The Zabuli Education Center for Women and Girls Completed in spring 2008 on the outskirts of Kabul in Deh’Subz, Afghanistan, the Zabuli Education Center for Women and Girls is the cornerstone of Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation. Currently, this community-based education center hosts over 200 girls who attend classes during the day. While tackling a rich curriculum that includes math, English, and he
alth care from kindergarten through grade six, the children receive uniforms and nutritional meals and are mentored by positive female role models. All of this takes place within the safe, clean walls of the newly refurbished school building. The girls who attend school at the Zabuli Education Center are from poor families. Most have experienced extreme
hardship compared to their counterparts in the developed world. They have many
chores to do at home, caring for younger siblings and helping with the work of survival in a war-torn country. Some of their fathers had to be convinced to support—or at least tolerate—allowing their daughters to become educated. Prior to enrollment, students take placement tests to assess their academic levels as girls of the same age can vary widely in grade level depending on how much informal learning they have been exposed to. All students wear uniforms, which is a help to poor families that may have extremely limited resources for obtaining clothing and maintaining clean laundry. Razia Jan, the school’s founder, personally visits the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to recruit teachers for the Zabuli Education Center. Razia administers tests to confirm the candidates’ writing, reading, and math skills before making selections for the school staff.