobile Literacy Class at one of AIL’s centers, and supported by you. Stories like this one:

“Hello. I am E., and I am 19 years old. I think this mobile literacy class is so interesting. Before coming to this class I didn’t know anything at all, and since coming I have learned how to read and write, like really read and write, you know? Since learning to communicate with my friends and family via mobile messages, I have made many new friends. I can also manage all of the settings of my phone as well. After this class I plan on taking more classes so that I can use what I have learned here to learn even more. Thanks AIL and Professor Sakena Yacoobi for making it possible for me to attend this class and to change my whole life.”

You can click this link for more information about Thursday’s broadcast. I hope that you will make time to listen!

 Warm Regards,

Dr. Sakena Yacoobi

Links:

• View AIL's Annual Report Online!