Afghanistan Reads! | Afghanistan Lowalee!
Community Libraries, Literacy and Books
The Afghanistan Reads! | Afghanistan Lowalee! program has been running for many years now, in some of the most remote communities in Afghanistan. In 2021, The AR! program is training literacy teachers, graduating students who would otherwise not have access to education, and outfitting libraries at the supported schools.
Key lessons we have learned:
Literacy requires ongoing practice. Cultivating a love of reading helps sustain and grow a culture of literacy. That is why all of our literacy classes are equipped with classroom libraries of local language books.
Literacy should be “alive.” School-based literacy learning must be bridged to learners’ out-of-school lives. We ensure our students have access to material that is relevant to their realities, such as the life skills curriculum.
“I learned more about teaching methods and techniques. Our capacity is built up and our knowledge is increased, thanks to this training.” ~ literacy teacher trainee
Literate Mothers Raise Literate Daughters. The project includes strategies to explicitly link parental literacy with support to children’s education, such as encouraging women to read to their children.
DID YOU KNOW?
CW4WAfghan’s Afghanistan Reads! Program was recognized by the Library of Congress as a Best Practice Honoree in 2017. The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library.
Participants
Classes are provided to adult women and out-of-school girls over the age of 15 in Kabul Province. Each class provides between 20 and 25 female literacy students with one year of basic literacy classes 5 to 6 days per week. Local teachers are recruited and trained to run the classes and maintain a small library.
A room of her own. Libraries can play a critical role expanding opportunities for women to interact with other women, to exchange ideas and access peer learning, and to find support networks—all critical elements of gaining confidence and independence.
Community buy-in is essential. CW4WAfghan only opens libraries upon invitation from communities, usually after community members have seen or visited one of our projects. This policy has ensured that our projects have not faced any significant security concerns.
Cost-sharing. We ask communities to contribute in-kind to the project to instigate ownership over project outcomes. Usually, the community contributes the space for the library and literacy centre.
Mentorship, training and monitoring. The project places great emphasis on building skills within teachers to undertake reading promotion activities, and our pedagogy is one that is hands-on rather than classroom-focused. One-on-one mentoring, hands-on practice, and exposure visits to libraries positively impact making use of the libraries in teaching.
Activities and Impact
In 2019, 150 literacy students were registered in 6 classes. These women were beneficiaries of Operation Mercy’s women’s self-help groups.
In 2018, 251 literacy students graduated from 9 classes in 4 districts of Kabul province.
From 2017-2018, 68 literacy students graduated from 4 classes in 3 Districts in Kabul. These women were peer support group members of Medica Afghanistan’s Psycho-Social and Health Program.
From 2013 to 2015, AR! was delivered in 6 provinces (Heart, Balkh, Kapisa, Parwan, Badakhshan, Kabul)) with funding support from USAID, graduating 1,012 women and reaching an additional 18,318 boys and girls with libraries placed in local high schools after use in the literacy classes. Prior to 2013, CW4WAfghan delivered literacy classes in rural districts of Kabul, Mazar-i-sharif, Laghman, Nangarhar, Ghazniand other locations.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation
In 2011, CW4WAfghan began a close partnership with The Linda Norgrove Foundation and successfully launched the Afghanistan Reads! program. The Linda Norgrove Foundation was established in October 2010 in memory of Linda Norgrove, who was devoted to ensuring that the people of Afghanistan would achieve prosperity and stability as their country was rebuilt. The Foundation’s primary goal is to help women and children in Afghanistan.
In 2020, we 
marked the 10th anniversary of the LNF 10k, with people walking or running in locations across the globe during the first 10 days of October. With these dates coinciding with our annual symposium once again, participants from several of our Chapters held socially distanced walks to recognize this partnership and celebrate the life and legacy of Linda Norgrove while raising funds for the important work of the foundation.
Activities and Impact
In 2019, 150 literacy students were registered in 6 classes. These women were beneficiaries of Operation Mercy’s women’s self-help groups.
In 2018, 251 literacy students graduated from 9 classes in 4 districts of Kabul province.
From 2017-2018, 68 literacy students graduated from 4 classes in 3 Districts in Kabul. These women were peer support group members of Medica Afghanistan’s Psycho-Social and Health Program.
From 2013 to 2015, AR! was delivered in 6 provinces (Heart, Balkh, Kapisa, Parwan, Badakhshan, Kabul)) with funding support from USAID, graduating 1,012 women and reaching an additional 18,318 boys and girls with libraries placed in local high schools after use in the literacy classes. Prior to 2013, CW4WAfghan delivered literacy classes in rural districts of Kabul, Mazar-i-sharif, Laghman, Nangarhar, Ghazniand other locations.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation
In 2011, CW4WAfghan began a close partnership with The Linda Norgrove Foundation. and successfully launched the Afghanistan Reads! program. The Linda Norgrove Foundation was established in October 2010 in memory of Linda Norgrove, who was devoted to ensuring that the people of Afghanistan would achieve prosperity and stability as their country was rebuilt. The Foundation’s primary goal is to help women and children in Afghanistan.
In 2020, we marked the 10th anniversary of the LNF 10k, with people walking or running in locations across the globe during the first 10 days of October. With these dates coinciding with our annual symposium once again, participants from several of our Chapters held socially distanced walks to recognize this partnership and celebrate the life and legacy of Linda Norgrove while raising funds for the important work of the foundation.