Photos in this article by Omer Abrar
SHINING THE LIGHT on Shining Star
By Natalie Meyer *
When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, decades of progress for Afghan women and girls came to an abrupt halt. Since then, girls have been banned from attending school beyond sixth grade. Women have been barred from studying at universities, most jobs are now closed to them, and they can no longer visit public spaces unaccompanied by a male. As the restrictions continue to intensify, life for most Afghan women has become bleak and hopeless as they struggle for basic survival. And yet, amid this darkness, there are Afghans who are working to keep the flame of education burning. Shining Star Educational Organization of Afghanistan( Shining Star), a community partner of Central Asia Institute, has remained committed to reaching girls and women with education and opportunity, even under the harshest restrictions.
For over two decades, CAI has employed a communityled approach to education in Afghanistan. At the heart of this strategy is the belief that sustainable progress must be built from within communities, not pushed from outside. Partnerships with local non-governmental organizations( NGOs) like Shining Star allow CAI to build trust with local communities, understand the landscape, and navigate cultural norms. Research shows that local NGOs are among the most effective drivers of community development because of their embeddedness and sensitivity to local context 1. And CAI’ s work with Shining Star is living proof of that concept. Founded in 2018 with the mission of“ empowering Afghan youth through accessible education, skill development, and opportunities that promote lifelong learning,” Shining Star works across five Afghan provinces, reaching even the most remote pockets of the country. Led by a dedicated team of 350 local staff and teachers serving beneficiaries who are 80 %
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