WEDUT. Women Education and Training
The right to study
When the Taliban returned to power and issued severe restrictions on women’s education and training, NOVE was forced to cancel projects such as I am a Woman and I Want to Work – Women in Business Hub, which from 2014 to 2021 had offered free courses in literacy, English, computer skills, professional cooking, and driving—alongside job placement services—to more than 2,854 women in Kabul (https://novecaringhumans.org/progetti/wibh/).
Despite enormous barriers and challenges, thanks to lengthy negotiations with the Taliban authorities, in 2024 we succeeded in launching the new WEDUT – Women Education and Training initiative in Kabul.
In a country where girls no longer have access to high schools, universities, or the career prospects and are effectively confined to their homes for much of the time with serious psychological consequences, the project provided:
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Safe spaces where 147 girls aged 14 to 16 were able to continue their studies and education.
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Intermediate and advanced English courses for 250 girls, 50 of whom went on to take a TOEFL exam preparation course.
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TOEFL exam preparation and financial support for the exam fees for the 50 girls who achieved the highest scores at the end of the advanced English courses. This certification is currently one of the very few keys to continuing education and finding work, as it enables access to both foreign universities and online employment.
The impact of WEDUT extended to the families of the girls involved and the wider community, creating a multiplier effect of knowledge and opportunity.
WEDUT stands as a model of educational resilience and women’s empowerment in one of the most challenging contexts in the world.
Afghanistan, Kabul – 2024-2026
Donors:
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Fondo di Beneficenza Intesa San Paolo and 8×1000 Battista (for 2023/2024)
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Fondo di Beneficenza Intesa San Paolo (for 2024/2026)