Our women's literacy programs provide education for women and girls who are not able to attend school for cultural and religious reasons. Instead, these women are taught in the homes of local families. This is a valuable incentive for parents who may be reluctant to se
nd their daughters to a public school. Our students range in age from seven to 55—children, teenage girls, married women, and widows.
Lower level courses, or Sowat Amausi, cover the school syllabus from 1st to 3rd grade in Dari and mathematics. Sowat Amausi literally means 'to teach one to become literate.'
Higher level courses, or Sowat Hayati, cover the school syllabus from 4th to 9th grade. Sowat Hayati means 'literate for life'. From 4th to 6th grade, the courses studied may include Dari, Pashto, English, mathematics, science, Islamiyat (the study of Islam), drawing, writing, sports, history and geography and social life (education in social mores and traditions). From 7th to 9th grade, these courses will continue, with more advanced studies in verbal and written language, mathematics and the sciences, such as physics and chemistry.
The Afghan Ministry of Education has created the syllabus for these literacy courses to correspond with the formal school system in Afghanistan.