Defenders of Equality, Freedom and Advancement for Women (DEFAW) said on Thursday it has launched a program to provide online education and accredited high-school diplomas to about 5,000 Afghan girls who have been unable to attend school for the past four years under Taliban restrictions.
The initiative, developed with an American school and funded by DEFAW, will allow girls from grades seven to twelve to study remotely and receive an official diploma upon completion, according to a statement issued by the group.
DEFAW founder Aryana Sayeed said the program was “the first practical and serious initiative in the past four years in the field of girls’ education in Afghanistan,” adding that it could “change the lives of thousands of girls.” She said the project could expand with additional support.
The organisation said the plan forms part of its broader effort to create practical and sustainable solutions for Afghan women and girls, and urged international organisations and advocates to back similar initiatives aimed at restoring access to education.
DEFAW described the program as a “historic step” toward supporting Afghan girls’ education.
