In Kabul, the more advanced English learners read short stories and discuss topics such as human rights, education, society and technology in English, under the guidance of teacher and Internet Learning Center manager Ihsan A. The English Club of Jalalabad organizes classes for three groups of learners: a group of beginner girls brought in by the Social Volunteer Foundation (an organization which serves the needs of street children); a group of girls from the Behsood District (a rural area 30 km outside of the city); and a group of fifteen teachers from the local Teacher Training College, who need to acquire English skills in order to search for and use teaching materials available online. In Taloqan, the newly formed English Club welcomes students from seven local schools and works separately with female and male learners.

Language learning may be a hobby elsewhere, but in Afghanistan, it translates into marketable skills for young job seekers. Some of the graduates of GCE English Clubs and technology courses are now successfully employed as educators and able to support large extended families. For example, Ms. Rahmina and Ms. Roqia both teach at the Sherzai Academy of English and Computers; Mr. Khashal teaches English to people with disabilities through a local NGO and Mr. Nagialy works as a private tutor of English. All of them also find time to volunteer for GCE workshops and other activities.

The followings are some of the participants testimonies.

Sohila, teacher at Malaly High School:

“I graduated from Kabul University with a specialization in Computer Science I am currently working as a teacher. I have been teaching at school for almost 18 years. I also worked with for ministry of education, TEBT department (teachers’ development). In TPD training held by GCEP what I found most interesting was ICT and the ways to use it in the classroom, and trainings methodology.”

Shah Waleed, teacher at Abdul Ghafor Nadem High school :

“The TPD training was very useful and interesting to me, mainly because they were conducted by highly professional and experienced trainers. In the future we would like to have such trainings for teachers in my school, and I would gladly help them. Such trainings help teachers to learn more about technology and its use.”

Nazeefa Nazeer, teacher at Zarghona High School:

“In this training the most interesting part for me was Computer and Internet sessions, because I have had computer at home but was unable to use it. Now I am very happy that I can.”

A drawing on human rights done by an ILC student

Azat Ullah:

Our Prophet Mohammad (Peace be up on him) made it clear that both the male and female have to get education. Islam never told women not to get education, in Islam all the Women have the right of getting education and they are responsible making their children well educated.

Paktina Azizi:

And the media should have programs about the Human Rights and I want from the governor and HR Organizations to help and support our teachers in Human Rights Programs.

Maryam:

My message for the ministry of education: please tell the teachers to give information human rights for the students and media, those organization which work for Human Rights should help the government of Afghanistan and our teachers to know or to learn about the Human Rights.

Once they learn about the issues, students share their views and debate online, at http://rihr.blogspot.com/, which
has been a constant tribune youth from Kabul, Jalalabad and Taloqan to address these issues. Some students complain
about the inadequate training of educators: “I don’t have any information about human rights, children’s rights because none of my teachers have information about human rights (though they want to have information about it).”

A female participant introduces herself, her aspirations and her opinions on human rights thus: “My name is Bureshna. I am twelve years old. I am in eighth grade in school and live in the seventh district of Kabul. I like to go school because I want to learn. My favorite subject is math and my favorite teachers are the ones from whom all students can learn something and who respect students. Our teachers don’t know about lesson plans, human rights, teaching and children’s rights. Because of that, we are faced with a lot of problems. I think men and women have the same rights. Women can seek
knowledge, work and travel outside.”

Afghan and American youth went to summer school together at the Friends Select School in Philadelphia

In July 2007, five GCE students from Afghanistan met three of their Bangladeshi counterparts in the Philadelphia and
Washington, DC, where they spent three weeks learning about youth leadership and civic empowerment and getting acquainted with the culture and history of the United States. The program introduced students to the principles and values of participatory democracy and provided them with basic tools that they could use for civic action in their home countries. Students spent the first few days of their visit to the US in Philadelphia, where they learned about the birth of American democracy and civil society and went to summer courses with American students at the Friends Select School. Then, the students transferred to Washington, DC, where they participated in a series of workshops and meetings with various organizations and spent a day advocating on Capitol Hill. Throughout the duration of the program, they had time to consider follow-up activities and ways in which they would apply the knowledge and skills gained while in the United States. By the end of their visit, the youth drafted action-oriented post-exchange plans. The group of exchange students was accompanied by Nangarhar University professor Mr. Abdul Rashid, who trains teachers at the Teacher Training College in Jalalabad. He spent his time in the US shadowing high school teachers and university professors and learning about the US education system, teacher standards, active-learning methodologies, and using ICT in the classroom. Along
with the exchange students, Mr. Rashid had the opportunity to talk about the GCE program to Congress staff on Capitol Hill, Voice of America and Department of State representatives.

They trained us about a lot of important things, such as citizen rights and responsibilities, public speaking, volunteering, youth leadership, advocacy, project design, etc. For me the important issues were volunteer leadership and making projects. When I return home, I will create a project on keeping our community clean. ~ Mariam, exchange participant

The group of exchange students was accompanied by Nangarhar University professor Mr. Abdul Rashid, who trains teachers at the Teacher Training College in Jalalabad. He spent his time in the US shadowing high school teachers and university professors and learning about the US education system, teacher standards, active-learning methodologies, and using ICT in the classroom. Along with the exchange students, Mr. Rashid had the opportunity to talk about the GCE program to Congress staff on Capitol Hill, Voice of America and Department of State representatives.