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LIKE OTHER REFUGEES , HE HAS GIVEN BACK TO HIS NATIVE COUNTRY . In the early 1990s , Akbary started sending money home to his parents , who were living in Pakistan . He also sent funds to pay for students who couldn ’ t afford books or schooling .“ I ’ m not a fan of giving food , but Iput alot of focus on education ,” he says .
HE COORDINATED WITH A FRIEND IN KANDAHAR TO START FARDAH ROSHAN . After the pandemic hit in 2020 , Akbary got in touch with a friend in Kandahar who worked with private schools supported through a nonprofit . The friend , who connected people abroad with residents of the city , told Akbary that the schools needed computers , so Akbary contributed 20 laptops for a computer lab . The students could use them during breaks for sports in the school day .
Then Akbary had an idea : Recruiting women from small religious schools called darul goran to teach young children in small , in-home settings ; this “ war-proof ” schooling model would be less vulnerable intimes ofconflict . The organization now employs 60 women as teachers , along with several supervising principals and a superintendent . They each instruct groups of four and can teach up to two classes a day . Instruction runs for one hour , six days per week .
Though the classes are intended to supplement regular school , the
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founders of Fardah Roshan quickly learned that for many students , their program was the only source of classroom learning . Three out of four students were not enrolled in school , according to Zarina Akbary . The Fardah Roshan schools started their fourth semester mid-September .
AKBARY WANTS AFGHAN WOMEN TO HAVE OPTIONS . Teaching the micro-school classes provides opportunities to women at a time when the Taliban , which retook power after the U . S . withdrew forces last summer , have restricted women ’ s right to work .“ It provides income for families , especially for needy families , and it ’ s also giving them a sense of hope ,” he says . Teachers who train over the summer on computers can get additional material for their students . “ And they can do minor jobs abroad working online ,” says Akbary , acknowledging how the many Afghan women who are stuck in the home have alot of time on their hands .
FARDAH ROSHAN ’ S LIBRARIES ARE WELCOMINGTOKIDS . Akbary says that as achild , he loved the smell of books , but the Kandahar library seemed fancy and exclusive , and this discouraged him from entering . Also , the vast majority of its books were in English , he says . As an adult , he opened three libraries in different parts of Kandahar .“ They ’ re in small streets with kids in them ,” he says . One is located in his father ’ s former
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jewelry store , a 3-by-7-meter space where children can take home books and paper for writing and drawing . Some books are written in Farsi and come from Iran , while a great number are donated by the nonprofit Books for Afghanistan .
HE LOVES LIVING IN TOTOWA . Akbary ’ s impression of Americans before arriving was that they were “ good people ,” he says . That feeling has become stronger since living here . “ I see alot of minor things that make society a lot better ,” he says . “ Tipping is an example ! When you go abroad , you tip because you get used to appreciating that you ’ re fortunate . When you get lost while driving and ask someone for directions , that person will take 20 minutes to help .” He says that when Americans travel , they often get a fresh perspective and “ learn to get respect for their own country .”
Akbary praises the kindness of his neighbors in particular . On a recent trip to take his mother to physical therapy on Union Boulevard , he says acar parked behind him in a way that appeared to box him in ( he wasn ’ t ). The owner of the car in front of him , who was having breakfast in a nearby restaurant , raced out to see if he was blocked . “ He came to help me though my mom was wearing Islamic clothing ,” Akbary says with admiration . ■
For information on how to support Fardah Roshan , go to fardahroshan . org .
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FARDAH ROSHAN |
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10 FALL 2022 WAYNE MAGAZINE |