Girls' Education in Pakistan4/15/2025 supporting partners in shifting circumstancesDear Disciples, We are often asked about our global partners and how their work is impacted by the policies of the U.S. administration. We will continue to share the stories of their transformative work, even as we listen to them and discern the best ways to go about our mission – working with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world. Thank you for the ways you connect with and invest in the ministry of Week of Compassion. Currently, all our partners are facing significant challenges in humanitarian work, both in development programs and refugee resettlement. The post-WWII infrastructures and alliances that helped rebuild Europe and the world are being dismantled. The U.S. refugee program has come to a halt, and local resettlement agencies are on the brink of shutting down. U.S. foreign aid cuts, along with reductions from countries like the UK and Sweden, are having a profound impact. Many of our partners are reassessing how to shift from emergency aid to capacity-building and expanding their funding sources. In short, this is an extremely difficult time for our work in refugee assistance, disaster response, and sustainable development. Recently, I received an email from our partners in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Week of Compassion supports an online education program for Afghan girls over the age of 11, since the Taliban forbids them from attending school. With the recent crackdown on such efforts, it is impossible to continue. Our partners have asked to redirect these funds toward supporting Afghan refugees in Pakistan, as the Pakistani government is preparing to forcibly return refugees due to the U.S. halt on resettlement. We will shift our grant to assist these refugees. Here you’ll find their heartfelt story, taken directly from the voices of the students and staff. We remain in constant communication with our partners, assessing the evolving situation and adapting our support to meet urgent needs. It’s still too early to gauge the full impact of the U.S. administration’s policies, but we are working to adjust accordingly. Thank you for being part of this ministry through your offerings of prayers and resources. We are grateful. Rev. Vy Nguyen Executive Director, Week of Compassion Dear Vy and friends at Week of Compassion, Over the past months, the situation for Afghan women and girls has deteriorated drastically. Initially, challenges were centered around restrictions on education beyond the secondary level, yet online learning remained a lifeline. Soon, women were banned from working entirely, including in remote and home-based roles. This was followed by the prohibition of midwifery and nursing, which were among the last remaining professional opportunities for women. In recent weeks, a new law has been enforced, requiring homes to block windows facing the streets so that no woman can be seen from outside. Organizations working in the education sector are facing severe threats. In [the region where we serve], all organizations engaged in education have ceased operations. Some have been forcibly shut down, while others have seen their staff members imprisoned. The Taliban’s crackdown continues to intensify.  Our organization has been dedicated to facilitating education for Afghan girls through online, home-based learning, with teachers based in Pakistan. However, with the most recent Taliban directive banning all online activities for women, even this last opportunity for education has been completely eliminated. This decision has put our students, their families, and our women teachers and their families under immediate risk. Continuing our work in Afghanistan would pose a grave danger to many lives. Given these circumstances, we have had to make the difficult but necessary decision to discontinue all education related activities within Afghanistan for the safety of our staff, teachers, and students. However, rather than allowing this situation to halt our mission, we have devised a strategic plan to continue supporting Afghan refugees in Pakistan with the same program of education, reaching a larger group of women and girls as we shift the focus to refugee girls, internally displaced persons, and girls with protection risks in Pakistan. As you might imagine, the emotions that pour from the students and staff paint a powerful picture of hope shattered, dreams crumbled, and futures uncertain. Despite the deep sense of loss and betrayal, the decision to end the program, though painful, was made with the safety of the students, teachers, staff, and their families in mind. The resilience of these girls and the dedication of the staff, who had risked everything to keep the program running against all odds, cannot be overstated. Their strength and unwavering hope for a better future remain an indomitable force. A Dream Interrupted : The Voices Left Behind For nearly two years, an online education program was a lifeline for Afghan girls, offering a glimmer of hope in a country where their right to education had been stripped away. Amid a backdrop of cultural and political challenges, these young girls continued to attend classes from their homes, encouraged by their teachers and families. They believed, with unwavering hope, that through education, they could shape their futures.  Despite the immense barriers, parents went to great lengths to support their daughters’ education. "Some parents even relocated their girls to another village where there was internet-accessibility," recalls a coordinator. "This was a huge decision, as culturally and under the Taliban regime, this could be life-threatening. But they wanted their girls to study." Parents extended every effort to keep their daughters' education alive, providing power banks and making sacrifices in the face of electricity shortages and frequent load shedding. Then, one day, everything changed. The screen went dark, the program was shut down, and the lifeline that these girls had held onto was ripped away. The decision left behind a trail of unanswered questions, shattered dreams, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. The students’ voices reflected their heartbreak: "The Taliban banned us from education, and now you have also closed our online program. So, what is the difference between the Taliban and your team?" These words, filled with pain and frustration, encapsulated the emotional depth of the moment. Many of the girls had harboured dreams of receiving scholarships and studying abroad, envisioning a future full of possibilities, a life where they could have an identity, a future, and a place in society. But in an instant, these dreams were shattered. The Taliban government had already imposed strict bans on girls' education, and the situation for Afghan women had become increasingly dire. "Women can breathe, eat, sleep, talk, and live in four walls with no windows. That’s their life now," one local observer shares. Laws are passed with immediate effect and dire consequences; those caught in defiance risk arrest. For these girls, education was never just about learning, it was about survival. It was their act of resistance, their last hope. And with the closure of the program, that door, too, was slammed shut. "Why are girls always the ones who have to sacrifice in Afghanistan? What will our future be if you also shut down our online program?" Sadly, there was no answer that could bring comfort answering this student’s questions. These girls had done nothing wrong. They had studied diligently. They had dared to dream. "Our families are so grateful to your team for creating this opportunity for us. We had dreams of graduating and achieving our goals, but now they’re taken away." The heartbreak was not confined to the students alone. The dedicated staff, who had worked tirelessly to make the program a reality, were equally devastated. These teachers, mentors, and coordinators had navigated threats, instability, and danger to ensure education remained a possibility. But when the program ended, so did their livelihoods. "Many of us are the sole providers for our families. Without a job, what are we supposed to do?" These staff members had not only been educators but had been anchors of hope for both the students and their families. Their commitment to education had never wavered, but when the program was abruptly shut down, they were left with nothing. Their understandable fear is a painful reflection of the deep uncertainty now faced by those who had dedicated their lives to empowering Afghan girls. An unfinished story remains. The future for these girls and the staff who fought for their education is uncertain. But their voices refuse to be silenced. Week of Compassion remains committed to working with local partners to assess and adjust to best meet the evolving situation and needs. Their resilience speaks volumes, and their demand is clear: Do not forget them. Comments are closed.
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