Afghan Institute of Learning Empowers Afghan Women

The seminars and workshops training program is a cornerstone of AIL’s education policy. The workshops cover a variety of subjects including teacher training.  The quality of teachers directly affects the quality of education students receive, while having information on leadership, democracy, self-confidence and reproductive health helps all women advocate for themselves.

AIL’s training program reaches many provinces. In the last few months, AIL held 22 workshops in Mazir-al-Sharif.  In August, AIL continued its expansion of the teacher training program and visited Daikundi, Balkh and Bamyan Provinces. In total, 6 teacher training and literacy seminars were held for 238 women. The teacher training seminars run over 10 days and are comprehensive in approach and designed for teachers who have never had training in modern teaching methods. It is still the case that many teachers enter the job with only a high school education and no formal training.

“The supervisor at my school had complained that I did not know how to teach and said he would demote me from high school to elementary school teaching. This was a blow to my self-confidence and I worried about my future. This seminar helped to see that elementary teaching is just as important as high school. I can now plan my lessons and complete the syllabus on time. I also learned how to do exams and new methods such as role playing and question and answer.”

The staff also held 4 workshops in leadership for 190 students while they were in Balkh and Bamyan Province.  There were five 5- day reproductive health workshops for 285 people, some of them teachers. Attendees relay what they have learned to female relatives. The topics covered included pregnancy, infant care, birth control, hygiene, vaccines and birthing

 Thank you for your support which is helping Afghan women improve their lives.

In 2015, AIL set up a free legal aid clinic in Herat. There are five female lawyers who provide consultation services, court representation and arbitration. The cases cover topics such as marriage, abandonment, divorce, business, inheritance, child support and custody as well as crime.

Here is the story of one client: “This lady had an arranged marriage with a man who already had a wife and children. She received a piece of land from her husband and did not have difficulties with her husband. As soon as my husband passed away my brother started to harass me and my children. He tried to take my property, and finally seized my dowry too.  When I refused, he hit me and when I was unconscious made me to sign the agreement document that states that I have give over  this piece of land to my step-son. I did not know what to do and how to prove my claim. I came to the  AIL Law Clinic for help to get my property back.”

Many women lack knowledge of the law and their rights and lack the finances to access legal help. The lawyers teach families about the law and rights through Meraj Radio and TV stations. They attend regular programs giving information and taking questions from the public. There are plans to increase the amount of legal programming in the near future.

The head of the legal program attended Women’s Empowerment Group meetings, giving presentations on the law and rights. The lawyers also give workshops at the private schools to various grades to educate the young people about the law and behavioral etiquette, justice and fairness. 

Thank you for your support which is helping Afghan women seek justice and  claim their rights.