Afghan Institute of Learning Empowers Afghan Women

Afghanistan has been stunned by recent developments and people are adapting as best they can, to a new situation which remains both unclear and uncertain as to the future.  AIL’s current priority is to provide urgently needed assistance to the thousands of displaced families who have flooded into Kabul and Herat. Some centers provide a staging point for aid. Our staff are all working, though offices currently are men only with women working from home. The centers are all female and await instructions from the Taliban with regard to procedures required for reopening centers to our students. Our clinics have expanded their capacity to cope with the large numbers of refugees that are in the area.

The Yacoobi private schools are open and operating under the rules that have been given such as dividing male and female. It is exam season and students are studying hard and sitting their exams as usual. It is a great credit to them and their teachers as everyone has heightened levels of fear, stress and anxiety. The private TV and Radio Meraj are not broadcasting but awaiting instructions in how to recommence and staff are creating content and archiving materials for broadcast at a later date.

We have been touched by the outreach of support and outpouring of donations to help the Afghan people. We thank you for standing by Afghanistan as it faces another humanitarian crisis on top of Covid-19 and drought.

 Learning Centers update

One of the ways AIL empowers women is by providing education through a network of Learning Centers.  The centers are a vital educational resource for many women who have missed out on schooling or wish to improve their knowledge base and learn new skills. Women who have been educated are empowered in their lives to make the most of their talents by gaining employment, managing their home lives and being better able to advocate for themselves in home and community.

So far this year, centers have helped 15,310 students (9,918 female). There are 22 rural centers and 17 are urban. Popular subjects include: Arabic, sewing, literacy, computing and English. Preschool classes were offered at 8 Herat centers and 3 specialist preschool sites in Kabul reaching 664 students. (Recently, 2 Kabul preschools and one preschool class in Herat have had to close). Courses in sewing, beautician, English and computing provide income- generating skills which help women gain employment or start their own home business.

Thank you for your support which continues to be vital to helping Afghan women thrive.

AIL empowers women through its Leadership Program.

It is crucial for women to feel empowered with the necessary tools and education to lead their own path. AIL provides training in  human rights, women’s rights, leadership, peace, democracy, good citizenship and other capacity building topics. AIL’s leadership training takes place in two ways.  AIL holds in-depth leadership workshops and also integrates the teaching of leadership into every workshop and every class in AIL centers. So far in 2021, 135 people have attended leadership workshops. AIL also supports a special 2 year leadership course for 30 students at the Yacoobi high schools. Leadership workshops include topics such as what makes a good leader, management, listening skills, self- confidence, and public speaking, building good relationships, politics, democracy and peace.

If there are female leaders in society, the violence decreases dramatically, because women can solve problems without using weapons and violence. With the current issues rising in Afghanistan and the threats rising against women, it is crucial that women have access to the wealth of knowledge to fight for their rights. AIL is committed to empowering women through leadership and beyond.

Thank you for your support.

Covid-19: AIL continues with its relief efforts providing food aid, PPE and running a Covid-19 hospital. All health clinics are operating and Learning Centers and schools are holding classes. Radio Meraj continues to broadcast the latest Covid-19 information.