Illiteracy in Afghanistan

By Isma Jilani

 

BACKGROUND INFO

 

      The civil war in Afghanistan has escalated to a point where poverty, ethnic conflicts, kidnapping, and killing of innocent people are a part of daily life. These include the poor, the homeless, women and children, and police officers.

      With 70 percent of the population living in poverty, the war has only increased their struggle to live. It is not hard to believe that several times throughout the day, bombs are going off killing hundreds of people. One of the most controversial issues going on to this day in Afghanistan is whether girls/ women should be getting the right to an education.

       Nine out of ten women are illiterate either because they are not allowed to or they do not have the access to do so. More than half of the girls are either engaged or married by the age of ten,and it is often to a man who is much older than them! Once they are married off, they are expected to fulfill the needs of the groom and his family instead of pursuing an education. Even more threatening to a girl’s education is the fact that some men go to such great extents to exclude females from education that they threaten to kill, burn and harm the students and teachers. Some Islamic extremists do not permit women leaving their homes at all especially if they are alone but they should be covered completely and accompanied by a male relative at all times.

     However, access to education has been becoming more available to women as they years pass because of the efforts of human rights activists and people advocating for change. InshaAllah through dua and our generous efforts, the women of Afghanistan will one day be able to get an education and live freely.

 

WAYS TO HELP

 

Donate

 

Sometimes it may be hard to find it in our hearts to donate but we should always keep in mind that not everyone is as fortunate as us to have what we have. Education seems like it's something generic, but these women in Afghanistan are struggling to the right to even walk outside freely. Imagine yourself in their shoes wouldn't you want help?

 

Find out more about helping and donating in this link below

 

http://www.womenforwomen.org/global-initiatives-helping-women/help-women-afghanistan.php