BUILDING A FUTURE IN
AFGHANISTAN
There are three Rotary clubs in Afghanistan: the Rotary Club of Jalalabad, Rotary Club of Herat and Rotary Club of Kabul City.
Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, Afghanistan lost most of its professionals and 90% of its GDP in the first year.
The need for Rotary’s work is beyond necessary. Because most of the aid agencies and foreign embassies left, the economy is at a standstill. Poverty has increased multi-fold to the point that people are selling their children or their organs just to survive.
The three Afghan Rotary presidents formed a committee with the Rotary Club of Kabul as the Chair. To combat the immediate needs of Afghanistan, there are three areas that they are focused on: income generation, education and health.
EDUCATION
With the closing of schools, the education system has greatly suffered for millions of students, especially girls. In April 2022, the Taliban government enacted strict laws discouraging girls’ education or restricting it. Girls cannot go to school past their teens or 6th grade. Rotary is working on four projects.
Cyber girls’ school
The entire school curriculum from grades 1 to 12 has been moved online so students from across Afghanistan have access. The internet, which is relatively affordable, covers over 80% of Afghanistan and there is sufficient access to electricity. The course content enriches the government’s school curriculum but also uses curriculums such as Oxford or Cambridge.
Rotary will negotiate with the government for permission for girls in grades 7 or above to learn at home, but they will need to go to schools twice a year to sit exams. If they pass, they receive a high school diploma at the end of their school year. It is the only compromise, which can succeed in educating the girls in Afghanistan.
With the enriched online curriculum, boys will also benefit, as the old government curriculum is outdated. To begin with, we can start from grade 7th to 12th as most girls cannot go to school after grade 6. The cost of this 360-degree powerful platform is $5 per year per student. There are no more added costs.
This is the only way that girls’ education can be accepted by the government.
Girls’ Enrichment Programmes
This programme is designed to either enhance or substitute education. With severe limitations on education, especially for girls, students have missed much of their education as many qualified teachers have left the country.
Subjects of study would be STEM and languages to substitute what they have missed.
This would favour mostly girls, but boys can also be included to supplement their poor education.
Rotary will negotiate with the government for permission for girls in grades 7 or above to learn at home, but they will need to go to schools twice a year to sit exams
Vocational training
As unemployment is on the rise and food insecurity has passed 90%, people need to work independently since many larger businesses have closed down.
Rotary works with students for six to 24 months to improve their literacy and numeracy, it teaches them a vocational skill and entrepreneurship so they can earn money and be independent. The training can be in health, beauty, crafts or engineering.
Scholarship
To promote the best and brightest students, especially girls, Rotary promotes the Rotary Scholarship programme for students in private schools to encourage their education.
It is not a Rotary International Scholarship, but an Afghan Rotary or your club or district Scholarship. In addition to providing full tuition ($250 per year per student), the grant will also provide them with school supplies and STEM-related materials so they can excel.
All students would be selected after an exam and interview by Rotarians.
HEALTH
With the health system broken and the economy collapsed, many people cannot afford basic health care. Rotary is proposing four projects.
Mobile clinics
We can have the mobile clinic visit different places every day to see patients who don’t have access to doctors, primarily because of economic reasons.
Health abroad
We can have the mobile clinic visit different places every day to see patients who don’t have access to doctors, primarily because of economic reasons.
Health Fund
A selected number of patients who are in dire need of financial assistance and critical health, but minor surgeries that can be done in Afghanistan, will be supported by paying for their surgery.
The cost will be no more than $1,000 with doctors encouraged to perform the operation free of cost or at a significantly reduced cost. Funds would cover medicine and recovery costs.
Rotary is proposing financial support for those in critical health conditions or need surgery in Afghanistan
Training doctors & nurses
On regular basis we should have healthcare professionals come to Kabul to teach short-term courses to raise the expertise of the Afghan healthcare professionals.
Income Generation
To give dignity to people by allowing them to earn money through their own skills, Rotary is proposing two projects.
Arts & crafts
Rotary clubs around the world can purchase some products of Afghanistan (arts & crafts such as paintings, calligraphy, glass, silk goods, jewelry, felt, carpets, etc. as well as dried fruits, saffron, etc. all high quality and low prices) and sell it for themselves. This way, Rotary clubs raise money for themselves, and Afghan artists sell their items.
EXHIBITIONS
The hope is that Rotary clubs from Afghanistan would be given a free booth at various Rotary conventions to sell Afghan products. Money raised will be returned to Afghan artists.
The work of the three clubs carries tremendous vision and hope, as the Afghan Rotarians seek global support for their initiatives.
To find out more, email Rameen Javid at rjavid@gmail.com or visit Rotary Club of Kabul City’s Facebook page.
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