Who We Are:
In Action
Sahar is one of the few remaining nonprofits working to empower women in Afghanistan
In the face of adversity, Sahar Education stands as one of the few remaining non-profits and beacons of hope for women and young girls in Afghanistan. As the Taliban's reign threatens their futures, we remain dedicated to providing grassroots, underground education, empowering them to dream, learn, and thrive. Join us in our mission to support and uplift Afghan women and girls. Your donation can make a world of difference. Together, we can create everlasting change that ripples for generations.
Education for Afghan Girls and their Communities
Sahar partners with grassroots, locally-based organizations to create educational opportunities and safe learning spaces for girls and women in Afghanistan, empowering and inspiring children and their families to build peaceful, thriving communities.
Our History
Sahar Education’s (formerly Ayni Education International) vision started with Journey with an Afghan School, which was founded on building bridges of understanding between the U.S. and Afghanistan for peace and cooperation in 2001.
Since then Sahar has expanded, building schools, computer centers, and managing teacher training programs in Northern Afghanistan. Sahar became a legal nonprofit entity in 2009 in order to expand and continue efforts that begun in 2001.
Sahar has worked in this war-zone for over a decade to increase the status of girls and women in Afghanistan through education, enabling them to participate actively in the social, political, and economic arenas in their communities.
Our mission
Sahar partners with grassroots, locally-based organizations to create educational opportunities and safe learning spaces for girls and women in Afghanistan, empowering and inspiring children and their families to build peaceful, thriving communities.
Our vision
A quality education for every child in Afghanistan, fostering mutual respect and sustained peace.
Our values set the foundation for our cost-effective, sustainable, high quality education opportunities for underserved girls in Afghanistan; promoting peace, stability and long-term positive impact in this war-weary region.
Our Values
Hope: Sahar represents a new path to a better life – a life many Afghan girls only dreamed possible.
Opportunity: We value opportunity for self-empowerment through education. We value the opportunity to travel safely to school, to pursue studies without fear and return home wiser each day. We value the opportunity to see girls flourish, find inspiration and in turn become inspiration to others in their community.
Empowering Girls: Sahar values the unique role of girls in a society. An essential force in improving the quality of life within a developing nation is to educate girls; the status of women is tied directly to the health and success of a nation.
Respect: We respect the girls who want an education, they will risk their lives achieve it. We respect the country of Afghanistan and the work the government and communities are doing to rebuild after too many years of war. We respect our generous donors, who understand the amazing difference an education can make in the lives of girls.
Dedication: From 2001 to 2021, Sahar built and equipped 18 new schools in Afghanistan, repaired over 20 other Afghan schools, drilled dozens of wells and educated some 28,000 students. We value the relationships we have built and are dedicated to our vision of an excellent education for every child in Afghanistan.
Partnership: Sahar values the opportunity to develop relationships with our partner organizations and individuals impacted by our work. We value the opportunity to learn about each other’s cultures and beliefs, trustful that differences add to our lives; and that we are each transformed by the wisdom of others.
Courage: Afghanistan has suffered through decades of upheaval, during which girls and women were denied access to schools. Sahar values the courage it takes for girls and women in Afghanistan to pursue an education despite the ongoing gender apartheid.