Protecting & Enabling Afghan Women & Girls

RET Programming in bridging the gaps in girls’ and young women’s education in Afghanistan 
From its office in Peshawar, set up in 2003, to improve the quality level of Afghan refugee secondary schools in Pakistan, RET implemented education projects which benefited Afghan refugee secondary schools. The RET supported the refugee students to repatriate, to continue their higher studies in Afghanistan, so as to become good professionals, who could productively contribute to their country’s reconstruction efforts. As a result of its cross-border activities establishing a close cooperation with the Ministries of Education, Higher Education UNHCR UNESCO and UNICEF in Afghanistan.

RET was able to transfer its educational expertise to Afghanistan in order to improve the quality of secondary education of the returnees. In October 2007, RET’s Regional Office was moved from Peshawar to Kabul. RET’s choice of program approaches to education, and implementing partners contributed to durable solutions, sustainable development, voluntary repatriation, reconstruction, and sustainable peace and stability in the affected regions and in the world. 

Addressing the gender imbalance in education globally is of utmost importance. The RET provides the path to sustainability and we always transition to the local communities and actors.  

In RET’s programming, young female refugees are given the opportunity to gain access to education, to gain market relevant vocational training and much needed life skills, thus enabling them to develop themselves and rebuild their society together. The RET bridges gaps between conflict and peace, between primary and post-primary education between post- primary and tertiary education, leading to employment. Female refuges can provide support for their families when they are given the opportunity of vocational training and education. RET trained young female Afghan refugees to become teachers. War widows and underprivileged young women in Afghanistan are provided with a sense of empowerment, independence, confidence and self- reliance. Towards this end, young war widows learnt to make furniture in RET’s carpentry class. 

RET strongly believes that young women and girls, once educated, can transmit their knowledge to their entire families and communities. Science lessons enable young women to broaden their educational scope for Afghanistan. Evidence has shown that young Afghan girls experience a greater degree of security when they are educated. The benefits of post- primary education are widespread. Access to secondary education creates long-term, sustainable growth for the rebuilding and recovery of post-conflict states. RET opened a prototype secondary school, coupled with a much-needed health clinic for the young Afghan refugee female students in Pashawar to provide essential basic health care. It is very important to highlight that RETs projects for Afghans with disabilities ensured that they have access to education. The RET’s experience shows that traditional communities prefer female teachers for their daughters, ensuring higher attendance at school.