At Home Education for Afghan Girls

Afghanistan has many needs and problems.

The greatest need is education that will provide knowledge and skills to a very young population. Two-thirds of the population is 25 or younger.

The greatest problem is the policy that prohibits girls from attending school after the sixth grade. UNESCO reports 2.5 million girls and young women are out of school due to the ban. Before the universities were closed for women, one in three students were young women; some 100,000 were denied their dreams of pursuing their educational goals.

If girls cannot go to school, we need to bring school to their home.

During the twenty years prior to 2021 there had been a significant investment in wireless communication that brings internet connectivity to many Afghan homes. The service and equipment is expensive for most Afghan families but is a small cost with a high impact compared to other programs.

Unemployment is high resulting lack of income. The program provides employment to qualified Afghan teachers and administrators.

Students that complete the high school curriculum can receive a transcript of their classes and grades and can apply to attend universities outside of Afghanistan. Some girls will qualify for admission and financial aid.

This project is a pioneering initiative to provide education for Afghan girls facing barriers to attending traditional schools. Due to challenging conditions in Afghanistan that limit girls' access to schools, this project utilizes a tele-education program facilitated by teachers conducting online classes in collaboration with a high school academy in San Diego County. The girls will be eligible to receive a diploma and transcript of grades from the high school academy.

The student receives a laptop or tablet with an installed battery and a device to connect to a wireless communication system. Because electrical power supplies are not reliable, they also receive a power pack battery that can be charged when power is available.

Classes that are led by teachers in the US are scheduled in the evening in Afghanistan. Classes that are led by teachers in Afghanistan are scheduled during the day.

Students at the Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego County can participate in the classes.

Background

In Afghanistan, cultural and security concerns impede girls from attending traditional schools. Recognizing this challenge, International Orphan Care initiated a program with 20 students as a pilot with the aim to expand and transform the educational landscape for Afghan girls.

In collaboration with the Eileen Murphy Foundation, Flowers For The Future and High Bluff Academy the program has been expanded to other girls.

Goal

The primary goal is to establish a sustainable tele-education program to provide quality education for Afghan girls who face obstacles in attending physical schools. This initiative aims to empower these girls through online learning, fostering their academic growth and future opportunities.

Objective
1. Develop and implement a secure tele-education platform tailored for Afghan girls.
2. Recruit expert teachers proficient in online instruction to conduct classes.
3. Provide a curriculum addressing the specific educational needs of girls.
4. Evaluate the success of the initial phase and expand the program based on lessons learned.

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The project is a collaboration of many organizations. The principal participants are:

Flowers For The Future (FFF) Flowers For The Future is a student run club at Canyon Crest Academy a public high school in San Diego County. The members participate in classes with Afghan students and assist with planning, organizing and managing activities.

The Eileen Murphy Foundation (EMF) is incorporated in the State of California as a Public Benefit Corporation and qualifies as a charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, as amended (the "Code") with Federal Tax Identification Number 87-4690277. EMF is formed, organized, and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. EMF is not registered in Afghanistan as a non-governmental organization.

High Bluff Academy is a private high school that is authorized to have international students and can provide a diploma and transcript of grades for the Afghan students.

International Orphan Care (IOC) is incorporated in the State of California as a Public Benefit Corporation and is exempt from income taxes of California and the United States under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, as amended (the "Code") with Federal Tax Identification Number 33-0547951. IOC is formed, organized, and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, and is registered in Afghanistan as an International Non-Governmental Organization with NGO Certificate of Registration 258.

IOC was formed to fulfill its expressed mission to provide - HOPE - Help Orphans and at-risk children be Productive and Educated – for a better tomorrow. Our goal is to uplift lives, break the cycle of poverty, and empower individuals to create a better future.

To implement its mission, IOC provides the following services:

Vocational and academic education for orphans and the children of poor families, internally displaced families, and refugee families,
Monthly financial support for widows with children and desperately poor families to discourage child labor and encourage children to attend school,
Food distribution programs to provide nourishment to families without resources to purchase food.
Medical care for orphans and children of poor families unable to purchase medicine and healthcare services,
Resettlement Services for at-risk refugees to immigrant to a country where they can live in safety, attend school, and become productive members of their new homeland, and
Collaborate with other organizations with similar goals, including entering into Fiscal Sponsorship Agreements.