Learning Centers for Rural Afghan Women

In response for the need for education for girls outside of school, AIL Learning Centers have expanded their curriculum for grades 7-12. Here are some numbers from one month at AIL Herat centers.

Classes were provided to 3,701 women and girls. Student numbers included: 747 taking Arabic, 1,215 sewing, 33 embroidery, 256 beautician, 106 preschool students, 681 literacy, 73 math, 437 English, 61 computing, 92 painting.   

Sewing is often the first class women take at a center and having achieved success in that they are open to other classes such as literacy, math and Arabic in particular. Sewing skills help women earn some income to support their families. The preschool classes give the youngest children a real advantage when they enter kindergarten and this affects their progression in education going forward through the grades. Miniature painting is a traditional Afghan craft as is embroidery both of these can be income-generating for women.

Just a few highlights from AIL:

Staff have been busy over the last few months providing trainings in teaching, leadership and reproductive health in a number of provinces including Daikundi and Bamyan, Mazir al Sharif.  TV Meraj’s education program is a great success providing lessons to girls who are unable to attend school in person. AIL has done distributions of cooked food and food parcels to needy families as well as installing a drinking water well in Khatam Anbia, Herat.