Dear Friends,

As the calendar turns toward spring, we celebrate two occasions of rebirth. International Women’s Day marks the renewal of women’s strength with its #AccelerateAction campaign and the upraised fist of determination. Ramadan is celebrated from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next, demonstrating the cyclical return of fullness and light after darkness. Nawroz, the spring equinox, is the traditional return to school.

Our students at AFSO are likewise starting to bloom after a long winter of oppression by the Taliban. Having honed their skills in English, critical thinking, academic writing, research, and mathematics, they are prepared to pass the TOEFL and apply to institutions of higher education around the world. We have already placed more than a dozen students at institutions around the world. As many of our partners are closing down initiatives due to lack of USAID funding, AFSO remains the brightest light university women in Afghanistan have today. This campaign aims to bring that light to the days ahead by funding

TOEFL practice tests and online testing for qualified candidates
Expert international guidance counseling
New partnerships with colleges and universities
For those who secure scholarships, passport renewal, visa costs, and travel costs

This year began with a winter of chaos, fear, and disappointment for many. Now is a chance to invest in hope, knowing that ground well laid will yield plentiful returns. Please give as generously as you are able.

Happy spring,

The AFSO Team

A Light Exists in Spring

By Afghan Female Student Outreach

A Light Exists in Spring