Afghanistan

“I love coming to school because my teachers are kind to me. They give us lunch and we can play and sing. My Mum is pleased because of the help the school gives me.”

Lida, age 10, who attends the Day Care Centre, Karte Char. 

30 years of chronic instability and conflict have had a dramatic impact on children’s education and wellbeing in Afghanistan. Extreme poverty and poor sanitation mean that one in four children will die before their fifth birthday - the third highest under five mortality rate in the world.

Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 there has been a huge increase in the number of children attending school, particularly girls. This jump in enrolment has led to a shortage of trained teachers and resources in schools meaning that older children are no longer allowed to enrol in grade 1. For many families poverty remains a barrier in their children's education and it is estimated that two thirds of school age children are still out of school.

Children in Crisis in Afghanistan

Children in Crisis has been working with the children of Afghanistan for over 10 years to provide them with education.

• Over the past 10 years Children in Crisis has trained over 10,000 teachers to provide education to some of Afghanistan's most vulnerable children. Alongside the Ministry of Education we are continuing to train teachers in the provinces of Ghor and Badghis.
• The Children in Crisis Karte Char Day Care Centre operates as a school and health clinic for over 500 children in a deprived district of Kabul. The centre also provides a daily meal, which for many children is their only meal of the day.
• Children in Crisis is working with two traditionally nomadic Kuchi groups who have been forced to settle in and around Kabul as a result of drought and war. A tent school has been set up in one of the Kuchi Camps and in both communities Children in Crisis trained teachers are providing lessons for 200 children.
• In the Koti Sangi area of Kabul, Children in Crisis is increasing awareness and understanding amongst religious leaders, parents, youth groups and teachers on the rights and protection of children through training and helping to set up community groups. 
• In partnership with UNICEF, Children in Crisis is helping to protect the most vulnerable children by providing training to over 150 care staff from orphanages and a juvenile rehabilitation centre in Kabul and the central provinces of Paktya, Bamiyan and Ghazni.