how up fixing up Go- Fund Campaign for the school to collect the old laptops and send it to them with ebooks ?
17
There is nothing more precious than the human mind. Uneducated and undisciplined, rape, pillage, murder and chaos exists. Educated, there is nothing that humankind can't conquer. When I see the achievements of the US space program, it becomes evident that curiosity and wonder still pervades the human mind. I'm so glad that the NY Times published Journalist Norland's article. It provides a real positive for the billions we've (the U.S.) poured into Afghanistan. The chilling thought that permeated my soul was where are the young boys? I know the answer and that's why I mentioned the chill. The question still remains, what will happen when we leave.
5
@Richard
You have an educated American president, who is undisciplined, who has been accused of rape, who did nothing about the murder of Kashoggi and seems to be bent of making the US a place of chaos. More important that an education is innate respect . The ability to think and care and be responsible is not necessarily connected to education.
19
"You can´t make a slave out of someone who is educated." Truer words were never spoken.
11
"You cannot make a slave out of an educated person." What a powerful statement! Education is important to people of all ages and it really has no limit!
12
I was so moved by this poignant story that I wondering how we Americans can contribute to this remarkable group of adults and children who desperately long for education. Is there a place to donate?
16
Does anybody know how we can contribute directly to Rustam?
24
Thank you, Mr. Nordland, for reminding us that the world still has good and hopeful people and efforts in it.
8
I love the picture of the teacher demonstrating the distance formula! We are worlds apart, but speak the same mathematical language.
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These girls & young women are amazing. Sadly this will all disappear if the Taliban &/or ISIS take over.
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@Bill Which sadly, will happen if we completely withdraw.
8
Does mail reach the school?
7
It gives one hope to see how many people want to help this school and these students. That was my initial thought, too, but, as @RodNordland explains, it would be very difficult to get any kind of material goods to them and they seem to be doing well under Mr. Nasiri's guidance given the circumstances. I don't know if author Masha Hamilton has already commented, and while it wouldn't help this particular school, if you want to consider helping Afghan girls and women in the area of literacy, take a look at the work being done by the Afghan Women's Writing Project (awwproject.org).
5
Please let us know how we might contribute to support this and other such schools.
8
I'm sure computers are desirable but can't we donate money for other needs? They mentioned overflow tents there, as well as lack of chalkboards, textbooks, chalk, etc. The weather would be hot, so pankha, or hand-held fans would be useful as well (I'm drawing this from India, so I'm not sure what the Afghani equivalent would be). As well as donations to purchase laptops for students that are graduating and leaving to university. Could NYTimes specifically ask them what they need and open a donation account? Or just send them money in general? I've donated to organizations as well but after the reading the article here, I feel personally invested and want to help those students specifically.
9
This inspiring story shows what can be done when people really want to do it. May all the students who wish to go to college have a path to it and may they help raise their country and their families as a result.
3
Though we have never had the number and severity of challenges these girls face, I can personally attest to the determination the women in my family have deployed in order to get an education that made us contributing members of our society. I would never dismiss that desire for education in women throughout the world. They know that is the way to change for themselves and for those they care for. Thank you for this story, told with understanding and admiration for their determination and courage.
8
I know this story is true because I have the privilege of tutoring an Afghan woman right here in New Jersey. She is a refugee because her family aided the U.S. Government. She told me the exact same story of not being allowed to go to school. Now that she lives in the U.S., she is eager to finish her education. She not only has to learn English but also all the subjects she missed during what should have been her middle and high school years. Despite being in her late twenties and a mom of two, she will finally enter community college this fall. If you want to help Afghan people, there are plenty of tutoring and ESL volunteers needed in the NJ/NY metro area. After what we've done to their country, it's the least we can do.
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@DRS Your comment is simplistic and uninformed. It may be correct that the Al quaida, an Arabic Sunni organization, launched its attack from Afghanistan, but they were very largely Saudi, not one of them was Afghan. The great mistake -monumental, overwhelming, incredibly ignorant mistake, which the United States made in Afghanistan, was to remain after Bin Laden and his group were speedily routed. The Taliban are not your great liberal democratic good guys, but they did not attack our country and it was not great wisdom on the part of the Bush administration to embark on the longest war in our history to make Afghanistan “safe for democracy.” It was, instead, reckless idiocy.
38
@DRS You also need to note that Bin Laden was creation of United States when the U.S. was trying to reduce Russia's influence in Afghanistan.
13
Afghanistan harbored and aides bin laden who planned his attack from their soil. They attacked us. We had every right to invade.
6
The very thought that America is considering abandoning these girls (and boys) to the Taliban is pure stupidity.
1
How can we donate to the school?
7
As a member of The Rotary Club of Scituate, MA, I learned about a remarkable Afghan-born humanitarian named, Razia Jan. She is the founder of Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation whose mission is to bring high quality, community-based education to girls and young women in Afghanistan. In 2008, she opened the Zabuli Education Center, now providing free education to 500 students. In 2016, she opened the first women's college in rural Aghanistan. She has been recognized world wide as a pioneer in education for women in Afghanistan. Those looking to assist can go to https://raziasrayofhope.org/sponsor-a-girl.html
1
should be required reading for all American students who don't care about their education and/or consider school a requirement, not an opportunity.
12
After reading this, I am frustrated by Rod Nordlund's constant replies -- almost all identical--to the effect that help is just about impossible. Not to be critical, but perhaps there are others in the bureau with vision and strong determinedness. It sounds as if Mr. Nordlund is getting burned out, and needs others to assist or help with taking the reins in Kabul.
2
Awesome. I am so proud of these girls and boys. Educating themselves under dire circumstances. Bravo! Keep up the good work Afghanistan.
1
Uplifting story and excellent photos. Thank you.
1
Thank you for such an inspiring story. Girls who love math! Students who learn without computers with the greatest thinking tools of all, their hearts, minds and intrinsic motivation, inspired and instructed by their teachers and school leader. Very moving! Thank you as well for the links to help or to have students write to them. Can anyone read in English there?
3
This article shows the difference between real life education and that which American kids have.
3
Contrary to the US, money isn’t the only solution to our failing educational endeavors. This story is a testament to the human spirit as an enabler. We should take note.
1
@Rod Nordland Thank you for taking the time to respond to so many of us in the comments. It really shows your dedication both to your readers and to the students you profiled, whom I suspect you knew that so many of us would want to help.
8
Education fore everyone is a difficult and frequently nearly impossible dream. Bless these students and their teachers.
2
What an inspiring story! I can't wait to share it with my students next year. Ten year olds have a hard time understanding all the history and backstories that define a culture, but this story shared a common experience, going to school. From there, the conversation can lead to a deeper understanding of our connections to others. First day introduction ready!
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@teacherinNC. If your students want to write to the students at Rustam, I'll make sure it gets delivered, though it may take some months. It will mean a lot to them. Email me, [email protected]
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@Rod Nordland
Mr Nordland--
Please don't consider this question snarky--
Do the pupils (or staff) at Rustam speak/read English?
Thanks -
9
What an awesome article. Thank you . I will be sharing with my clients, resiliency, grit, courage.
1
Thank you for your fine story. Congratulations to the families, students and teachers. I feel differently than most commenters I don’t think we need to interfere with what we think is ‘help’ that doesn’t suit this remote and proud school. Instead let’s go with the author’s suggestion and nominate the Principal for his dedication.
We need to have schools like this in the U.S.
Nordland’s replies make it abundantly clear that no one can do anything to provide support resources to this school. They are doing exceedingly well academically, a fact that might be of interest to our US public education system. On the other hand, the publicity brought on by this article might prove to be unwelcome, for rather obvious reasons.
2
A much better investment than war and war-making.
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@Rod Norland
Important and inspirational article.
I assume it would be very difficult to send them items? Say a laptop?
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@bora Yes it would be. There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
7
Imagine what could be accomplished in Afghanistan if the amount spend on military action of the last few decades were provided for ongoing support for education and health services! An educated population is the greatest bulwark against the various "fundamentalisms" that have proved so tragic for the region and the world in the late 20th & early 21st centuries. Women hold up half the world, and these girls seem determined to do more than their share.
18
@Sandra The amount actually works out to $40,000 per Afghan, just in American expenditure since 2001, many times the country's per capita income.
6
It seems a solar power company could hook them up with electricity and together we can raise funds for computers and books. Simply saying it's too difficult is not really an answer, though we can tell from the pictures that it is not simple.
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@Vince Someone did get them a solar panel once but eventually the battery failed and they couldn't find a replacement.
11
Thanks for this great story--part uplift and part visit to the challenges of a very troubled part of the world, normally hidden from Western eyes.
6
Amazing photography for this piece. The NYT photographers add so much to the story. Thanks Jim Huylebroek!
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@Scott Yes, I am honored to create the words that keep the pictures from bumping into one another.
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Amazing story. Thank you for reporting it. Can you publish any information about where to send resources if we are able to donate to this school?
13
This is wonderful, as far as it goes. How many of these graduates will have the chance to have careers in an Afghanistan where it looks as if the male thugs with guns are going to outlast everyone who supports equal rights for women? To what extent are girls making it to college more than boys in this area because boys are being pushed into violent activities? How many uneducated boys from this community will be in a position later to order about their educated female relatives and neighbors, because they have guns, and even educated females aren't supposed to join militias? In an area with no electricity, how many people will survive extreme temperatures in future decades, temperatures that may make guns irrelevant?
6
@Stephen Merritt You remind me of someone else I know. He, too, always seems to find and point out the negative aspect of anything and everything. The easiest people to control are the uneducated. Education is power and that is why authoritarian governments try to outlaw it.
2
@Rod Nordland Please find a way to get them a solar panel as a means to provide electricity for that computer.
2
What about solar panels??? We could just make a private group,buy some panels, and send them.
9
@Patricia Ryan Somebody already did that and after a while the batteries failed and they had no replacements. Getting stuff up there will be a challenge in any case. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
24
Many commenters ask "how can I help". One nonprofit organization that supports education, particularly for girls, in Afghanistan and adjacent countries is the Central Asia Institute at centralasiainstitute.org . They help villagers build schools, get books and materials, and pay teachers. There's no mention in the article of whether they support the specific school in the article, though.
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@Paul The specific school in that article gets no outside help from any entity other than the government of Afghanistan's normal school budget, based on attendance. At one point they were asking parents to donate a small amount if they could, but have abandoned that practice.
13
@Paul
Done
2
If material support is such a challenge, each of us who have expressed a desire to help can certainly offer moral and spiritual support for this courageous and important effort.
The school and its teachers as well as the students and their families deserve much praise and encouragement. Education is especially vital in such areas of oppression.
I personally thank everyone involved in this project. Carry on!
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@julia Praise always goes down well. Some are talking about nominating the principal, Mohammad Sadiq Nasiri, who also teaches Persian literature at the school, for the world's best teacher prize.
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... or maybe if they had electricity only 50% would go to college because of the distractions from social media.
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@JFR
Precisely! That's why it would be a disaster to equip that school with more than a handful computers and internet access.
4
There is little or no relationship between school resources and academic success. That is a false narrative typically cooked up by schoolteachers who want money and trinkets. I fully expect a school without electricity or computer devices or TV to do much better than a school that is plagued by those technologies. They did nothing but distract me! My colleagues from India and China had no electronics at all and it did not hinder their academic success!
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@rjs7777
You are speaking from my heart! When I went to school, internet and computers did not exist.
I learned concepts instead. That has served me every single day since.
11
This is so heart warming. Teach math not religious dogma. Unshackle the mind and humanity will blossom. Afghanistan has suffered too much. Women will help it heal and make it whole. My best wishes to you dear girls!
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Is there a way to get computers to this school?Or any other way to help?
7
@Clara Coen There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
3
Halfway through reading "Afghanistan, Where God Comes Only to Weep," - Siba Shakib - 2002 - which depicts emphatically the plight of women in these rural areas.
8
How can we contribute?
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@Lynn Meyer There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
3
@Rod Nordland
Dear Rod,
Is there any way we can send much-needed text books or storybooks?
Thank you in advance for looking into my query.
1
Sounds like America's job in Afghanistan is done. Time to bring our Troops home. Good luck to those students and hopefully they won't become radicalized.
6
@MJG This school is very much the exception, not the rule. Many high schools are graduating illiterates and most girls don't make it past 7th grade, if they even get that far. However, America did not invade Afghanistan to make sure girls got educations.
34
Once upon a time in our nation education was a national priority for the poor, working class and rural children. We understood it pulled them out of poverty and offered them a better quality of life and we had politicians that bolstered up public educational system.
Now we have the American-Taliban types/Evangelicals coupled with the greedy capitalists trying to undermine our public schools and privatize them all.
There is big money to be made when you couple religion with private education and make it inaccessible to the poor.
I suppose if only we could return to having a large enough illiterate underclass in good old USA that could work for dollars a day and live in huts we wouldn’t have to move our factories to China, India or Afghanistan to get cheap slave labor.
Oh yeah we already do.
10
Simply incredible
3
A great lesson for disadvantaged kids in industrialized western societies. Sometimes the answer to life's harsher problems is a very loud "Yes I can!" Our hat is off to these courageous Afghans, both students, teachers, and administrators. The best and most inspirational news of the day!
21
A wonderfully inspiring story! My first thought, like many of the other commenters I see, was how can I help Rustam? But Mr. Northland's response raised a wonderful point: don't just donate to this remarkable little school ... donate to organizations that promote education for all girls. Education for girls is the key to creating a more progressive and just society.
12
Truly inspiring story, and beautifully photographed.
5
I have done volunteer work in several third world countries and see this as a common theme. I return home and feel very disappointed that our kids have this general sense of entitlement, regardless of SES.
I firmly believe our American children will benefit greatly from witnessing the drive, tenacity and hard work these girls display. And I hope our children will understand the sacrifices loving parents make for their kids (Afghan in this case).
17
@I Heart
You mean a sense of entitlement from wanting lead-free water in their school, no asbestos, competent teachers and not wanting to get shot or bullied at school?
That kind of entitlement?
Yeah, I guess American kids are entitled, regardless of SES.
8
@Viv That is a point. Number of school shootings in Afghanistan over the past 18 years: zero. Number in the United States during the same period: 235.
And it's not like there are no guns available in Afghanistan.
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@Viv
What fraction of current operating schools have lead in the water and asbestos in the schools? Do you think these girls get bullied? As to competent teachers, talk to the teachers union.
With my poor english, I wish you good luck an a bright future for all this kids, boys and girls. Congratulation to their teachers.
I hopr a full peace will come to your country.
16
Mr. Mohammad Nasiri and his teachers should be given some major international awards for keeping the flame of education burning among these students.
How about nominating them for the annual awards given by CNN, for a start.
And any way of getting some help to his school and other schools like this?
There should be a follow up story among the students who went on to college - how are they faring? Are they bringing the skills back to their villages or are they brain-draining to the cities? If they return, are they able to earn a living?
36
@S good suggestion on the follow-up. See below my thoughts generally on help to the school But as for awards, a number of people have suggested that Mr. Nasiri, the principal, who also teaches at the school, be nominated for the world's best teacher award. https://www.globalteacherprize.org/
There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
5
Reading this article “In Other News”. I want to applaud these women, families. I want to be inspired, hopeful.
But it’s like watching a beautiful wildflower bloom in a pristine suburban yard, as the lawn company unloads their mowers, sprayers. You know what’s coming.
But hey- we’re tired. And the Taliban, the Islamic State, and all the enablers of extremism know it. And all the comments on the need for solar power, new computers, support- possibilities- will be as dead as those college prep students of last year. As dead as suburban wildflowers.
3
@Jo Williams
Somewhat defeatist, isn't it?
Along those lines, why not lie down and die right now? Global warming will get us anyway, sooner or later.
4
@Jo Williams Harsh. But it is true that the United States wants to withdraw as soon as it reasonably can, and it's also likely that once it does, the Taliban may well win. But until that happens, educating girls like these is the best possible defense anyone could give them.
28
Long past time for the US to get out of Afghanistan. Can it be possible we are planning to hand off the forever war to another President next year? And another. And another.
6
@DaveD Quite possibly not. But how will we all feel when we see Afghan women re-enslaved? Because that's what a Taliban victory will mean, and an American withdrawal will mean a Taliban victory, one way or another.
18
Just admire the hunger to learn, and the enjoyment of math, among these students who only have the most basic of facilities.
Contrast this to the anti-intellectual atmosphere among so many US students where high scorers get bullied, it's not cool to be interested in learning, popular culture makes fun of nerds, math-phobia is widespread, and so on.
8
The type of generational change needed to change the violence in Afghanistan begins with these children and their families. Education is the key to changing Afghanistan's future
5
Great article. Please provide a way of offering support to this deserving school.
5
@James Kramer There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
2
Hats down to this breed of students. Their deeds, speaks volume already to the tremendous effort put into getting a basic education over in Afghanistan. A story that teaches us back, the hard way, that nothing should ever be taken for granted.
Getting access to school still remains to this day a privilege, a fact that far too many who live in modern societies thus consider themselves born into it yet tend to overlook.
Kids nowadays tend to badger their parents about the latest state of the art laptop or mobile phone, meanwhile others, on the other side of the Earth, at best someday dream up the notion of actually lay their hands onto a secondhand device. And until such a wish sees the light of day they, by default, revel into learning the basics of this technology through thumbing through the computer user fascicule.
24
@jeanfrancois I think a lot of developed countries could not boast public schools from poor communities with 97 percent university acceptance rates.
25
Nor could many well funded schools too.
5
So inspiring! And so humbling! Godspeed to these beautiful, bright-eyed children. May their dreams and aspirations be possible! The US must disengage with the Taliban, and pursue 21st century visionaries, to ensure a future for the female half of the Afghan population.
14
@charlie corcoran Disengaging with the Taliban doesn't stop their barbaric influence in the region, regardless of who is doing the actual engaging. Otherwise I agree with your post. I find this article encouraging and inspiring.
3
Definitely a heartwarming article as it bolsters the argument that sacrificial attitude and determination are more important than equipments in achieving educational excellence.
8
@F. Ahmed
I support everything except for the 'sacrificial'.
I went through the same kind of schooling before there were computers. I did not feel 'sacrificial'.
Make that 'positive attitude'.
5
This is so inspiring -there must be some way to encourage these talented young women to persevere.Sine the school is inaccessible maybe some program in the United States could offer them a summer scholars experience.That would involve student visas and the expense of flying them to the United States.As long as they were working in Math language would not be such a big barrier.They would have an opportunity to see the possibilities of their dreams and return toAfghanistan better equipped to lead the next generation into the modern age.
16
@JANET MICHAEL Our government hasn't been great about giving out visas to Afghans lately, for fear they won't go home. Even where that fear is unjustified, it often determines visa decision making.
10
Why do Americans always think people aspire to go to the US or should see the US as the model nation to look up to? At this point, America is failing to lead the world in everything from human rights to education to political leadership. It’s just downright presumptuous to assume that going to the US would suddenly make one “see the possibilities of their dreams”.
14
Language is essential to the study of math.
With the international huge 'investment' in security there, would be, say, a price of one drone or a couple of sophisticated rifles enough to provide better conditions to schools there?
12
@Jak We've put massive amounts of money into Afghan schools, too, just not this one.
4
They succeed precisely BECAUSE they have no computers. They use the time to concentrate on understanding concepts, and by not functioning as mindless data entry robots for programs they don't understand and that let their creative skills wither away. Why learn computing in your head, when you can have a machine do it for you?
If that school were equipped with computers, the kids would fail.
Our own school system has a lot to learn from that Afghan school.
59
Completely agree.
7
A great and uplifts article. Instructive that these people, with nothing, have a more serious and supportive attitude towards educating than most of rural and urban America.
With that said, the USA and the West needs to allow a path to immigration for women and girls from Afghanistan. Once the Taliban gets back in power, women will be sent back into subservience and oppression. That’s not right. We gave the women hope for a better Afghanistan and many took advantage. That better day isn’t coming.
25
@Practical Thoughts
I 100% agree. We need scholarship programs for those girls to go to the US and Europe to get educated.
Afghanistan can only be saved by its women. The Taliban know that educated women are a mortal danger to them, much more so than the American military. That's why they do all they can to prevent girls from receiving an education.
Educate the Afghan women and we will win that war while spending a fraction of the money.
The pen is mightier than the sword!
22
Kara,
I would be bolder. I think every woman and girl should be given a chance to leave before Taliban takes over.
There are 15 million afghan women. My guess is 1/4th would be willing to leave.
That’s 3 million to distribute through Europe, USA, Canada and Australia/NZ. I think the USA and Canada could take the vast majority.
Those brave girls and women deserve a shot. They are really the definition of asylum seekers and would add to our educated workforce.
12
@Practical Thoughts
I'm with you on that one. Nothing convinces me more than the willingness to work hard for one's own future while remaining compassionate and prepared to help others.
Unfortunately, Western countries, including Germany (!), are denying asylum to Afghan girls and women who are fully integrated, speak the language, work in a job that is in demand or study productively at a university, while giving asylum to known criminals, terrorists and repeat offenders because their home countries are deemed "unsafe".
Go figure!
5
Mr. Nordland,
Please give information on trustworthy mechanisms by which we can support these girls. You can see how many people in the comments want to help.
84
@Alex K - I agree, and I hope Mr. Nordland can provide us with a contact. It will not take a lot of people to make a difference in this school.
10
@Alex K
Yes, how can we offer support please?
Wonderful article.
I have taught in Asia and students can succeed in spite of obstacles. And do.
31
@Alex K
There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without foreign aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
42
“Children will do better when their mom is educated.” So true! In addition to their children, their community and family will also do better. Thank you for telling us about this school, the principal and the girls and boys who attend it. All of them are showing us the way to make the world a safer, more just and equitable place.
43
PLEASE tell us a way to help. I know every person reading this feels the same way.
19
@kenyalion There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without foreign aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there.
8
@Rod Nordland Thanks for a great story. Looks like it was a lot of trouble just to get there . And you're right: they don't seem to need a lot of help. HOWEVER, how about a portable solar generator that could charge the three laptops they have so they could use them for the computer class? They're surprisingly cheap, like in $100 range.
13
@Rod Nordland Thank you for an inspiring and moving article. Is solar a possibility? Is there an NGO that would accept donations specifically for solving the power problem and getting a few computers up and running?
11
Can Google, Microsoft, Apple send these amazing kids the computers and generators they so badly deserve?
102
@Colette There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
7
I lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, for several years. There were many Muslim families. When my daughter started school, I was stunned to find out how many fathers wanted their daughters to get a good education. They consider the family one unit, where each helps one another. At worst, a daughter will stay home and help educate the children while they are young, and at best, their daughters become doctors, lawyers, businesswomen, and help pull the families out of impoverishment.
Our country, however, is cutting education funding at every turn. Instead of stepping up, parents are chanting that Trump will make America great again. "we don't need no education," is something they seem proud of. Many are just as religious as these Muslims, but don't see themselves as equals.
At some point we need to give up the complacency we have accepted and take a page from Mr. Nasiri's playbook.
83
You are making stuff up to align with your ideology. There is no push by Trump supporters to cut education or chant “we don’t need no education.” It’s just false.
7
@DRS I have sat patiently while they angrily told me that education is not necessary for "all people". Please, come to Brooklyn and I will introduce you to them. As for cuts to education, the Republican party has systematically cut funding to education for the last few decades, but the last two years they have cut it to the bone. What you are saying is false, even if it makes you feel better by saying it.
As for my ideology, I was a Republican from 1985 to 2006. Spare me your conspiracy theory.
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@DRS Do you not recall the President's proud statement, "I love the poorly educated"? Or the insistence of Betsy de Vos on cutting funding for public schools to redirect it to charter schools--and relaxing standards for accrediting for-profit "colleges"?
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At once, this story is enraging (at the deprivation), inspiring, depressing, shocking. How could these students possibly be college-ready?
I so admire their drive, tenacity and spirit; the parents for letting them to attend school; the selflessness of the principal and teachers.
They would seem to face enormous odds.
I hope NYT will try to follow some of these girls into the future. Thank you for this story. We are too often blind to the rest of the world and unaware of our riches.
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This is so inspiring! How can we help this school and the students directly?
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@Lakmal De Silva There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
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@Rod Nordland Thanks so much for getting back. Glad to hear the school is still doing well. It is always amazing how the kids with the will power and drive over come the obstacles they run in to. Great article written, though they may not get immediate help they are recognized by this from around the world.
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So touching! Hope we know how to help the school and students.
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@Ming-shih Lu There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
Thank you for this article.
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Finally - some good news from Afghanistan, especially as it involves the Afghan youth.
Remember that Afghanistan is much more than the military actions across the country. Its people will remain after the withdrawal of other countries' military forces.
Remember the future of Afghanistan - its people. They need our help, especially the children of Afghanistan.
Inshallah.
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An inspiring article that had me in tears for the courage and clarity these people have in the midst of great destructive pressures — and showed me a path I can walk through the dust and challenges of my society, too. Astonishing. And indeed: “You cannot make a slave out of an educated person.”
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@Norah L Jones Thanks, Norah, I'm glad to hear the story moved you. It is really inspiring to see how much someone can do with so little.
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This should be required reading for every US student.
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How can we donate to this special school?
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@Gary. COOPER There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
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Sadly, all of this will change when the US tires of the war and the Taliban takes over. Iraq was formerly the leading Arab place where women could enter the professions. That, of course, is all gone.
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How do we give aide to these students?
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It's wonderful, but I fear for them, that some zealot will harm them or the school.
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@James Igoe Entirely possible. ISIS in particular has deliberately targeted Hazara students.
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Are you able to provide a means for donations to this school?
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@Carol There is no easy answer to how to help. Phone connection to the school's staff is impossible, and physically reaching there is a challenge. Complicating that, summer holidays have begun. In the meantime, they seem to be doing awfully well without outside aid. They were given three computers by an NGO once but those are in storage now for lack of electricity. A generator isn't necessarily the answer since fuel is costly and hard to get up there. Perhaps donating to an organization that works on promoting girls’ education generally would be more appropriate.
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@Rod Nordland
Would a collection for a small solar installation help? That would make them independent from electricity and fuel expenses. If yes, can you set up a place/account to donate to?
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Fantastic article! These girls will change their world and the Afghanistan culture. Bravo!
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This is a terrific and inspiring story. It is emblematic of why education for all matters so very much. Good luck to the students of Afghanistan in their quest for learning and understanding.
Here in the US we have public schools for everyone because we believe education matters so much for each and every person. People all over the world thirst for this same thing. Obtaining Education and the Opportunity to Apply it makes our world what it is today and can be tomorrow; we must never forget that as we move forward with our lives. Each of us must do our best to support education every chance we get!
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What can I say but sweet and precious the desire for freedom through education.
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It looks like these girls are learning geometry in fourth grade. That's amazing.
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@Susan Yeah, the 11th grade were working on quadratic equations.
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@Susan
Amazing for US schools perhaps. I learned geometry in fourth grade, in a so-called “undeveloped” country.
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