Afghan Institute of Learning Empowers Afghan Women

Dear Friends,

When a community asks for AIL to set up a Learning Center (LC) it is a requirement that the community are supportive of the idea both theoretically and practically. Only with community involvement will these poorly educated or illiterate women be able to achieve success in learning new skills. Here is the story of how one community supported its center and its women in 2016.

“One of the local people who lives near the center is called Khalil. He has helped the center a lot. The center did not have a telephone line and we had internet problems so Khalil voluntarily gave his house phone line to the center and helped by holding internet classes and seminars and these continue today. Another man named Naser who has a house on the same road has helped too. He offered to put the course’s advertisement board on the roof of his home because it would be seen more easily. The board is still there today. One of the other neighbors allowed the center to use his house's wall as a board and to advertise its programs. Other families gifted useful informative books in Arabic to help students learn the language.    

Herat's Education Department cooperated with the center and provided the opportunity for the center to introduce its programs to the girls' high schools. From the other side of things 4 high schools assisted the center in showing its activities.”      

This is truly a community effort! This operational approach is what creates sustainable opportunity for poor women. In 2016, 16,197 females who attended LCs under AIL management in Herat and Kabul Province and Peshawar, Pakistan

See our year end newsletter.Thank you for being part of the support for these centers and the women who rely on them.

• 2016_YearEnd_Update.pdf (PDF)
  

Dear Friends, 

AIL offers women and girls various courses at its Learning Centers (LCs)   to expand their skills and help them contribute more to their families and communities. These women gain knowledge that improves their lives and that of their families. One of the most popular skills to learn is sewing and currently there are 818 students in sewing classes in Herat. 

Upon completion of a sewing class, students can sew any kind of garment. They can make their own clothes as well as set up a small business making clothes for other people. This helps them become self- supporting and improves the economic situation of their families. As important, is the fact that these women gain self-confidence and see themselves as valuable and able to contribute to society. This sort of skills learning and change in mindset is a success for any LC.  One of students shares her success:“My name is Gul Nisa, I am one of the sewing class students. I learned sewing through AIL’s Learning Center. Today, I can sew dresses for my neighborhood and earn money. I never thought that one day I will be independent and able to help my family. I want to thank AIL for making my dream come true and I hope many future successes for them.” 

A bright and hopeful future for women Afghanistan! Thank you for your continued support of AIL programs.