BOOKS OPEN DOORS TO LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES

Empowering Afghan girls through education

Afghanistan is the only country in the world to ban education for girls. This is an astounding violation of fundamental human rights and a complete outlier against global trends. It’s also a very efficient way to plunge a country into extreme poverty and underdevelopment. Human Rights Watch has called the situation in Afghanistan “the most serious women’s rights crisis in the world today.” Totalitarian rulers can take away many things from those they rule, but one thing they can never take away is the knowledge people have gained through education. Education is an irreversible investment, and a powerful antidote to totalitarianism. Educating girls is not only a basic human right but also a critical tool for achieving gender equality, reducing poverty, and promoting economic and social development. It is essential that we prioritize girls’ education and remove the barriers that prevent them from accessing it. By investing in girls’ education, we invest in the future of our world.

Background

Afghanistan has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, including a significant gender disparity in literacy and access to basic education. When the Taliban was removed from power in 2001, great efforts began to improve literacy and opportunity for Afghan women and girls, who were eager to exercise their basic rights, including their right to learn. Over 10 million youth and adults in Afghanistan are illiterate, however, the country has made significant progress in recent years. From 2016-2020 Afghanistan’s literacy rate saw a remarkable 8 percent increase, moving from 34.8 percent to 43 percent. In addition, the literacy rate for youths aged 15–24 has substantially increased and now stands at 65 percent. Despite these achievements, however, there are still massive challenges and a great number of people who lack literacy and opportunities for continuing education in Afghanistan. There is still a substantial gender gap; the literacy rate for men stands at 55 per cent; for women, it’s only 29.8 per cent. In August 2021, the Taliban have again taken power in Afghanistan and are swiftly turning the country into a pariah state, with a particular focus once again on eradicating women’s and girls’ basic rights. The Taliban have denied all girls of their formal education after the age of twelve. While Afghan girls may be banned from classrooms, we know that they are bravely determined to keep learning, and we will ensure that quality education remains accessible to them.

The good deed

Your GOOD DEED ensures Afghan girls can access free, quality learning materials from home, or wherever they are. Through the Darakht-e Danesh Library (DDL), Afghan girls can access more than 6,000 free, digital resources in 9 languages, ranging from storybooks to university-level textbooks in courses such as mathematics, social sciences, and business. With a server located outside of Afghanistan, its secure tools are accessible to anyone, anywhere. Education provides girls with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their lives and to be more independent. When girls are educated, they are more likely to stand up for their rights and to resist discrimination and violence. Education is also crucial for the economic development of societies. When girls are educated, they are more likely to get better jobs and earn higher incomes. This, in turn, can help to reduce poverty and improve living standards.