An estimated 60,000 children residing in Kabul are engaged in child labour (UNICEF). Exposed to poverty and abuse, forced to work on the streets in order to provide for their families, a high number of children do not attend school, particularly girls. AfD's schools provide marginalized boys and girls in Kabul with the possibility to attend an inclusive semi-formal school where they can learn basic literacy and numeracy skills together with drawing, practical and technical knowledge.
Poverty is the main determinant of child labour. Many families have no choice but have their children work. According to UNICEF, 3.7 million children aged 7-17 are out of school in Afghanistan, of whom 2.2 million are girls. Illiteracy and lack of vocational skills lead to poverty, debt, vulnerability and dependence. With severe security and economic issues facing the country, the Afghan government is currently unable to provide vulnerable children with the support they need.
AfD provides flexible schooling, aimed at: developing basic literacy and numeracy skills, providing daily meals and access to basic healthcare. Currently, 206 children are enrolled in the program, 86 are girls. The school's sports program gives the chance to girls to practise with an all-female football team. Our strategy also includes hiring female staff (all teachers of our schools are female), providing qualified training and promoting girls education among the local community.
Children attending the program gain the necessary skills to help them and their families leave the cycle of poverty; at the same time they have the chance of accessing formal education and re-integrate into society. Educated girls improve their lives and their communities, advancing women's integration in the workforce and gender equality. AfD plans on running 3 schools in Kabul and possibly open a new location to enrol a higher number of children and advocate for more participation of girls.
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).
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