EDUCATION
The Khurasan Learning Center
An Education Training Center in Ghazni for Girls
In June 2007 Afghan Friends Network partnered with local educators in Ghazni Province to open an innovative education center for high school girls. The first center, located in a small village outside the province’s capital, will help girls in grades 7-12 complete their education in Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. In 2008 AFN opened another center in the heart of Ghazni city enabling hundreds of girls to receive a comprehensive education and be prepared for the college placement exam. AFN plans to open additional education centers in other locations within Ghazni province in the future.
The Khurasan Learning Center allows high school girls to receive supplemental course work in the areas of math, science and English. The current science, math and English curriculum in the high schools in Ghazni is weak. Also, most schools have short class schedules in order to accommodate the large number of students in need of education. In one typical year at a traditional school, teachers are only able to cover about half of the curriculum for that grade. The result is most students aren’t able to gain a good understanding the subject matter. The girls are particularly impacted because of the historical lack of access to basic education. By providing girls with dedicated coursework in science, math and language studies, they are able to complete their lessons, be prepared for the college entry exams, and move forward with their education.
Key benefits of the program are:
- Courses allow more than 400 girls in Ghazni to attend classes from 7:00am-9:00am and 2:00pm-4:00pm.
- The classes help girls receive a higher quality of education through focused classes on specific subjects.
- The teachers hired for the program are selected from TTI, the Teacher Training Institute in Ghazni and have a strong understanding of each subject area.
- The program provides classes for standardized college entry examination.
- There is a positive and professional classroom environment that encourages girls to move on to achieve higher level of education.
KLC Scholarship Program
Enabling Girls To Become Leaders
In March of 2009, AFN established a scholarship program for girls in Ghazni who are highly committed to their education but in dire need of financial assistance. In early 2008 (after only six months of KLC classes), we were able to increase the number of girls accepted to University from 1 to 10. We quickly realized that we were making a big impact in an area that is greatly needed. Sadly, we realized only 7 of the girls were able to continue to higher education while the remaining girls’ families did not have the $40 per month needed to cover the cost of going to university. Although most of the universities are free of charge, a girl from Ghazni has to pay for transportation, books, pens, paper and her dinner at the dorms.
The KLC University Scholarship Program is only available to girls who have been registered students of KLC for at least 1 year. We use the following criteria in our selections process: financial need, grades, university entrance test scores, and an essay on how they will be using their education to improve their own lives as well as their communities.
One of the toughest battles facing Afghanistan is educating its future generation. The Afghan people value education and have a strong desire for their children to become educated. However, lack of funds and resources makes it nearly impossible for many to go to school. AFN believes that one of the most effective ways to help social and economic development in Afghanistan is to educate women and girls so that they can become productive members of society, help their communities, and raise children who will have a greater likelihood of being educated as well.
It only costs $360 per year to give a girl the opportunity to get higher education. The funds cover a student’s transportation, food, textbooks, and school materials for a full academic year. This breaks down to a contribution of less than $1 a day. Fortunately, for most of us that’s pocket change, but for these girls it’s an opportunity that will benefit them and their communities for a lifetime. No amount is too little and every bit is greatly appreciated.
Supporting Literacy
Enabling Women to Gain Valuable Life Skills
With more than 70% of the population functionally illiterate, it is essential to continue to support literacy programs. Afghan Friends Network has created a program designed to enable the most needy individuals to read, write, conduct basic business transactions and support their families. Women and adults too old to attend traditional schools benefit greatly from this course. In addition to the typical challenges faced when implementing programs in a developing region, there are several major hurdles we need to overcome in order to be successful in this endeavor. First, the widows are very poor and have limited ability to travel. Second, there are cultural barriers to teaching women to read and write, though since the demise of the Taliban, this is becoming less of an issue. Third, regular attendance has proven to be problematic. Finally, maintaining the quality of the program requires consistent oversight by an independent representative.
AFN’s program enables the women to learn how to read and write as well as learn sewing skills. By providing vocational training along side literacy classes, the women are able to earn extra money and provide for their families.
Teacher Training
Bringing 21st Century Education Skills to Teachers in Afghanistan
Since 2003, teacher training has been the cornerstone of AFN’s projects in Ghazni, Afghanistan. Through partnerships with U.S. and Afghan educators, we provide teachers with the skills they need to lead classes in a variety of subjects, including math, science and English. Despite the complexities of doing work in Afghanistan, the potential rewards are great. Now more than ever, the need for qualified teachers is extremely urgent. Without proper education and teachers who possess the skills and resources necessary to deliver that education, the Afghan people will remain imprisoned, exploited and impoverished. Afghan Friends Network desires to provide the tangible educational tools and the resources needed to enable and empower teachers and the Afghan people to achieve the freedom to live their lives, support their families, conduct business, and rebuild Afghanistan.
CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS
Hayward Ghazni – Sister City Project
The governer of Ghazni, Afghanistan and a group of Americans in Hayward, CA joined forces to establish a Sister City relationship between Ghazni City, the provincial capital of the province of Ghazni, and Hayward, CA located about 50 miles from San Francisco. There are many Afghan immigrants from Ghazni in the Bay Area including some from Ghazi Province. For more information on the Sister City project visit http://www.haywardghazni.org.
Mentoring Relationships with Afghan Visitors Training Mission Of Hon. Rashid Janbaaz
At the invitation of Afghan Friends Network, Mr. Rashid Janbaz head of Kabul Municipality planning department visited the United States from January 2 to January 28, 2003. During his visit, he was given orientation and training in modern urban planning by visiting public works and community development activities of San Francisco, Reno and Irvine cities. Future training of personnel of Kabul Municipality planning department were also discussed. Afghan Friends worked very closely with Society of Afghan Engineers and Afghan Planners Support Committee to make Mr. Janbaz visit a success. For more information see the following articles: Afghan EE toils to rebuild Kabul’s infrastructure and Kabul planning department looks at Reno city services
OTHER PROGRAMS
“GIVE A KICK!” – SOCCER BALL COLLECTION
Afghan Friends Network, Afghans4Tomorrow and SF Soccer Kids teamed up to collect over 100 soccer balls in the city of San Francisco for the children of Afghanistan. There will be a total of 500 balls and school supplies sent to Afghanistanby the non-profit organization Afghans4Tomorrow that has a warehouse in Kabul distributed the balls to schools in Kabul and other provinces such as Ghazni.
TEACHER’S REFERENCE LIBRARY
Afghan Friends Network, Ghazni Governor’s Office and the US Provincial Rehabilitation Team (PRT) joined forces to create a teacher’s reference library in Ghazni. In January 2005, Gina Boden completed the opening of a reference library for teachers with the help of the PRT who funded this project. In Ghazni City, the lack of teacher/student libraries presents a great educational handicap. Therefore, a pilot project was initiated for reference libraries starting with the Teacher’s Training School. Because of the temporary location of the school and lack of space therein, the teachers have decided to set up their library at the teachers room at Jahan Malika High School, where there is an on going English course for them.