June 2023 Newsletter
As we enter the summer season, we leave behind a highly productive Spring and look forward to continuing to make a difference in the lives of Afghan girls for the second half of 2023. As you read this newsletter, you will notice it has changed in format and content. We hope you enjoy the changes and welcome any comments or suggestions from our devoted friends!
Sahar Education is pleased to announce our new Operations & Finance Manager, Allie Renar. Allie brings 9 years of progressive experience working with nonprofits organizing fundraising events, donor campaigns, and digital marketing strategies to the Sahar team.
Allie joined Sahar Education to bring her skills and experience to help advance gender equity through education for Afghan girls.
We are excited to see the contributions Allie will make to our organization and those individuals and programs we support!
Upcoming Events
July Bonus Day
Sahar is participating in July Bonus Day on July 12th! This is an exciting opportunity for Sahar to raise funds for ongoing projects with a match for all unique donations between $100 and $1,000!
Please share our mission with your friends and family ahead of the July Bonus Day Campaign!
$400,000 is available in Matching Funds for participating projects!
15% match on donations from $100 - $499 (while funds remain)
30% match on donations from $500 - $749 (while funds remain)
50% match on donations from $750 - $1,000 (while funds remain)
Donations up to $1,000 per unique donor per organization will be matched!
Are you taking part in a local event you think Sahar should join? Please email us about the event!
Program Updates
Women's Empowerment Workshop
The Women Empowerment Workshop at Sahar Education & our partner School continues to make significant strides in empowering young girls who are unable to access secondary education due to the Taliban's ban. In the month of May, the program proved to be productive and fruitful, fostering an environment of hope and growth for the 20 female students enrolled.
The Women Empowerment sessions have become a focal point of interest for the students. These sessions provide a safe and supportive space for them to openly share their thoughts and ideas, encouraging conversations on crucial yet sensitive topics. The workshops have been instrumental in enhancing the students' self-confidence and their ability to express their voices effectively. In May, the topic of discussion centered around human rights, prompting one student to reflect on her newfound understanding of the privilege of social time with friends as her basic right. The sessions are designed to be interactive and learner-centered, ensuring active participation and engagement.
In the English language classes, the students diligently work on improving their reading, writing, and speaking skills. Collaborative activities, such as working in pairs and groups, foster teamwork and peer learning, allowing students to benefit from one another's knowledge and experiences. Throughout May, students focused on learning present and past tenses, progressing to conversational exercises in English. To reinforce their skills, students are encouraged to communicate primarily in English during class time. Weekly and monthly quizzes are used as assessment tools to monitor progress and identify areas that require additional attention.
The computer classes have been equally productive, with students completing the Paint program and transitioning to the Microsoft package. The students learned about the File and Edit menus in MS Word 2019, honing their document creation, editing, and design skills.
The upcoming focus will be on creating tables within Word documents. Monthly project submissions provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge and gauge their progress in practical settings.
The program team utilizes creative methods beyond the standard curriculum to help students develop their skills. Each student has been provided with the Kids A-Z application, which offers a variety of leveled books covering diverse topics, including humans, animals, plants, famous biographies, science, and inventions. In class, the books are played by native speakers, allowing students to improve their English pronunciation and expand their general knowledge. The teacher guides students in translating each page and solving in-book quizzes, further enhancing their learning experience.
Ensuring the safety of students is of paramount importance in this challenging environment. The program provides transportation services to and from the school premises, minimizing potential risks for the students. To adhere to the Taliban's regulations, students are required to wear their hijabs at all times, and teachers diligently enforce this rule. Additionally, students are encouraged to wear masks during their bus commutes to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to the vehicle.
The second round of the English, IT, and women empowerment program at Sahar Education & our partner School has proven to be a beacon of hope for young girls unable to pursue formal education. By providing a nurturing and empowering environment, the program aims to equip these students with essential skills and knowledge, enabling them to overcome barriers and achieve their aspirations. The dedication and commitment of the program's team members contribute significantly to the success of this initiative, ensuring a brighter future for these young women.
Your continued support ensures these girls continue to have access to educational programs which enrich their lives and provide new opportunities! Thank you!
Get to Know Afghanistan
In this section of our newsletter, learn about Afghanistan and the beauty of the diverse cultures in the country. This month we discuss Eid al-Adha.
Eid al-Adha, which has a special position in Islamic countries, is the most important feast of the Muslim calendar and is marked auspiciously for three straight days in Afghanistan. Afghans are on the threshold of celebrating Eid al-Adha in the country. Eid preparations start with dispatching pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to perform the hajj.
This festival is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice everything for Almighty Allah. Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. Eid al-Adha concludes the Pilgrimage to Makkah. Eid al-Adha lasts for three days.
During the feast of Eid al-Adha, Muslims re-enact Ibrahim’s obedience by sacrificing a cow or ram. The family will eat about a third of the meal a third goes to friends and relatives, and the remaining third is donated to the poor and needy. The giving of charity in the form of money, food, or clothes to the homeless or poor is another key tradition of Eid al-Adha.
In Afghanistan, a week before Eid al-Adha, people get prepared as they clean their homes to welcome and host guests on Eid days. They go to markets to buy new clothes, dry and fresh fruits. Those who are rich and would like to sacrifice a cow or ram to re-enact Ibrahim’s obedience go to markets to buy cows and rams to sacrifice during Eid days. Then the “Qurbani meat” is distributed among family, friends, and needy people.
The morning of the first day follows with a special prayer, the Eid prayer when Muslims pray for Almighty Allah’s blessing. People visit family members, and relatives and treat their guests with different kinds of food, and fruits, and organize family picnics. On this day, families, relatives, and friends who broke up, reunite, forget, and forgive past differences as a virtue of Eid. And, for every Afghan, it is a very special period.
Source: The Kabul Times
Celebrate Eid al-Adha with Sheer Khurma
“Sheer” means milk in Persian and “khurma” means dates.
The dish which truly represents the essence of Eid-ul-Fitr is Sheer Khurma. Around the world, it is a dish associated with Muslim celebrations. A vermicelli pudding prepared by Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Afghanistan, India, Iran, and many parts of Central Asia.
The Silk Road which connected the Subcontinent and Persia, remains the first and the most important road to convey goods and cultures of ancient times. At least in the Subcontinent.
This dish is made from various dry fruits, vermicelli, condensed milk, sugar, etc. Depending on the region, cardamom, pistachios, almonds, cloves, saffron, raisins, and rose water are also added.
This special dish is served on the morning of Eid day in the family after the Eid prayer as breakfast, and throughout the day to all the visiting guests. In its original form, it consists of dates mixed with milk, dry fruits, and nuts from Afghanistan which is where it originated.
Source: Algochak Recipe