AIL is a successful, grassroots non-governmental organization and has a proven track record of creativity, innovation, and quality services. Afghanistan needs more high-quality, local civil society organizations to meet the health and education needs of Afghans now and for generations to come. Building the capacity of Afghan civil society is the key to ensuring that Afghans will be able to meet their education and health needs without foreign assistance in the future. For this reason, AIL has been providing training and seed grants to local community-based Afghan educational organizations (CBOs) since 1996 and has supported more than 160 CBOs to date. Currently, AIL is training and providing support to 45 grassroots CBOs that have been begun by local Afghans. These CBOs include 3 health centers and 42 educational learning centers which provide education to over 25,000 students annually.
Since AIL began assisting these grassroots organizations, they have been able to improve their management, implement interactive teaching methods, and increase their student enrollment, particularly for female students. Many centers have either become independent or achieved their goals. AIL provides needed materials and supplies to the centers. Before AIL started supporting the Lolenge Educational Center in Parwan province, they had no black board, chalk, chairs, tables, or books. AIL teacher training staff visit the organizations regularly and provide their teachers and managers with needed training. The teachers and managers have improved and work according to their lesson plans. Students and their families have noticed the difference and are very happy with AIL.
“My name is Mariam and I have been studying English in [Habibi] center for one month. There were no courses in our area and also the population of our area has increased. Girls had lots of difficulties with transportation. So now, without any problem, we can get to a course.”