Help Educate Women & Girls in Afghanistan

This May, Sahar Education’s programs continued to create pathways for Afghan women and girls to learn, build confidence, and prepare for brighter futures. Across Underground TechSheroes, Threads of Hope, and Secret Scholars Online, students strengthened practical skills, received encouragement and support, and continued learning despite ongoing restrictions and challenges.

In the Underground TechSheroes program, 120 women are currently participating in technology and empowerment classes. This month, students continued developing coding and web development skills through lessons in HTML and website design. They practiced creating simple web pages, adding colors and styles with CSS, inserting images and links, building tables and lists, using classes and IDs, creating responsive layouts, and designing forms.

These lessons helped students better understand how websites are structured while giving them hands-on experience in coding. By the end of the month, students were more confident using HTML and were excited to continue building their technology skills.

Underground TechSheroes also continued its Women’s Empowerment sessions. This month’s discussions focused on reviewing previous topics and introducing mental health awareness, stress management, and mindfulness. Students learned about emotional balance, self-awareness, and healthy ways to manage stress. A special guest speaker led a session on mindfulness and mental health, giving students practical exercises for relaxation and focus.

Threads of Hope also reached an important milestone in May as 100 participants completed the final month of teaching and learning activities. Students finished their coursework in tailoring, literacy, and health and psychosocial awareness, and final examinations were successfully conducted.

Throughout the month, participants showed strong progress in practical tailoring skills. Many are now able to measure, cut, sew, and finish garments with greater independence and confidence. Some participants received tailoring orders from community members and earned income through their work. Others are making clothes for themselves and their families, helping reduce household expenses while building self-reliance.

Participants also demonstrated increased confidence and initiative by using smartphones and social media to promote their tailoring work, communicate with customers, and explore new income-generating opportunities. Several women have begun sharing their skills with others, including teaching relatives, friends, and community members. These examples show how Threads of Hope is creating a ripple effect beyond the classroom.

One participant, Huma, began teaching young students using the knowledge and confidence she gained through the program. Others, including Mahbooba, Nargis, and Maryam, began working together to offer tailoring services in their community. Their progress shows how education, vocational training, and encouragement can help women move from learning new skills to creating opportunities for themselves and others.

May also marked the beginning of the second full round of Secret Scholars Online. This program helps girls continue learning through online study, academic support, and regular communication. In May, 120 students were enrolled to begin classes and learning with the Learning Upgrade app.

The first month focused on onboarding students, helping them access the Learning Upgrade platform, creating WhatsApp groups for communication, and providing academic and technical support. Seven live sessions were held, including orientation sessions on platform use and program expectations, as well as support sessions where students could ask questions and receive help.

Students faced challenges such as internet access, lack of personal devices, login issues, and difficulty using the learning platform. Even with these obstacles, many students remained engaged and continued learning. Support through WhatsApp and live sessions helped students stay connected and receive the guidance they needed.

Across all three programs, May showed the power of accessible education. Students gained digital skills, literacy, tailoring experience, emotional support, and confidence. Some are learning to code, some are building income-generating skills, and others are continuing their education online. Together, these programs are helping Afghan women and girls continue learning, imagine new possibilities, and build more independent futures.

Links:

• 2025 Impact Reports