Underground Schools in Afghanistan

Underground Schools: Funding Secret Education in Afghanistan

Overview: Since 2021, when the Taliban barred girls and women from continuing education beyond primary school, Ideas Beyond Borders has supported the development of a decentralized network of secret underground schools to provide education to Afghan girls and women.

Background & Context

• Situation: Taliban regime (since August 2021) has banned girls and women from secondary education and beyond
• IBB Response: Quietly supports Afghan educators building clandestine education networks
• Status: Active and expanding program

Geographic Scope

• Location: Afghanistan
• Primary Focus: Areas under Taliban control with limited educational access for girls

What the Program Funds

• Direct Education Funding: Operating costs for underground schools
• School Expansion: Building new schools within the decentralized network
• Educator Support: Compensation and support for Afghan educators
• Student Support: Resources enabling girls to attend safely

Focus Areas

• Primary Beneficiaries: Afghan girls and women (all ages)
• Education: Secondary and higher education (prohibited by Taliban)
• Subject Areas: Not specified; general education curriculum

Impact & Importance

• Girls' Empowerment: Counter to Taliban regime's restrictions
• Future Leadership: Education provides opportunities for girls to become agents of change
• Health & Safety: Education reduces risk of child marriage (common when girls aren't in school)
• Economic Independence: Education provides foundation for financial freedom and employment
• Women's Rights: Upholding right to equal participation in society

How Donations Are Used

• Specific Example: One donation campaign sought $12,000 to build a school for 800 Afghan girls
• School Operations: Funding enables multiple schools within decentralized network
• Flexibility: Funds support various aspects of underground school operations

Quote from Leadership

"What happened to Yazidis remains a scar in the history of us as species; the only way to heal that scar is to get Yazidis to get back on their feet and empower them to find market solutions to the challenges they face so they don't need to depend on anyone but themselves." — Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, Founder & President, Ideas Beyond Borders

Contact Information

• Website: ideasbeyondborders.org
• Address: 244 Fifth Avenue Suite 2594, New York, NY 10001
• EIN: 82-1447974

Organization Status

• Nonprofit with Special Consultative Status to the United Nations
• Platinum-level rating with Candid (formerly Guidestar)
• Recognized on Charity Navigator