Helping Rebuild Education in Afghanistan for Girls

Afghanistan has always felt like a place caught between extremes—breathtaking beauty and brutal history, resilience and repression. I went to Bamiyan to see a remote school project we had helped support. Afterall we all know the issues many people face here in Afghanistan, especially young girls.

Tucked away in the mountains of central Afghanistan, the school is barely visible from the outside—a deliberate decision. After years of conflict and recent crackdowns, especially on girls’ education, safety is everything. Classrooms here aren’t what you'd expect. Some are built into caves, others made from salvaged materials, with no proper flooring, heating, or windows. But the main thing – learning still happens. Reports by UNESCO highlight the severe impact recent crackdowns have had on girls' ability to access education.

I met a group of girls huddled on the floor, sharing textbooks, fully aware that their access to education could be taken away at any moment. I also met a teacher who hadn’t been paid in months; her motive, “if I stop, they stop.” Organisations like Save the Children continue to advocate for these girls, fighting to keep classrooms open.

This is where our support came in. We helped raise just over £800 for the school—a modest sum by Western standards, but in Bamiyan, it stretches far. The funds went directly toward school supplies, repairing damaged classrooms, and helping provide basic heating for the winter months. It’s not much, but it means the difference between a functioning school and a forgotten one. Our support aligns closely with efforts by the Afghan Institute of Learning to provide community-based education programs.

The challenges are enormous. Political uncertainty, cultural restrictions, lack of resources—it’s a constant uphill climb. But what hit me hardest wasn’t the hardship—it was the determination. In a place where even hope feels dangerous, these kids still show up. They still learn. They still believe that education is their way out. I sure didn’t have the mentality they have!

Leaving Bamiyan, I didn’t feel satisfied—I felt responsible. A bit sad especially when you jump into a jumbo jet and head straight back into your safe bubble called Northern Ireland. Sometimes we don’t know how lucky we are.