Khadija Learns to read, dreams big

In her new community-based classroom (CBE) in central Afghanistan, Khadija finds hope and inspiration through her blossoming education.

By Madina Qati Musadiq, UNICEF Afghanistan

DAIKUNDI, AFGHANISTAN - "I am happy that I can help my father to read phone numbers."

Nine-year-old Khadija lives in Afghanistan's remote central highlands with her parents and three siblings. Until recently, she was one of millions of children not in school, as more than half of children in Afghanistan do not attend primary school.

But Khadija's dreams are alive.

Before she started school for the first time, Khadija would listen to stories from her mother who worked and cleaned at home. Today Khadija's days are filled with homework, going to school, and helping her family read documents and phone numbers.

Havens of learning and safety

Khadija had not been able to attend school for years. Her village lacked schools and classrooms, and Khadija had never been able to read or write even simple text.

For many children like her, schools are more than places of learning. They offer safety, a chance to meet and play with other children. They help deter child labour and shelter children from violence or abuse. When girls are in school, they are also less likely to be married when they are still children themselves.

"Before coming to school, we used to play in the streets and in the dirt all day long," Khadija recalls. "Not only me, but all my friends did this."

A friendly and fun new classroom

To Khadija's delight, UNICEF established a new community-based classroom in her village in Daikundi. UNICEF helped select and train the teacher and continues to pay her salary, and provided materials like textbooks, backpacks, exercise books and pens for the students. In 2024, UNICEF supported both public and community-based education (CBE) for grade 1 to 6, and reached 2.7 million children, much like the one Khadija attends. Nearly 18,000 community-based education (CBE) classes across the country are UNICEF-supported, reaching over 564,000 boys and girls. Nearly 64% of these students are girls, like Khadija.

Outside of supporting CBE, UNICEF distributes textbooks as well as teaching and learning materials to public schools, including backpacks, exercises books, pens and pencils thanks to the support of donors and partners alike.

In her new classroom, Khadija embraces her lessons with a smile. She is one of the first to raise her hand, volunteering to test her knowledge on the blackboard in front of her classmates.

Her teacher, Ruqiya, believes collaboration is the key to learning.

"Before the lesson, I divide the students into groups and ask them to write their opinions on the blackboard about the topic of the day," she says. "The sense of teamwork and participation helps them grow more."

Khadija separates her hands and says excitedly, "If my classmates don't understand the lesson, I will help them," her voice rising, "and I will read the lessons to them again."

Parents supporting education in the community

Community-based classes like this one provide children in rural, hard-to-reach, or economically disadvantaged areas a pathway to quality education - at no cost.

And when UNICEF establishes one of these classes, the entire community is mobilized. UNICEF and partners raise awareness about the importance of education, encouraging parents to send their children to school.

"Families in this village have always cooperated to educate their children," says Ruqiya. "They participate actively in monthly parent meetings. These meetings help contribute to their children's learning process."

Khadija's parents needed little convincing. They noticed her blossom into an energetic, curious little girl. "Besides studying, we also play games," says Khadija. "I am so happy that now we have this classroom."

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