Jamila and Zainab's Story - Afghanistan

January 2024

Mrs. Jamila from the village of Kohna Kaldar, who is 36 years old, has three sons and two daughters. Her eldest daughter, Zainab, who is 12, is studying in HealthProm's literacy courses carried out in partnership with the Health for All Delivery and Service Organisation (HADSO). Mrs. Jamila says that she studied until grade 3 before her marriage when she was in Mazar City. "I was really interested in studying after I was in third grade, but I always hoped that one day I will be able to continue my education," she said. "My parents married me to a man in Kaldar when I was just 14 so all my hopes for studying was buried," she continued. 

When she was pregnant, she didn't want to give birth as she was not ready to be a mother. But her baby was born and died of pneumonia before he reached 1 year. When her second child was born, it was a girl and she thought, like her mother, she also won’t be able to learn anything and will be forced to get married as a child. Her two sons were able to go to school, but her daughter Zainab was with her at home. "When I heard about the numeracy and literacy courses, I was so happy that I could not express my feeling," she said. Zainab is now attending these classes and is not only learning herself but also helping her mother. "I feel that I am a different person when I am learning how to read a new word. I am so grateful and hopeful that my daughter will have a different future," Jamila said. 

Zainab and her Friend Fatima practicing numeracy 

Zainab is just one of the 103 girls that we have been able to reach through our Girls' Education Project. At HealthProm, we remain committed to providing new opportunities and life possibilities for women and girls with the help of our local partner.