Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are systematically banned from education beyond grade six. Millions of girls have lost access to secondary education, contributing to increased isolation, mental distress, early marriage, and long-term exclusion from public life. Online education represents one of the few remaining pathways to continued learning, wellbeing, and future opportunities. Internet shutdowns, electricity shortages, and instability increasingly threaten educational continuity, making resilient and flexible learning systems essential.

This project will support approximately 1,500 students, the majority of them girls and young women across Afghanistan, including Kabul, Herat, Mazar, Badakhshan, and other underserved areas. Some students are also displaced in neighbouring countries.

Teaching is delivered by qualified educators from Afghanistan and internationally. In addition to regular classroom engagement, students receive several hours of academic instruction weekly depending on their level. Students generally receive around three hours of mentoring and wellbeing support monthly. To ensure continuity during internet shutdowns and instability, AEA uses low-bandwidth systems including downloadable PDFs, worksheets, recorded classes, audio lessons, WhatsApp and Google Classroom learning, and offline educational materials accessible asynchronously.

Access to safe and continuous education supports attendance, retention, and student engagement; improved English, digital literacy, STEM, and academic skills; progression into higher learning levels and scholarship pathways. Previous students report improved wellbeing, confidence, and sense of hope stemming from strengthened resilience and peer support networks.