Since my visit to Afghanistan in February this year we have been working with an IDP community to establish a community based education program. The current school is an old clinic with 7 rooms, (each about 15m2). There is an enrolment of 3,000 lucky children, (there’s no room for the other 3,000) and an average class size of 90; the boys in the morning and the girls in the afternoon.
Many of the children from 8 years old up work on the streets in the city, or make adobe bricks to help their families survive. Most of the men and teenage boys go into the city looking for day work. But the parents would give up the extra, child generated, income for an education for their kids.
Simplistically: our goal is to bring community based schooling to the kids that are currently missing out. It's been a long process and I am hoping that by the end of this year, that thanks to the work of the Afghan team we will have an agreed project. But a significant stepping stone was achieved yesterday...
Nothing (worthwhile and sustainable) is possible in an Afghan community without the agreement of the local shura leader (community management). For the last few months the team have been talking, explaining, amending and drinking tea with the Maslakh shura leader, and yesterday finally we (literally) got the thumbs up. This is exciting news and means that next year we can begin work towards refurbishing, equipping and expanding the existing school, whilst at the same time working to introduce some home based schooling. Boys and girls will get to go to school!