CAI is one of the few international organizations still working in Afghanistan. By continuing to enroll Afghan children, especially girls, from poor, marginalized communities into primary school, we are fighting back against the Taliban’s repressive regime. By learning to read, write, and understand basic math, these children will have the vital life skills they need for a chance at a better life. We are committed to standing by communities we’ve served for more than two decades. We are making education possible and championing the next generation of Afghans.
Since 1996, Central Asia Institute has worked to bring education and job skills to some of the most remote, impoverished, and marginalized corners of Central Asia. From building schools, to training teachers, to supporting women to launch their own businesses, our education programs help to transform lives and make opportunity possible.
While CAI’s programs benefit women, girls and boys alike, we believe “she is key.” We believe in the transformational power of girls’ education to overcome many of society’s greatest challenges, whether poverty, poor health, or conflict, and create healthier, more prosperous, and more peaceful societies.
To advance education and livelihood skills, especially for girls and women, in remote and mountainous regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
We envision a world in which women and girls have the education and skills to unlock their full potential and contribute to a better, brighter future for themselves and their families, communities, and countries.
Educate a girl. Change the world.
14,593 students supported, 60.7% whom are girls
293 women entrepreneurs assisted in starting their own small businesses
At CAI, we believe education is the most powerful tool for transformation. When a girl learns to read, she gains the confidence to shape her own future. When a woman is educated, her family, community, and nation grow stronger.
Your gift today is more than a donation—it is an investment in hope for the women and girls of Afghanistan. Every dollar you give extends opportunity to those who need it most, and represents the promise of a better tomorrow.
By Bella Pich
Nowruz, meaning “New Day”, is the Persian New Year celebrated on the spring equinox, marking the beginning of spring and the start of the new year in the Persian calendar. This festival, which is over 3,000 years old, has roots in Zoroastrianism, and symbolizes revival, rebirth, and hope for prosperity. Nowruz is observed by an estimated 300 million people across the globe including the countries where CAI works.
Although there are many traditions associated with Nowruz, food is a large part of the festivities. Rather than a single main dish, Nowruz features an array of foods, including the Half-sin table spread, Haft Mewa, and Sumanak, shown below.
Photo Credit: Pouya Jabbarisani
For Afghans, one of the true symbols of the New Year is a simple dish called Haft Mewa, which includes a mixture of seven different nuts and fruits. Traditionally Haft Mewa ingredients are black and yellow raisins, senjid (the dried fruit of the oleaster tree), pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and dried apricot. Not only is it delicious, but it’s an expression of hope, resilience and an unwavering belief in fresh beginnings. It’s a must have to ring in the Afghan New Year!
In Pakistan, Nowruz is celebrated by Ismaili, Shia, and some Hazara and Baloch communities. The themes of purity and rebirth are central to the celebrations, reflected in activities such as cleaning, sewing new clothes, planting trees, and decorating eggs. On the day before Nowruz, it’s common to visit the graves of relatives to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. Similar to traditions in Iran and Afghanistan, families come together to share a celebratory meal. In Pakistan, Samani is one of the featured dishes and is made from wheat. Colored eggs are also a staple food item that symbolizes each family member. At least seven dishes are served at these celebratory gatherings.
Finally, in Tajikistan, Sumanak (also known as sumalak) is a type of ritual food made from germinated wheat grains and is the most common dish served by Tajiks. Men are not allowed to partake in the ritual ceremony related to preparing the Sumanak, as it’s believed their presence would be a bad omen. The long process of Sumanak cooking usually includes singing, music, and poetry.
Meaning “festival of breaking the fast” in Arabic, Eid al-Fitr is a two-to-three-day celebration marking the end of Ramadan, one of the holiest times of the Muslim calendar, during which fasting, prayer, and reflection are heavily prioritized.
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with special morning prayers, as well as delicious foods and gifts for one’s family or those in need. It’s also considered a time of forgiveness, where Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness. In countries with larger Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is considered a national holiday, closing schools and businesses and allowing families, neighbors, and friends able to partake in the festivities together.
Central Asia Institute wishes everyone who celebrates a joyful Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr. With the advent of spring, students across the regions we serve begin going back to school. While the festivities of the season are cause for celebration, we urge you not to forget the girls and women of Afghanistan, who are still being denied the opportunity to pursue their education past grade 6. We hope you, like CAI, remain steadfast in your support for them.
Central Asia Institute
Sources:
Afghan Culture Unveiled. (n.d.). Nowruz. Afghan Culture Unveiled. Retrieved from https://www.afghancultureunveiled.com/humaira-ghilzai/tag/Nowruz
BBC Newsround. (2023, March 30). Eid al-Fitr: What is it and why is it celebrated?. BBC Newsround. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68761299
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF). (n.d.). What is Eid al-Fitr? PCRF. Retrieved from https://www.pcrf.net/information-you-should-know/what-is-eid-al-fitr.html
The Independent. (2022, March 19). Happy Nowruz: Five traditional foods to eat to celebrate Persian New Year 2022. Retrieved from https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/food-and-drink/nowruz-2022-food-iranian-recipes-b2038862.html
Travel Pakistani. (n.d.). Nowruz Festival in Pakistan – All you need to know. Retrieved from https://travelpakistani.com/blogs/nowruz-festival-in-pakistan—all-you-need-to-know/76
University of Central Asia. (n.d.). National Festivals of the Tajiks Through the Ages. Retrieved from https://ucentralasia.org/media/s22fgoai/chhu-rp-4-eng.pdf