Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls are banned from secondary education. According to UNICEF and UNESCO, approximately 2.2 million Afghan girls are currently denied access to education beyond primary school, and if the ban remains in place until 2030, more than four million girls could be affected[1].
In response to this ongoing violation of fundamental rights, the Soroptimists of Merate launched A Secret School in Afghanistan in 2025 as part of their annual scholarship initiative dedicated to the memory of Anna Bianchi, the Club’s first President. Guided by the belief that education is one of the most powerful tools for women’s empowerment, the Club sought to provide Afghan girls with access to learning opportunities that would otherwise be denied to them.
To implement the project, the Soroptimists of Merate partnered with CISDA (Italian Coordination in Support of Afghan Women), which collaborates with RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan), a long-standing Afghan feminist organisation committed to women’s rights and education. Alongside an initial Club contribution of €5,000, a year-long awareness and fundraising campaign raised a further €13,950, supported by private donors and an additional contribution from SI Club Terre Oglio Po (Italy).
The funds enabled RAWA to support clandestine schools in Bamyan, Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, Farah and Nangarhar, reaching approximately 400 girls aged 13 to 18. Depending on local circumstances, students received instruction in literacy, mathematics, science, computer studies, English and Dari. In some locations, educational activities also included cultural programmes and opportunities for civic engagement.
Beyond education, the project became a powerful advocacy initiative. Through public events, social media campaigns and collaboration with other Soroptimist Clubs, the Soroptimists of Merate raised awareness of the gender apartheid faced by Afghan women and girls while promoting Soroptimist advocacy for women’s rights, education and gender equality.
In a country where learning has become an act of courage, these secret schools provide far more than knowledge. They offer hope, dignity and the possibility of a future in which Afghan girls can reclaim their voices and shape their own destinies.
Additional Information
Project achieved by:
- Supporting clandestine schools for girls in five Afghan provinces.
- Raising awareness of Afghan women’s and girls’ rights.
- Mobilising fundraising and advocacy for access to education.
Women & girls reached: 400
Funds raised by the Club: €13,950
Funds raised by partners: €1,000
Partners:
- CISDA (Italian Coordination in Support of Afghan Women)
- RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan)
- SI Terre Oglio Po (Italy)
[1] https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/new-school-year-starts-afghanistan-almost-400000-more-girls-deprived-their-right?utm_source