Community-Based Education (Literacy Program)
Donor: Japan Volunteer Center (JVC)
Implementer: YVO
Project Duration: April 1, 2019 – March 30, 2021
Background
Afghanistan faces significant challenges in the education sector, with one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Education is crucial for a country’s development, and the literacy rate directly influences the overall progress of a nation. Unfortunately, limited investments in education have led to persistent development gaps, particularly in literacy. This has far-reaching consequences, especially in terms of poor health outcomes for children and women.
In 2016, the Japan Volunteer Center (JVC) decided to hand over its clinic services to the Afghan government. As part of this transition, discussions were held about strengthening agriculture, improving community-level health, establishing animal clinics, and boosting education through literacy programs. Given the community’s urgent demand for education, JVC prioritized the literacy program due to factors such as limited resources, security concerns, and the absence of Japanese staff in Afghanistan.
In 2017, JVC partnered with the national NGO AADA to take over the clinic operations, and concurrently, YVO began implementing the literacy program project. The project was informed by consultations with community elders, villagers, and both governmental and non-governmental agencies. After a thorough review, the proposal was approved by JVC’s headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
The literacy program, designed for a three-year period from April 2018 to March 2021, aimed to address the educational gaps in the targeted communities. The primary goal was to establish 30 literacy courses across five villages in Kuz Kunar province, with each course accommodating 30 students. Every year, 10 literacy courses were planned to be launched, with at least 50% of the participants being female villagers aged 15 years and older. By the end of the program, the goal was to provide literacy education to 900 individuals, or 300 people per year.
The project also focused on raising public awareness about education, particularly to improve enrollment in formal schools and to create a lasting impact on the community. JVC allocated necessary funds for the program and worked to sign an agreement with the Ministry of Education to support the long-term sustainability of the literacy program.