Project Report
| Feb 20, 2015
Boys are reading, with AIL's help
By Elizabeth Appleyard | Program Officer
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One of AIL’s primary goals is to raise the level of education across Afghanistan. Improving the rate of literacy is one of the stepping stones to that goal. An educated people is the key to a self-supporting country. Literacy is elemental to education and can be attained at any age. AIL staff are always encouraging people, no matter their age, to attend a literacy class. Boys are encouraged to start learning with literacy or to restart their education if it has been interrupted. Classes are provided but so are reading materials which are needed for literacy skills to grow. AIL supports libraries and library rooms at its Learning Centers so students, including boys have access to books, learn to research questions or problems, and gain confidence in their reading ability.
The Citadel Library in Herat, which AIL supports, continues to attract people with around 170-200 visitors each month. AIL’s Calligraphy Class at the Citadel has 23 male students who are learning this ancient Afghan art. AIL continues to add to its own library in its office in Herat and aims to enlarge the subject matter collection so that people have a resource, whatever the topic they are interested in. AIL also seeks donations where possible and recently 300 songbooks (Awsana se Sana) were sent to its Kabul Office along with over 800 teachers guides.
Thank you for your interest in literacy in Afghanistan.
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Dec 9, 2014
Computing- a popular option for many boys!
By Elizabeth Appleyard | Program Officer
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As elsewhere in the world, computing skills are highly desirable to employers. AIL students are aware of this fact and are fascinated by computers. The boys computing class in one village in Kabul Province is always full. This class was set up as an offshoot from the Learning Center (LC established in the village by AIL in 2002. The village also has an AIL medical clinic. The LC provides literacy, math, English and sewing skills training as well as advanced classes for boys who need remedial work for school. The center then decided to set up a computer class as this was frequently requested. The class teaches Word, Excel and Windows.
These classes change lives as one student said,” For poor people in our country AIL is the seashore at the time of a shipwreck and as a poet said, you should take the hand of a falling person when you stand on your feet. In this situation AIL is a boat for the generation of youth and we will never forget their help.”
Many of AIL’s centers offer computing classes and in September, in Herat Province there were 166 male students studying computing at LCs. There is also a special English and Computing 6 month course offered at a few centers. The latter course is especially popular as it combines two highly regarded skills and makes navigating the internet that much easier.
Thanks for your support. We have included Creating Hope International’s 2014 newsletter which contains information on AIL’s work. We hope you will take a few minutes to read through it.
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Sep 9, 2014
Boys encouraged to exercise
By Elizabeth Appleyard | Program Administrator
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AIL is dedicated to seeing all people thrive especially the youth of Afghanistan. Boys are encouraged to study and develop academic skills as well as social skills. In addition, exercise of the body for its own sake is important, as well as the benefits it provides to support mental pursuits.
Here is a story from one AIL center:
“The Youth Council at the center made a cup for football competitions. In the tournament, 4 teams competed and the winning team received the cup and a prize made by the center manager. The matches encouraged all students to do some exercise in the clubs and at homes. AIL’s approach has always been to treat the whole person and physical exercise is especially important for the young. AIL encourages youth to do exercises because it expands their talents and helps them be more active and alert in daily activities and lessons. For example, one of the students said, “I like football. I am in a football team at the AIL center. I exercise every other day. I like it because it makes me fresh and healthy. I recommend everyone in my family and my friends to exercise”.
Healthy body, healthy mind! Exercise helps boys be ready and able to study and believe in their capacity to succeed.
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