Rubaba, 18, is from the Khagak village, in the Sar-e-Ahangaran valley of

Bamyan province. She is also a student at the Accelerated Learning Center

(ALC) in grade 6 in the village. She will study grade 7 and 8 combined in one
year and is now aspiring to be in grade 9 of regular school in her district. The
ALC at Khagak facilitates accelerated learning for 13 girls between 12 and 20
years old who have missed classes for various reasons. Most of the girls in
Khagak village help their parents with chores in the house. Rubaba also helps
with the farming and grazing cattle. Rubaba used to go to school. She
attended until grade 7 but had to drop out to be with her family in their
struggle to survive the harsh winter. As she grew older, her parents didn't
allow her to go to school. Instead, she was tasked to take the cattle to the
mountains in search of food and water -- even though she loved to study. In
the winter season, there is no herding of livestock or gathering wood and
branches for winter, I can reach the ALC in 30 minutes from my home,” says
Rubaba, “It is during the spring and summer seasons that my family shifts to
the open grounds for grazing cattle, so then I have to walk 6 hours, every day
to get to my lessons.”Such is her dedication to learn, Rubaba barely misses
her classes. Rubaba felt sad because some of her classmates continued their
studies and she couldn’t. After seeing her strong performance at the
accelerated learning center and recognisingthe fact that all of the students
and the teachers are female, her family agreed to let her continue her
studies. “I was told I could study under one condition: when I’m needed at
home, I have to stay. I agreed instantly,” says Rubaba Summer is around the
corner in Khagak village. But with every passing day, Rubaba is getting
worried. “There are girls, like me, approaching their 18th birthday. I’m afraid
for us. I’ve had suiters since I was 15. I begged my family to let me complete
my education. But I’m anxious that I might not finish high school because my
family is so poor that marrying me off would help them to provide for others.
There would be one less mouth to feed. I wish I was my brother because I
would not have the constant trembling in my heart when there’s a knock at
the door -- the panic that someone has come to ask for my hand. If I’m
married off before I complete 12th grade, my dreams will end. My hopes for
the future will wither away.” Teacher Zahra is building Rubaba’s confidence
and assures that her that after climbing the hardest steps, dreams can be
attained. Rubaba is happy that Zahra, 22, is her teacher. Zahra is in the same
age group as her and she is very helpful. Zahra is the teacher of the ALC in
Khagak village in Sar-e-Ahangaran valley of Bamyan province. A student of
computer science in Bamyan university, Zahra teaches and helps the girls in
Khagak cope with stress and fear of not being able to complete their
education. “Most of these girls couldn’t continue going the public school
because their families are very conservative and will not allow them to go to
a school which is far from the village,” says Zahra. “The good thing is that
many parents now understand the importance of education, and we have the
ALC to prepare the girls for enrollment in regular school.”In 2019, UNICEF,
with support from Susan and Stefan Findel through UNICEF Germany and the
Republic of Korea, partnered with the Ministry of Education to open an ALC
in the Khagak village. Instantly, 15 girls between the ages of 13 and 20
registered for the class. Zahra, passed the Directorate of Education’s exam
and became the ALC teacher in Khagak village.
UNICEF provided the necessary equipment and Zahra build the class in her
own house. The students couldn’t read or write they started, but because
they are eager and quick learners, they have a come a long way since then.
Today, there is a healthy competition in the class about who can do best.
During harvest, the busiest time of the year for Rubaba’s family, she has to
help them. But missing her lessons is not an option. Rubaba stays an hour
late after her class to catch up, and teacher Zahra is more than happy to help
her better understand lessons
Rubaba has high hopes for the future. She wishes to become a doctor after
completing her university degree. She has an iron-will to make her dreams
come true. And she has the kindest teacher to support her every step of the
way.