The Situation in Afghanistan
In August 2021, the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan and immediately began dismantling girls’ access to education.
In Afghanistan, 1.5 million girls have been excluded from secondary schools since 2021. This compounds the 2.2 million who were already out of school before the Taliban, according to official reports by UNESCO and UNICEF.
These are not just statistics. They are daughters, sisters, and neighbors who have been told that their minds do not matter. Alekain exists because they do.
Timeline of the Ban on Girls' Education
Our Mission
Although schools are closed to girls in Afghanistan, our community keeps learning within reach. Alekain provides program participants with accredited secondary education, mentorship, mental-health support, and essential technology—creating safe, reliable pathways to higher education and a future filled with possibility.
Founder's story
Nasir was born in 1987, just before Afghanistan descended into civil war. He witnessed violence and poverty, but the deepest heartbreak came from watching his two sisters denied their right to education. While he continued his own studies, he taught them at night by the light of an alekain—a small oil lamp that became their shared symbol of hope.
In 2007, while completing a BA in English, he founded the Kateb English House, an accelerated learning program for girls who had missed schooling under the Taliban. His purpose became clear: to ensure that no girl is ever denied the chance to learn.
When the Taliban reinstated the ban on girls’ education in 2021, he created the Alekain Foundation to provide Afghan girls with safe, accredited access to secondary and higher education. For him, Alekain is more than a name—it represents quiet resistance, dignity, and possibility.
Our Core Values
We strive to protect and empower the girls and young women we serve.
Safety
Every story, image, and action protects students first.
Dignity
We highlight strength, not suffering.
Transparency
We earn trust through openness and integrity.
Solidarity
Global sisterhood and shared purpose drive everything we do.
Our Commitment to Transparency
We hold ourselves to the same standard we ask of our donors: full accountability. 100% of our board members have personally donated to the Alekain Foundation. 100% of donations go directly to the girls we serve. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 99-4337811) and are proud to carry Candid’s Platinum Seal of Transparency
How We Make a Difference
Accredited High School Education
Grades 9–12 through Smart Schools International
Girls earn accredited diplomas through Smart Schools International that open doors to higher education.
Access to Technology
Every student receives a laptop and a monthly internet package required for secure, and reliable online learning.
Peer Mentoring Support
U.S. college students guide girls academically and emotionally, fostering growth and resilience.
Mental Health Support
Students build confidence, manage stress, and strengthen emotional well-being.
English Language Support
Girls gain the language skills they need for success in higher education and beyond.
Higher Education Pathways
Dedicated guidance helps students apply to universities, secure scholarships, and pursue their dreams.
Our Competitive Edge
Our Theory of Change
ProblemNearly 4 million girls in Afghanistan have been barred from school. For many, the classroom was the last door still open to them.
If ...These girls can access accredited secondary education and earn a recognized high school diploma...
Then ......they can build stable, self-determined futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.
- Because ...
Educated girls are less likely to face early or forced marriage. They earn higher incomes. They become decision-makers. And they raise the next generation differently.
Our Team and Volunteers
