Support Education for Marginalized Kabul Children

Every day in Afghanistan’s main cities, hundreds of children roam the streets — selling small goods, washing cars, or collecting plastic bottles just to help their families survive. These children, some as young as six years old, face constant risks of abuse, hunger, and illness. For them, childhood is often replaced by responsibility, and learning becomes an unreachable dream.

To break this cycle of poverty and vulnerability, Action for Development (AfD) launched a transformative initiative that offers holistic education and nutrition support to street-working children in the heart of Kabul. The project’s mission is simple yet powerful: to get children off the streets, restore their right to learn, and help them rebuild hope for a better future.

 During the reporting period, 395 street-working children were enrolled in AfD’s educational centers. These children—many of whom had never attended school before—received access to quality, flexible education tailored to their specific needs and life circumstances.

The program combines academic learning (literacy, numeracy, and life skills) with social reintegration activities, helping children develop confidence, self-worth, and the ability to imagine a future beyond street life. Teachers are trained to provide trauma-sensitive and inclusive education, ensuring that every child feels seen, heard, and supported.

In addition to academic lessons, children participate in art, sports, and psychosocial activities, which allow them to express themselves, build teamwork, and strengthen their social and emotional wellbeing. These holistic approaches are essential to reintegrating children into society and preventing them from returning to the streets.

Education cannot thrive when children are hungry. Recognizing this, AfD integrates a school feeding program into its education initiative. Over the year, the program served 89,980 nutritious meals, providing daily lunches for all students.

Each meal is carefully planned to meet local nutritional needs and cultural preferences. The weekly menu includes rice with meat, beans, potatoes, and peas — simple but nourishing foods that keep children healthy and energized for learning. For many participants, these meals are the only reliable source of nutrition they receive each day.

By combining education with food security, AfD ensures that children can focus on learning instead of worrying about hunger. The school meals also serve as an incentive for families to send their children to class instead of back to work.

The long-term impact of this project goes far beyond the classroom. By helping children gain literacy, confidence, and life skills, AfD empowers them to access future opportunities that can lift their families out of poverty. Educated children are also less likely to experience child labor, early marriage, or exploitation, and more likely to become advocates for change in their communities.

AfD’s work also indirectly supports women’s empowerment — as mothers see their children receive education and nutrition, their own awareness of children’s rights, health, and wellbeing increases, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and social progress.

AfD’s vision is to expand this initiative to reach even more children in three provinces, ensuring that no child is left behind due to poverty or circumstance. However, sustaining and scaling this impact requires continued partnership, advocacy, and financial support.

As winter approaches and economic hardship deepens, thousands more children are at risk of returning to the streets. With your support, AfD can continue to provide a safe place for learning, nutritious meals, and the hope of a better tomorrow.

Together, we can turn survival into opportunity — and make sure that Afghanistan’s child has the chance to learn, grow, and dream again.

• Education_for_StreetWorking_Children__Hope_Begins_with_You.pdf (PDF)