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.
Join Central Asia Institute for a special, FREE Zoom event featuring CAI Executive Director, Alice Thomas, and Ambassador Adela Raz, Director of the Afghan Policy Lab at Princeton University on Tuesday, August 5th at 1pm PDT / 2pm MDT / 3pm CDT / 4pm EDT.
Women globally are under attack. Even in developed countries like the United States, the fight for basic rights like equal pay and access to healthcare continues. But nowhere in the world is the situation worse for women and girls than in Afghanistan.
While many international organizations have pulled back their support, or left the country altogether, Central Asia Institute continues to stand with the Afghan communities we’ve served for decades. We’ve seen firsthand that the most effective strategy for fighting the Taliban’s restrictive policies is by educating Afghan girls. After all, an educated female is more likely not only to fight for a better future for herself and her family but for her country, as well.
The Taliban’s ban on girls’ education beyond Grade 6 has forced us to scale back some of our educational support, but we have countered that setback by inaugurating a livelihood/entrepreneurship program to help create income-producing opportunities for older girls and women. Please join us on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, to learn more about how Central Asia Institute is adapting and reshaping our programs in Afghanistan.
Watch a recording of this event: