Scholarships for At-risk Youth in Afghanistan

Dear friends and supporters,

Despite enormous challenges in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and the ban on girls’ education, we continued our education program by providing 188 scholarships to at-risk Hazara youth for the academic year 2023 (147 scholarships for girls and 41 scholarships for boys), with 60 of the scholarships for girls in two underground schools in restive areas of the country. 

With the 2023 tally, we have provided a total of 1044 scholarships since the inception of the program in 2016, with 613 scholarships for girls – thanks the generosity of our supporters and partners.

Underground Schools:

Through hard work and dedication of our team, we connected with two reputable underground schools that are founded by women educators.  These brave women are risking their lives to make education accessible for girls above grade 6, who are currently banned from education by Afghanistan’s current rulers.  The underground schools take a slightly different approach – students finish two grades in once academic year. The academic year begins in January and ends in June. After a two week break, the girls start the next grade that starts in July and ends in December. The main subjects taught are Math, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, skill-based development and Islamic studies. We are supporting 60 girls in the two underground school (30 students in each). 

Regular School & Programs:

In our regular schools, we have provided 41 scholarships for boys from impoverished backgrounds this year. Girls, however, are continuing their education via special programs that comprises segregated classes taught by female teachers. In areas where the special programs were not renewed by local authorities – the classes have gone underground. 

Our community leaders and educators on the ground are trying their best to find ways to keep education accessible for girls. Despite the systemtaic violence and attacks on Hazara schools, there is a tremendous desire for education by parents and the students as they genuinely believe that education can be a pathway towards a better future. In these challenging times, one of our main goals is to help our community leaders and educators in their efforts to make education accessible for youth, particularly for girls.

Please know that your support has helped us continue this important community-led education program over the years, and this program has become a source of hope and dream for these vulenrable boys and girls in our schools and programs. 

With gratitude,

Timor + The Bamyan Foundation Team

Links:

• Bamyan Foundation's Scholarship Program
• UN Chief Denounces Taliban's Continued Ban on Girls' Education