Learning Centers for Rural Afghan Women

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!

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your support of the Afghan Institute of Learning’s (AIL) Learning Centers in Herat. So far in 2015, the centers have educated 5,805 women and girls in classes on subjects including sewing, literacy, Arabic, English, computers, math, science, and more.

 One of the managers held a meeting about the AIL center with some of the older people in their village. One of the women at the meeting has a daughter taking classes at the center, and she said, “I am happy that my daughter is a student at this center. I once thought that girls should stay home and do the chores. I now see that my daughter is growing here. She can solve her own problems and is able to answer all of the questions that people ask her. She helps her brothers and sisters with their lessons. I am proud of her and know that she will have a good life in the future. I am thankful to AIL for helping to change my children’s lives.”

 Another of the Learning Centers has been working hard to establish a library. They now have over 500 volumes in their library and are issuing library cards to students and people from the village. The staff has worked to make the library a welcoming place and are very proud of their wonderful library.

 We are so thankful for your continued support. Together, we are making a difference in lives of the women and girls taking classes in AIL Learning Centers. Thank you!

Dear Friend,

A Special Day – Today!  Matching Funds Available!

Today we have a great opportunity which we would like your help with. There are matching funds available for ALL donations made to this project today. This is a guaranteed bonus!

Starting at 9am EDT on May 13^th, GlobalGiving is matching donations on our project! Any online donation up to $1,000 made today will go even further to help our work. You can donate any time between 9am EDT and midnight to have your donation partially matched by GlobalGiving –guaranteed! Just click here and support our program on May 13^th.

The percentage of the match will be determined at midnight; the more given today the greater our bonus!

Your donation will support our Learning Centers in Herat, Afghanistan! 

Please help by donating  to our project today, May 13th. Thank you.

Dear Friends,

 Thank you for your continued support of the Afghan Institute of Learning’s (AIL) Learning Centers in Herat, Afghanistan! In 2014, 17,469 people took classes at AIL’s Learning Centers in Herat, 11,453 of whom were women. Classes offered range from Arabic and English, to math and literacy, to tailoring, beautician and even computer classes.

 In 2014, AIL began to offer classes inside a women’s prison. The teachers of these classes are working to teach the women skills that they can use to support their families after they leave the prison. Classes being taught include English, Arabic, literacy, beautician classes and computers. In addition to educating and teaching skills, the teachers are teaching accountability and responsibility to the women so that they will have a better chance at success when they leave the prison.

 In a different Learning Center, in addition to their studies, some of the young women have come together to form a volleyball team! They have found a coach to help them, and practice every day after their studies have been completed. The coach reports that the team is very hardworking and the coach is optimistic about their chances against other teams.

 AIL’s Learning Centers can truly be life changing places for the women who attend classes at them. One such woman is Najema. She is now studying in the third level of literacy class, and is well on her way to a bright future, but things were not always so great for Najema. She was born in a remote area, and due to the traditions of the area was not allowed to attend school. She married young, and after she had to travel abroad to seek treatment for a heart condition, her husband divorced her. Sadly, Najema lost her will to live and became depressed. She moved back in with her family, and upon doing so, she noticed the AIL Learning Center. She spoke with her parents about the center, and they all agreed that she should begin to take classes. Now, she sees only happy days ahead saying, “The students and teachers here have motivated me to change my life and become literate. I have so many friends here. My life has changed for the better, and since I am still young, my goal is to complete my studies at the Center and enroll in a school as soon as I am able.”

 Thank you again for your support of AIL’s Learning Centers in Herat Province! Your gifts help AIL to offer support to new centers and programs each year. Thank you so much!