Strategy to Empower and Educate Afghan Women Paper presented at the World Bank Global Symposium Education: A Critical Path to Gender Equality and Empowerment Washington, D.C. October 2-3, 2007 Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, B.S., M.P.H., Doctor of Laws Executive Director Afghan Institute of Learning

Strategy to Empower and Educate Afghan Women Core Concepts 1. Begin at the grassroots with locally identified needs. 2. Start with the least controversial service in the least conservative area. 3. Do not impose services on a community. 4. Offer high-quality, culturally sensitive programs, incorporating feedback from participants. 5. Act at the request of the community when expanding services. 6. Require that the community contribute to the development of the new program. 7. Recognize that in Afghan culture, trust and relationships are personal not organizational. 8. Set flexible rules. 9. Hold high standards, have high expectations, and model them. 10. Offer more controversial programs in a voluntary, culturally sensitive way after trust has been established.

The Afghan Institute of Learning Program Locations

Teacher Training

AIL Classroom for Afghan Refugee Students

Secret Home School for Girls During the Taliban Regime

Health Program

AIL Mobile Clinic

AIL Clinic Health Services

AIL Health Education

Sar Asia WLC Literacy Class

Sar Asia WLC Holy Qoran Class

Sar Asia WLC Sewing Class

AIL Peace Education in All Classes

Gender Issues & Empowering Education Workshops

Herat Leadership Workshop Group Work

Group Work in Life Skills Workshop Baby Learns Too!!!!

Herat CHW Training One CHW from Sar Asia

Herat CHW Training--Men

Drawing by an AIL Student

Sakena Yacoobi Afghan Institute of Learning PO Box 1058 Dearborn, MI