Afghanistan
1,447
people served
85%
of whom were
female
CHALLENGES
Afghanistan saw unprecedented levels of
violence in 2019. The UN reports that, for
the sixth year in a row, civilian casualties
exceeded 10,000. Violence made accessing
certain regions of the country impossible
or extremely difficult. Several of CAI’s
programs were delayed or canceled as a
result. Contested presidential elections
also caused strife and held up the work
of organizations like CAI, which rely on
government approvals and coordination.
SUCCESSES
The early years of life are crucial for influencing a child’s
capacity to learn, solve problems, and relate to others,
and have been shown to have a significant impact on
a person’s success and happiness later in life. Despite
these compelling statistics, however, according to a 2017
UNICEF study, nearly 100% of Afghan children age 3-5
do not receive early childhood education. That’s why, in
2019, Central Asia Institute started an early childhood
education program in Afghanistan. As part of CAI’s new
program, 300 students age 3-5 got a jump-start on their
schooling and a leg up in life.