Girls' Education & Humanitarian Aid
Educational Programs
Our program of community-based education provides schooling to girls who might otherwise not become educated. Community-based education is recognized as a best practice and the most practical method to overcoming systemic and cultural barriers to girls’ education.
Zabuli Education Center
The Zabuli Education Center (ZEC) is Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation's flagship school for primary-age girls in the rural district of Deh'Subz, just outside Kabul. Since opening in 2008, ZEC has provided thousands of girls with a high-quality education in a safe, nurturing environment where they receive nutritious meals, school supplies, uniforms, transportation, and the resources they need to succeed.​
Today, as girls in Afghanistan remain barred from attending secondary school, ZEC continues to provide girls with the strongest possible educational foundation through Grade 6 while fostering confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.​
In 2019, ZEC was recognized by Afghanistan's Ministry of Education as one of the top four schools among 140 public and private schools in Kabul Province—a testament to the school's longstanding commitment to educational excellence.
Community Support Programs
​Girls in Afghanistan face some of the most significant barriers to education in the world, including governmental interference, child labor, child marriage, prohibitive cultural norms, as well as logistical and economic barriers such as inability to afford school or school supplies, lack of transportation, and extreme food insecurity.
Nutrition Program
Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation's Nutrition Program helps ensure that students and families have access to healthy, nutritious food. Through school meals, take-home food packages, and essential supplies, we support our students' well-being while providing food assistance to families throughout our community—helping children stay healthy, focused, and ready to learn.
Clothing Distribution
Through our partnership with Tailored for Education, Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation provides every Zabuli Education Center student with a complete school uniform, including shoes and undergarments, ensuring they have the essentials needed to attend school with confidence and dignity. We also distribute seasonal clothing, including warm coats, so students are prepared for Afghanistan's harsh winters and can continue attending school throughout the year.
Menstrual Health & Hygiene
RRH's Menstrual Health and Hygiene Program provides girls and women with essential hygiene supplies, including menstrual products, soap, shampoo, and new underwear. By improving access to these necessities, the program helps promote health, dignity, and confidence while reducing barriers to education and daily life.
Mobile Book Library
With girls in Afghanistan still barred from attending secondary school, RRH's Mobile Library brings books directly to adolescent girls whenever it is safe to do so. By providing access to books and recreational reading opportunities, the program helps nurture literacy, curiosity, and a love of learning for girls who would otherwise have limited access to reading materials at home.
Widow Support
To ease the suffering of Afghan women who have lost their husbands, in 2021 Razia's Ray of Hope began collaborating with Beyond the 11th, a humanitarian organization that partners with international aid groups to provide job training and economic opportunity to Afghan widows.
Winter Program
The Zabuli Education Center's Winter Session provides girls with three additional months of education during Afghanistan's traditional winter school break, extending valuable learning time when educational opportunities are limited. Although participation is optional, nearly 95% of students choose to attend continuing their studies in a safe, warm environment, receiving nutritious meals and winter clothing to help protect them from harsh winter conditions.
On Hold Programs
The following programs are currently on hold due to restrictions on girls' education in Afghanistan.
Secondary Education
Secondary Education for 7-12th grade girls is currently on hold due to restrictions on girls' education.
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We provide students with a well-rounded education from which they can respond to the needs of their communities. For each year of secondary school that a girl completes, she delays the birth of her first child by one year.
Teacher Training
In addition to offering English and Computer Literacy classes, the Razia Jan Institute offers a two year degree program preparing young women to take national exams to become certified K-6th grade teachers.
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Girls in Afghanistan are often only permitted to attend classes taught by female educators; the certification of female teachers is essential to the sustainability of girls' education in Afghanistan.
Midwifery Program
Our tuition-free program provides midwifery certification training in conjunction with the Afghan Ministry of Public Health. RJI graduates are trained community health care workers who provide lifesaving services to a severely medically-underserved area while improving social, health, and economic outcomes for themselves and their villages.