Educate a girl, change the world. Peace through education.

26 11, 2018

Giving Tuesday: Funding Education with Gratitude and Generosity

amcmanis-manager2018-11-26T12:00:43+00:00November 26th, 2018|Programs|0 Comments

The spirit of giving is grounded in gratitude. Throughout the holiday season, we take stock of our lives and our world—the good, the difficult, the beautiful and the hard. And inspired by the good, in spite of the difficult, we give. It truly takes a grateful heart to give generously. When we appreciate what we have, we understand the importance of sharing it.

This Giving Tuesday, in the spirit of generosity, Central Asia Institute invites you to change the world through the education of girls and women. Communities near and far are suffering division, violence, loss, and fear, but there is […]

26 10, 2018

To Risk Nothing is to Have Nothing

amcmanis-manager2018-10-26T11:35:12+00:00October 26th, 2018|Programs|9 Comments

By Sa’adia Khan

Before leaving for a photojournalism assignment I write a letter to my children. The hope is that I will return to dispose of the letter myself, but there is a real chance that I will not. As a photojournalist, working in developing countries, I fully appreciate the imminent dangers of certain regions; travel to these areas can be riddled with challenges such as landslides, flooding, and landmines. In one of my first assignments I was commissioned to travel to FATA [Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Area], when my then 13-year-old son, asked me if it was safe to go […]

10 10, 2018

What’s cooking in Afghanistan? One woman’s struggle to work

amcmanis-manager2018-10-10T20:25:53+00:00October 10th, 2018|Programs|0 Comments

With more than 60 percent of its population currently under the age of 25, Afghanistan is on the verge of a crisis. Millions of young people are preparing to enter the workforce in the next decade. Yet, training opportunities that would prepare them for this important transition are almost nonexistent. The question is, will they be ready when the time comes? The United Nations and development organizations around the world want to make sure that they are.

Today is International Day of the Girl Child and this year’s theme is A Skilled GirlForce. Championed by the United Nations, the day marks […]

28 09, 2018

PART II: Crippling Drought Grips War-Torn Afghanistan

amcmanis-manager2018-09-30T14:00:44+00:00September 28th, 2018|Afghanistan|0 Comments

Last week, Alice Thomas spoke with us about the ongoing drought that has taken hold of Afghanistan. In part two of the conversation, she explains the direct impact of drought on education and migration. Hannah White (HW): What do our readers need to know about drought and education?

Alice Thomas (AT): It’s challenging enough for girls to get to school in rural Afghanistan, but in times of drought it becomes harder for them. And it becomes so much more important to have more robust funding for education to help cover families’ out-of-pocket costs in […]

23 09, 2018

Part I: Crippling Drought Grips War-Torn Afghanistan

amcmanis-manager2018-09-27T14:50:20+00:00September 23rd, 2018|Afghanistan|1 Comment

Afghanistan is in crisis. Already plagued by seemingly endless war, more than two-thirds of the country is now experiencing the effects of a crippling drought. Some sources are calling it “the worst drought in decades”[1] and UNICEF estimates 500,000 children are affected by the disaster[2].

Alice Thomas is an expert on situations like this. In 2010, Alice joined Refugees International to launch the Climate Displacement Program, bringing with her over a decade of experience in international development and environmental law and policy. The goal of the program is to advocate for solutions to address the increasing impact […]

12 08, 2018

Women’s Empowerment through Education

amcmanis-manager2018-08-12T16:51:18+00:00August 12th, 2018|Programs|1 Comment

Gaining the Power of Choice in Central Asia

We don’t usually spend time considering the impacts of human choice unless our power to choose for ourselves is taken away. But for many young women living in Central Asia, the right to choose how their lives unfold was never an option. Whether dictated by culture, circumstance, family, or poverty, their paths are often already set. These young women may never make their own decisions about their career, their spouse, or even how they spend their days.

It’s all too common for women in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan to surrender their chance for […]

31 07, 2018

Pakistan Facts and Figures

amcmanis-manager2018-07-31T15:01:11+00:00July 31st, 2018|Scholarships|0 Comments

A Developing South Asian Nation with Rich History

The country of Pakistan sits on the edge of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman, between India, Afghanistan, Iran, and China. From its coastal waters, a diverse geography covers deserts and forests all the way to the epic 8,000 meter peaks of the Karakoram, Hindu Kush, Himalaya, and Pamir mountains. The name Pakistan means ‘land of the pure’ in Urdu, one of the country’s official languages and one of 60 spoken by its citizens. With a population of 200,813,818, it is currently the world’s […]

17 07, 2018

Why Education In Pakistan Matters Now More Than Ever

Hannah White2018-07-17T15:42:50+00:00July 17th, 2018|Pakistan|2 Comments

For decades, the children of Pakistan have been beset by a failing educational system. Despite years of ordinances and attempted overhauls, the country’s school system currently lacks sufficient teachers and safe places to learn. As a result, millions of children may never become literate, or pursue any education past primary school. A Young Nation In Need Of Education

Pakistan is home to tens of millions of children, with about one-quarter of the country’s current population believed to be under the age of 16. In fact, one in ten school-aged children worldwide are Pakistani. Yet as of […]

12 06, 2018

ISIS Attack on CAI-Supported Schools

amcmanis-manager2018-06-12T11:43:09+00:00June 12th, 2018|Afghanistan|3 Comments

We are deeply saddened to report that earlier this month ISIS militants in Afghanistan attacked two schools supported by Central Asia Institute. Fortunately, neither students nor staff were hurt in the attack, however, the main gate and adjoining portions of the boundary wall were destroyed when a bomb was detonated. CAI’s implementing partner in the region, Star of Knowledge (SKO), has made the decision for the safety of everyone involved, to temporarily suspend program activities at those locations. SKO and the community will continue to evaluate the situation and determine next steps at a later date.

Our hearts go out to […]

11 06, 2018

A Charitable Wedding Day is Special for Hundreds

Hannah White2018-06-19T12:44:09+00:00June 11th, 2018|Programs|6 Comments

Chiara Guariglia’s wedding day will be special, and not just for herself and her fiancé Valerio Nardone. Chiara has chosen to dedicate her wedding to Central Asia Institute. As a result, the celebration will also be a event to remember for dozens of children in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan when they learn in schools supported by their charitable wedding gifts.

In Italy, guests usually place a gift of money into the bag or box at the reception. At Chiara’s wedding, when they open the gift box, they will see a note inside informing them that their gift is being donated to […]