Education for Afghan women

 

    Prior to class, we watched a video about the creation of SOLA, a program for schooling for Afghan women and girls. Before watching the video, I had little knowledge about SOLA and schooling for Afghan girls. I found the video very interesting and was very intrigued to learn more about the program as well as the history of schooling for Afghan girls from Mr. Quimby.

    Schooling for Afghan girls has faced many significant challenges as a result of political instability, as well as restrictive policies, especially under the rule of the Taliban. Even though there have been periods of progress, afghan girls still face many setbacks to this day. In many areas, girls are completely banned from attending secondary school as well as university, which limits their opportunities as well as their rights. Despite this, many Afghan girls and their families still continue to make their best efforts to advocate for education. Many families have their kids studying in secret, or through online platforms. SOLA is the first and only boarding school for girls led by Afghans, and they are dedicated to providing education and fostering leadership skills and roles among young girls. SOLA was founded in 2008 by Shabana Basij-Rasikh, an Afghan woman who first hand faced what Afghan girls face in recent days under the rule of the Taliban. In 2021 SOLA relocated their school and evacuated to Rwanda, where they now have a full campus. SOLA emphasizes religious education in its curriculum and focuses on the importance of the Quran. The Quran is the religious text of Islam, and students engage in studies that include reading and being able to fully understand the Quran. By doing this, the students are able to deepen their religious beliefs while still pursuing a comprehensive education. This approach reflects on the commitment of the program to foster a well rounded experience that both respects and incorporates the Afghan culture and religious values.

    When Mr. Quimby came in to talk about education for Afghan women, he shared inspiring stories of students and girls from the SOLA program. He told us a story about one girl who was in danger, and was relocating to go to school, and almost lost her life in the process. The girl could have been shot and killed, but she stood up and ran for her life because of how important her education was to her. While Mr. Quimby told this story, he was tearing up and I could see how much he truly cares about the education of Afghan girls. This was very eye-opening for me, and it helped me to realize how truly lucky I am to be where I am today. My dad is from Bosnia and Herzegovina and grew up in the war. Even though he could have put his safety in jeopardy, he still walked to school every day with his younger brother, knowing that he could potentially lose his life as a result of wanting a good education. Growing up, he would always tell me stories about the war and tell me how lucky I am to have what I do. Now having multiple perspectives of what schooling is like across the world, I am very grateful for being able to have a stable education and have the opportunities I do.