Access to education for children in conflict zones

Dear Donor,

on August 15th, it was exactly two years ago that the Taliban captured Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, within a few hours. The dramatic pictures and reports of people desperately trying to leave the country went around the world. Since then, there has been silence. What became of Afghanistan and all those who stayed behind?

The country is experiencing the most dangerous humanitarian crisis in the world, with millions suffering from hunger and in need of assistance, girls and women deprived of their rights, and local people still hoping in vain for protection and evacuation. In this report, we'd like to bring you up to date on the situation two years after the takeover and offer insights into how our work on the ground is continuing.

Afghanistan under the Taliban

The scenes from the airport in Kabul, which happened after August 15, 2021, are probably still present to us all in their horror. It was a disaster that was predictable: only a few days after the withdrawal of international troops, the Taliban had already captured the first rural areas and border crossings. In the weeks and months that followed, they advanced further and further until they finally stood at the gates of Kabul on Aug. 15.

Since then, Afghanistan has experienced the most devastating crisis in its history. More than 29 million people in the country rely on humanitarian assistance to survive. Over half of them are children. More than 3.25 million people are on the run within the country: fleeing natural disasters, conflicts or in search of work. Many of them live in camps for internally displaced persons under catastrophic conditions.

To survive, more and more families are forced to send their children to work. Instead of going to school, some 1.6 million children perform work under the most dangerous conditions - and for a pittance.

Women and girls are deprived of their rights

After the Taliban took power in August 2021, the human rights situation for women and girls in Afghanistan deteriorated significantly - despite initial promises to respect their rights. Instead, they are banished from public life. Their rights to learn, work and move freely are massively restricted. They are only allowed to travel or go to the doctor with a male escort. Visiting parks or playing sports is forbidden for them.

The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan is deteriorating rapidly and the denial of their basic rights is unacceptable. Therefore, we must not stop putting pressure on the de-facto government and standing up for their rights!

Education situation and our work on the ground

Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls are forbidden to attend secondary schools. Without education, young women have hardly any chance to pursue a qualified job, especially since they are excluded from most professions in the meantime anyway. As a result, the risk of forced and child marriage, child labor, violence and abuse increases dramatically.

Despite completing primary school, the majority of students cannot read or write a simple sentence. This is due to the fatal conditions that prevail in many schools in Afghanistan, making concentrated learning simply impossible. It is therefore all the more important to create a suitable learning environment - especially in elementary school, which girls are still allowed to attend.

Education is not a human right for nothing. After all, every completed school year reduces financial poverty by 12%! That is why we continue to do everything in our power to give children, and especially girls, the chance of a self-determined future through our education projects. For a world in which every child can read and write.  

What you can do

• Inform yourself and others about the situation in Afghanistan: Listen to Afghans who, against all odds, continue to speak out, protest in the country, or show solidarity from abroad.
  
  
• Demand political support: Go protest and sign petitions.
  
  
• Continue to support our work: Thank you so much for your support! This is how we can continue to successfully implement our work in Afghanistan.

We wish you only the best and hope that together we can remain loud and strong for the people of Afghanistan!

Kind regards,

Celine from Visions for Children

Links:

• Website Visions for Children