This appeal is to help cover the monthly internet data costs for our students in Afghanistan so they can stay connected to our online Academy, attend their classes without interruption, and avoid dropping out simply because their families cannot afford internet access.

Victory Afghanistan is a volunteer run, US registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We are an online English school and mentorship Academy preparing Afghan girls and women for higher education, online internships, and online work. We are supported by 150 volunteers from 24 countries, including 88 English teachers, 30 mentors, 9 Book Club hosts, 5 counsellors, and 4 yoga teachers. We are completely unfunded. All of our work is voluntary, and all education is provided free of charge to our students.

WHO OUR STUDENTS ARE

Our students range in age from 11 to 40 years old. We have both mothers and daughters studying in our Academy, and our students come from over 20 provinces across Afghanistan.

Since September 2021, girls and women have been banned from high school, university, and work. They have been forced out of public life and into isolation. Despite this, there are currently more than 20,000 girls and women online inside Afghanistan trying to continue their education. Our Academy exists to support a small part of that effort in a structured, safe, and meaningful way.

WHY INTERNET ACCESS MATTERS

To keep one girl connected to education:

• One month costs: $13 ( £10.50)

• One semester costs about: $52 (£41)

• One year costs about: $104 (£82)

The vast majority of our students come from extremely poor families. Their parents cannot afford monthly internet data, and this situation is made even more difficult because women are not allowed to work in Afghanistan. Around 90% of our students rely on mobile phones because laptops are completely unaffordable. When their data runs out, they cannot attend lessons. They miss classes, lose contact with their teachers, and many eventually drop out.

HOW YOUR SUPPORT WORKS

Until now, we have only been able to support students with internet data in small and inconsistent ways. We do this through DING.com, where our team uploads phone credit directly onto students’ mobile accounts so they can access their classes. However, we have not yet secured institutional funding for this essential need, although we are actively working towards it.

WHAT STUDENTS RECEIVE

We run two semesters each year, and each semester lasts 16 weeks. Students who stay connected have access to:

• Six levels of English, from ABC to advanced

• Mentorship and career guidance

• Emotional wellbeing support

• Preparation for high school diplomas

• Preparation for English certificates such as Duolingo, IELTS, and TOEFL

• Pathways to higher education, online internships, and online employment

We currently have 800 students in our online Academy. Our goal is to support all of them so they can remain in education and continue accessing our programmes. The total cost to provide internet data for all students is $41,600 per semester, which is approximately £33,300.

OUR ORGANISATION

Victory Afghanistan was founded in July 2023 by four Afghan women in response to the gender apartheid and severe human rights violations facing women and girls in Afghanistan. The organisation was created to provide Afghan girls and women with access to education, opportunity, and hope at a time when they were being systematically excluded from public life.

We are now in our 6th semester and have built 9 international partnerships, including Pearson, Living Wisdom International School in California, and Soho Shakespeare in New York. Alongside our academic programmes, we also run movie nights, quiz nights, and host guest speakers such as astronauts, historians, and educators to inspire our students and help them feel connected to the wider world.

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

All donations for this appeal are made to Victory Afghanistan’s registered US nonprofit bank account. From there, the organisation pays directly for students’ internet data using DING.com, a global mobile top up provider. Our team transfers credit directly onto each student’s mobile account so they can access the internet for their classes. Funds are never handed directly to students in cash. This ensures full financial transparency, accountability, and safeguarding at every stage.

SECURITY AND SAFEGUARDING

Please note that, due to the security sensitive environment in which we operate, we must be careful about how much detail we publish publicly. Our priority is to protect our students and the wider school community. More detailed information can always be shared directly on request, but our online presence is intentionally kept light to avoid drawing unwanted attention that could place students or volunteers at risk.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For further information or questions, please contact: [email protected]

Roquiya Sayeq is one of the four founding Afghan women of Victory Afghanistan and the organisation’s Public Relations Director.

Website: www.victoryafghanistan.org

Instagram: @victoryafghanistan