Developing Opportunity is supporting two schools in Northern Afghanistan: Olti Kwaja and the Institute for Higher Education. Together, we have added classrooms, built a computer center with Internet connection, donated supplies and science equipment, purchased transportation for teachers, financed repairs, and even build a preschool/child care center.

Please see below for details on each and to learn more about our future projects.

Developing Opportunity's first project was the renovation and expansion of a school in a rural area of northern Afghanistan. The school in Olti Kwaja was built 38 years ago as a one-room primary school; unfortunately, when the Taliban took over the village, girls were forbidden from attending and it was turned it into a Madrassa, an Islamic school for boys. Thus, very few of the children attended school from 1996-2001. Once Olti Kwaja was freed from the Taliban's grasp, the children flooded the school and overwhelmed its capacity. These kids were attending school in UN donated tents and even studying outside in harsh conditions, but we were able to change that. In 2003 Developing Opportunity renovated an older building at the school and aided in the construction of another building to serve as four classrooms and an office. We also donated a microscope and provided each student with a small bag containing 3 notebooks, 1 pen, 1 pencil, 1 eraser and a small box of colored pencils.

Today, the school educates approximately 1640 children ranging in age from 7-19 and is equally divided between boys and girls. The children attend in double shifts (am/pm) in order to accommodate their needs.

During our trip to the school in August 2007, Ellen Mai and Faizullah Zaki met with school officials and agreed to pay for 3 of their most urgent requests: (1) one bag of school supplies for each of the students, (2) a rickshaw for teacher transportation, and (3) repairs to the school.  The school supplies were purchased and distributed during our visit and the students were thrilled! (Please see our Photo Gallery for the smiles!) The rickshaw transportation was an urgent need because the female teachers had a long walk to the rural school in harsh conditions. Now they will arrive quickly and safely.  The repairs to the school have been completed. The teachers also requested a playground and child care center, but it wasn't in our budget.  With your help, we can make these projects are reality!

There is a tremendous demand for higher education and technical training throughout the world, particularly in Afghanistan. To assist with this effort, Developing Opportunity is helping to renovate the 53rd Division's old army barracks into the Institute for Higher Education in Sheberghan. This also aids the town with their mandated DDR efforts of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration.

The Institute currently educates over 1400 students ranging in age from 18-23. They offer classes divided among four tracks: Social Sciences, Geology/Mining, Natural Sciences and Chemistry.

In 2006, we donated 22 computers, 22 desks, 44 chairs, an HP printer, a webcam, a digital camera and equipped the room with air conditioning. We also donated the satellite Internet connection to the Institute.

In August 2007, Ellen Mai and Faizullah Zaki met with school officials and were surprised to learn that their most urgent need was child care for the children of the school's 60 teachers. They requested we fund an Early Childhood Development Center so teachers will have care for their children and students wanting to become teachers can gain experience by working there.

School officials also requested we reinstate the Internet as it is been a tremendous source of education. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to pay $760/month for all 22 computers, but we did agree to $490/month for 20 computers for one year. We need help to keep this center running!

The teachers also requested a female dormitory, a library, a health care clinic, and a chemistry lab. Two hundred women were accepted to the Institute this year, but only five could attend because they could live with families in the nearby town. With your help, we can educate 195 more women simply by building a dormitory!

Our biggest goal with the Institute is to transform it into a University. They have the desire, the teachers and the facilities, but they need our help!