Access to education is essential for young deaf Afghan women, often marginalized in their communities, to realize their potential.

The challenge:

Afghanistan is the most dangerous country in the world for women according a study from the Thompson Reuters Foundation – but for girls and women who are deaf or hard of hearing, conditions of living are even harder. Because of the stigma attached to disabled people in Afghanistan, the deaf and hard of hearing community, which includes 10,000 children, lives occupies the fringe of society. Owing to their gender status, deaf Afghan girls and women face what is known as ‘double discrimination’, which frequently includes sexual discrimination and exploitation.

Because of the dire lack of educational facilities and specialized teachers, deaf and hard of hearing girls and women in Afghanistan have little hope of finding a qualified job and of improving their situation. Opportunities for integration with the rest of society remain very limited.

The solutions we’re proposing:

W4’s field partner Mountain2Mountain is set to create a multitude of educational opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing girls in Kabul by building a school catering for both primary and secondary level students, with specific programs dedicated to training specialized teachers and interpreters. This way, deaf and hard of hearing girls and young women will be able to exercise their fundamental right to an education and develop their potential in a stimulating environment.

The school will provide not only basic teaching (such as reading, writing and sign language), but also vocational training, for instance in agriculture. A training center for specialized teachers and interpreters will be part of the school, alleviating the shortage of such teachers in Afghanistan.

Your impact:

Your contribution will help fund both the building of the school and the training of new teachers and interpreters, vital to ensuring that deaf and hard of hearing afghan girls have access to education.

To learn more about the impact of your donation, read our last impact report.

Help transform these young girls and women’s life prospects by ensuring access to a specialized and quality education!