November Note from Razia:
You have changed the future of an entire village

I want you to know that your support is making a measurable difference. An entire village has been touched: 300 girls educated; 3,000 people affected.

We are just about to conclude our fourth year of school. When we first opened our doors in 2008, 80% of our students had never attended school and were not able to read or write. Grouped by age, the highest level was fourth grade. This year, that first group of fourth graders is finishing seventh grade and should move up to eighth grade next term. But to everyone’s surprise, most of the seventh graders want to skip eighth grade altogether. They want to take an extra set of exams so that they can move to ninth grade.

These girls are doing exceptionally well, and are driven to learn. And this class is not alone. A few brave students from sixth grade want to skip seventh grade and go straight to the eighth grade. And some of the fifth graders want to jump to seventh grade.

For the adults and teachers who support these students, this is an amazing, wonderful development. We are thrilled to give these girls a chance to excel. I am so proud of our students and teachers.

This level of success is a direct reflection of the support that you are providing to our teachers and students. I have no words to thank you for what you’ve done for our girls, our community, our future.

Razia Jan

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Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and children in Afghanistan through community-based education. Founded with the belief that education is key to positive, peaceful change for current and future generations, the foundation strives to provide opportunities to learn and grow in a safe, nurturing environment.

Razia with students

The Zabuli Education Center

PROGRAMS

Zabuli Education Center: Our work in the village of Deh’Subz began with the Zabuli Education Center, a school for girls that opened its doors in March 2008.

FUTURE PROGRAMS

Adult Education Program: The Zabuli Education Center will be home to an adult education program, providing vocational training and literacy education to women during evenings and weekends. The adult education center is expecting 20 to 30 women, many of them widows with children, to come to learn a trade or how to start a business. As Razia Jan observes, “There are a lot of widows with little kids they support. We want to give them a hand to help them make a living.”

Medical Clinic and Commercial Development: Afghanistan has the third-highest infant mortality rate in the world. To combat that statistic, Razia’s Ray of Hope has acquired land adjacent to the Zabuli Education Center for the site of a healthcare facility. The clinic will provide vital prenatal care to pregnant women, support for home-based labor and delivery, and neonatal care for infants. The project’s scope includes a cluster of businesses to support the village of Deh’Subz and surrounding communities within the district.