Aid for Afghan Women and Children (AAWC)

Partner: Aid for Afghan Women and Chidren (AAWC)
Project: Fatema Tul Zahra Schools
Location: Kabul and Maimana City
Canadian Donor Support: US$80,600 for 2012

AAWC is a small organization founded in 1997 to assist Afghan widows, orphans and other children unable to be cared for by their destitute families. Funding supported by Canadian donors goes to two schools, one located in Maimana City of Faryab Province in Northern Afghanistan and the other in a poor district of Kabul City. Both schools are named Fatema Tul Zahra. Approximately 20 orphaned children live at the school in Faryab. This school holds shifts for grades 1-8 (soon increasing to Grade 10) for 194 students (111 female) taught by 11 teachers and supported by 6 additional staff members. Aproximately 1,100 family members are indirect beneficiaries in the Faryab location. The school in Kabul has a total of 218 students (139 female) with three shifts of classes each day for grades 1-9, taught by 14 qualified teachers. In 2011, 24 students (7 female) graduated and gained admission to government schools to continue their studies. Approximately 1,835 family members are indirect beneficiaries of this project in Kabul. Extra courses are offered in skills training such as computer, English and tailoring. Additional employees include a head master, a cook, security guard and a messenger. The students are provided with health services, stationery, clothes and books at no cost.

In 2012, there is a plan to relocate the school to a new district and construct a school building so that the sky-rocketing rent issues can be stabilized and the school can have a new 'home' for the long-term.

“When you see what this school is accomplishing with so little in the way of funding, it is amazing. The students are eager to learn and, in the most difficult of situations, are learning. Some of these students are very bright. Ask them what they want to be when they grow up and they answer, ‘doctors, teachers and engineers’. With the right help some of them could accomplish their goal.”

Janis Rapchuk, Board Member

Site Visit Jan 2011 below: