Working to Educate and Empower Afghanistan’s Future Leaders
Children growing up in Afghanistan continue to face numerous daily hurdles. The country’s high infant, child and maternal mortality rates; low immunization record; chronic nutritional deficiencies; low-literacy levels; and low school enrolment rates remain some of the top challenges.
Afghanistan Support
Assisting Afghanistan's Future Leaders
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In communities and villages, most of the children affected by the ongoing conflict are among the most vulnerable and in need of protection.
ActionAid Afghanistan continues to support and protect children’s rights to life, health, education, an adequate standard of living, and protection from abuse, exploitation, neglect and discrimination. Our work, in particular, zeros in on girls’ needs and addressing challenges facing street children.
In Kandahar City alone, it is estimated that over 32,000 school-aged children are living and working on streets, and over 75 percent of these children are out of school. Many have lost their parents during the conflict and are forced to scavenge through rubbish or become involved in dangerous, illegal work in order to survive. Girls are at increased risk for sexual abuse, and they are often unable to go to school because their parents rarely see the benefit of education.
ActionAid and our partners are reaching out to Afghanistan’s children by providing access to education, vocational training and health care though a project that has stood up two centers capable of reaching 250 children.
Currently, 248 children -- 187 boys and 61 girls -- regularly attend classes at the centers where drama offers kids the opportunity to explore key issues affecting their lives, such as drug abuse and life on the street. In addition to teaching students basic literacy and mathematic skills, vocational training such as sewing, embroidery, and bicycle and radio repair offered at the ActionAid centers provides older children with a means to financially support themselves.
Over the next year, ActionAid is preparing to build on the centers’ success of by equipping them with recreational facilities, and providing training, mentoring and grants to families of working children. This small amount of money will help ensure that families are able to make ends meet while also reducing the financial responsibility placed on children.
At the broader policy level, ActionAid is working to establish stronger links with government and employers to promote greater access to education and proportionate working hours for working children.
Children in Afghanistan’s Kushkak village use a donkey cart to help their family move.
Copyright © Jenny Matthews/ ActionAid
On the health care front, ActionAid is working to improve the standard of health for the children. We have taken a two-pronged approach which includes establishing a referral system for the children to access health services, as well as tackling the root of most health problems through awareness training. To date, more than 800 community members including children have received the training.
Malya’s Story
Eleven-year-old Malya lives with her parents, four sisters and one brother in their home in Yetirough village.
Both of Malay’s parents believe that it is important for her to receive an education but because there is not a school in their village, she must travel to a neighboring village to attend classes. Complicating the situation is the need for Malay to help her family earn money.
“I need to stay at home and weave carpet with my mother,” said Malay. “However, the money which we get from carpet weaving cannot provide enough income even for food [for] the whole family.” However, Malya’s cousin lives next door and she is able to study with her.
“I was jealous about Adila,” Malay said. “She has stationery but I don’t have. Anyway, I like her because she is sharing her book and stationery with me. But I wanted to have these items for myself.
“One day I was called by teachers to school. I heard that ActionAid is distributing stationery to poor children. I was in their list.
“I received some notebooks, pens and pencils,” she added. “This encouraged me of continuously going to school without fail. ActionAid people also spoke to my parents on the need of continuing my education.”
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