Support Girls' Education in Afghanistan

The Foundation provides 110 scholarships for girls in the marginalized Hazara communities in Afghanistan in the academic year 2022. Following the final exams, we received updates that 108 of them passed their final exams. Two girls will have a chance to retake their exam. 

Here are some of student stories that we have received. For safety reasons, we have changed their names.

Mina:

Mina is in grade 7. Her father, who didn’t have a chance to go to school, works as a driver. His main priority is his two daughters Mina and her sister’s education. Mina’s brothers go to public school as her father can’t afford to send them to a private school. Mina passed grade 7 and did very well in the final exam. Her favorite subject is math and biology. She wants to become a doctor. During the winter school holidays, she is taking classes to improve her English. She is grateful to Bamyan Foundation for supporting her education.

Sana:

Sana was in grade 6 in the academic year 2022. She did well in the final exam, but she wants to become the first position holder in her class next year. Her dream is to become a doctor to help people, particularly the poor, given her families’ history of pain and loss… She is also focused on learning English. Sana lives with her patents, two brothers and three sisters. Her father is a day laborer and her family is going through a difficult time. She is grateful to Bamyan Foundation for supporting her and her friends’ education at her school.

Girls education remain uncertain in Afghanistan as the academic year is set to begin in late March or early April this year. According to some Afghan observers, it appears that there is major rift between two major factions of Taliban – one faction supports reopening of schools for girls, perhaps with changed curriculum while the other faction is in favor of school closure for girls. It remains to be seen which faction prevails. 

We hope that schools for girls reopen in April; however, if they remain closed then we are planning to continue supporting our students in the same manner as in the academic year 2022. Our schools have designed programs in accordance with the rules set by Afghanistan current rulers so that they continue their education. 

Please know that we rely on your support to continue this community-led education program. With your support, we will continue to provide scholarships for girls in the underserved Hazara communities in Afghanistan in the academic year 2023.

With gratitude,

Timor + the Bamyan Foundation Team

Links:

• Bamyan Foundation's Girls Scholarship Program
• Taliban's ban on women's education risks a lost generation