Schools in Afghanistan built by Central Alberta non-profit closed after Taliban takeover
A central Alberta non-profit that opened multiple schools in Afghanistan has had its schools shut down after the Taliban takeover.
It was in late 2001, when the Taliban were overthrown in Afghanistan, five years after they seized the capital of Kabul and the country.
In those five years, the Taliban imposed strict rules based on its interpretation of sharia law. Specifically, their interpretation significantly limited the freedoms of women and young girls.
Most women were not allowed to work or go to school, and many of them were forced into marriage at a young age.
Twenty years later, the Taliban has taken control of Afghanistan again, and those advocating for open education for the children of Afghanistan are fearful of what the future holds.
One of those advocates is Eric Rajah. He is the co-founder of A Better World Canada: a non-profit organization located in Lacombe that has invested over $35-million in numerous projects across the world focused on providing education, healthcare, and clean water.
Rajah still remembers visiting Afghanistan for the first time in 2004 and seeing the lack of schooling infrastructure.
“The schools that we visited, most of them, were in tents. Torn out tents,” Rajah said.
“Their future was, of course, marred because the Taliban were in control, but the moment the Taliban were ousted, everybody wanted a school. It was a perfect fit.”
In 2010, A Better World Canada started the 100 Classroom Project, which, over the years, has opened 12 schools, providing education to over 18,000 students—many of them young girls.
Girls in a classroom in Afghanistan. (Supplied/A Better World Canada)
Girls in a classroom in Afghanistan. (Supplied/A Better World Canada)
“The thirst for learning in Afghanistan is huge among young people, especially among the girls,” Rajah said. “I’ve had conversations with these girls who want to become lawyers, who want to be leaders in their country. It’s absolutely amazing.
All of the schools are in the northern Afghanistan province of Jowzjan, which is known for being an anti-Taliban stronghold.
“We were convinced that this was an area that was referred to as ‘Free from the Taliban.’ This province particularly did not want the Taliban there,” he said.
“We felt that this was a safe place to get the girls and young people back in school.”
However, two weeks ago, the Taliban seized the province’s capital Sheberghan, effectively taking control of the province. As a result, the schools have been shut down.
“Right now, the schools are closed for the safety of the students,” he said. “They’re afraid. They don’t want to send their children out of the house.”
Rajah said he is discouraged, but he is holding on to a sliver of hope. He pointed to the Taliban’s claim that this is a different Taliban than the one that ruled in the late 1990s.
A Taliban spokesman said the group would respect women’s rights “within the framework of Islam Law”, and they would allow women and girls to keep attending school.
“The Taliban have said, ‘We are a new version, and we need the country to grow, and we don’t want it to go backwards,’ so we are hanging on that hope, so to speak.”
However, Javid Noori, the project manager for the 100 Classrooms Project, is skeptical. He lives in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul with his family.
He believes the Taliban in control now is the same Taliban of 20 years ago.
“They have not changed,” Noori said. “I see their behaviour with the people after 21 years, they are the same people.”
Noori pointed to the protest in Jalalabad where, reportedly, at least three people were killed and several wounded, by the Taliban, after protesters attempted to erect Afghanistan’s national flag.
“It was a protest only because of the national flag,” said Noori. “The Taliban wanted to replace the flag and the people said, ‘This is the national flag, you have to form your government and then after that you can remove the national flag.’
“Because of that small thing, they killed people. They have not changed.”
UNICEF estimates that 3.7 million Afghan children are out-of-school, and 60 per cent of them are girls. Furthermore, out of all the schools in Afghanistan, only 16 per cent are all-girls schools.
Noori said he expects the conditions to worsen under the Taliban.
“We have experience of Taliban in Afghanistan before 2001 in 1999. There was no university, they were chasing young girls for forced marriage,” he said.
“They just show that they are going to let the girls go to school, but I’m sure if the Taliban are there, and there’s no proper negotiation with them, there not going to let the girls go to school.”
Noori said he has considered leaving the country, but the recent chaos at the Kabul airport has discouraged him. If he cannot leave, he is desperate to get his 11 year-old-daughter out of the country.
“If I am not able to move out of this country, definitely I’m going to move her out from here,” Noori said.
“I don’t want her to live under this kind of regime where she is not allowed to attend the school, do her education, and also facing forced marriage.”
But, his desperation does not cloud the gratitude he feels for the people who helped him build the schools in Afghanistan.
“I just want to thank you Canadians and the international community for helping the children of Afghanistan. For helping my children,” he said. “The communities are there, the schools will be there, the buildings will be kept safe. We will not let the Taliban use the schools as army bases.
“I’m sure in the future, the children will use those classrooms, which are built by your money, by your donations. Thank you very much for all the donations you made for Afghanistan.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.