Project Overview
The project involved the building, staffing and opening of a literacy and computer training centre in Kabul, in a bid to empower the city's widows by enabling them to enter the workforce.

Problem / Project Background
Around 40 percent of the Afghan population lives on less than one dollar a day. Widows and their children are the most vulnerable members of society and due to a lack of social services and educational/vocational programmes they are mainly dependent on hand outs, begging or other aid. Many widows come to Kabul in the hope of finding employment, but opportunities are scarce and less than one third of Afghani’s over the age of 15 can read and write. The literacy rate amongst women, at 21 percent, is one of the lowest in the world.

Project Objectives

• to empower widows in Kabul through literacy (Dari and English) and computer training.
• to provide them with the necessary skills to enter the workforce.
• to support the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of the children of the widows in the programme, by offering a free nursery school in the same location.

Project Activities

• selecting beneficiaries and suitable location for the centre.
• recruiting teachers (Dari and English speaking) and supporting staff.
• training staff.
• furnishing and equipping the centre.
• holding a ‘meet and greet’ session for beneficiaries and staff.
• holding a grand opening ceremony before the start of courses

Beneficiaries
The centre will benefit 60 widows and 60 orphans per year.