1. 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

2. 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.

3. The Afghan Institute of Learning Program Locations

4. Teacher Training

5. AIL Classroom for Afghan Refugee Students

6. Secret Home School for Girls During the Taliban Regime

7. Health Program

8. AIL Mobile Clinic

9. AIL Clinic Health Services

10. AIL Health Education

11. Sar Asia WLC Literacy Class

12. Sar Asia WLC Holy Qoran Class

13. Sar Asia WLC Sewing Class

15. AIL Peace Education in All Classes

16. Gender Issues & Empowering Education Workshops

17. Herat Leadership Workshop Group Work

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

19. Herat CHW Training One CHW from Sar Asia

20. Herat CHW Training--Men

21. Drawing by an AIL Student

22. Sakena Yacoobi Afghan Institute of Learning PO Box 1058 Dearborn, MI 48121 www.creatinghope.org/ail sakenay@aol.com