In Afghanistan, over 3.9 million girls cannot access secondary education

Even before 2021, an estimated 2.5 million girls were already out of school. Since the ban, an additional 1.4 million girls have lost access to education. Reliable data on higher-education access remains unavailable.

Donate Now
Take Action

Timeline of the Ban on Girls' Education in Afghanistan

1996-2001
The Ban on Girls' Education in the 90's

During the Taliban’s rule over Afghanistan in the 1990s, women were denied their fundamental rights, chief among them access to education

August 2021 
1
Colleges Open, Schools Closed

When the Taliban seized power in 2021, they banned school for girls at the primary and secondary levels. Women could attend colleges and universities, but had to do so in sex-segregated classrooms

September 2021 
Primary Schools Open, But Not Secondary Schools

Taliban, a month later, announced that girls could only attend primary schools, not secondary schools

March 2022
But Secondary Schools Will Remain Closed

Taliban announced the reopening of girls’ secondary schools, but the decision was overturned hours later by the Taliban’s supreme leader

September 2022
Nothing But Primary Schools 

Taliban issued a decree barring women and girls from attending colleges, universities, and private tutoring institutions, and added to the secondary schools that were already banned

September 2024 
Three Years Later: An Indefinite Ban

A source from the Taliban’s Higher Education Ministry confirmed that the Taliban’s supreme leader and his ministers vow to “never open girls’ schools.”

Our Theory of Change

  • Problem
    Nearly 4 million girls have been barred from secondary schools in Afghanistan for over four years now.
  • If ...
    These girls can access accredited secondary education and obtain their high school diplomas
  • Then ...
    They can build better, more stable, and resilient futures for themselves, their families, and societies.
  • Because ...
    They are less likely to get married at a young age. They earn higher incomes. They can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their societies.

How We Make a Difference

accredited-high-school-edu

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.
Technology-access

Access to Technology

Laptops and Monthly Internet
Every student receives a laptop and a monthly internet package required for secure, and reliable online learning.
peer-mentoring

Peer Mentoring Support

Weekly One-on-One Mentorship
U.S. college students guide girls academically and emotionally, fostering growth and resilience.
Mental-health-support

Mental Health Support

Guided Group Therapy 
Students build confidence, manage stress, and strengthen emotional well-being.
English-support

English Language Support

Tailored English Preparatory Courses
Girls gain the language skills they need for success in higher education and beyond.
Higher-education-pathway

Higher Education Pathways

Mentors, Counselors, and Partners
Dedicated guidance helps students apply to universities, secure scholarships, and pursue their dreams.

Our Competitive Edge

COMMUNITY-INFORMED

Our approach is customized to meet the needs of our students. Therefore, we provide a fully asynchronous, self-paced, technology-enabled, and trauma-informed model.

TRANSFORMATIVE

Our model not only improves student outcomes but also builds community and develops soft skills among students and their mentors, while they engage in cultural exchange.

COLLABORATIVE

We involve parents at the beginning of the program, during the admission process through interviews, and continuously throughout the program through parental meetings.

INNOVATIVE

We provide an accredited, globally recognized high school diploma through our partner, Smart Schools International, and help our students secure college admissions.

SECURE

Our robust safety and risk management plan is designed to ensure the safety of our students, both online and offline, as the safety of our students and community is our number one priority.

TRAUMA-INFORMED

Our guided group therapy education, provided by licensed practitioners, helps our students build confidence, manage stress, and enhance their emotional well-being.

Our Three-Year Strategic Plan