Dasht-e-Safid girls’ school has been inaugurated. A leap forward for Arghosha committee

The Governor of Bamiyan Prpvince Mullah Abdullah Sarhadi holds the inauguration speech od Dasht-e-Sefid girls’ school

Kahmard district of Bamiyan province, one of the most disadvantaged of all Afghanistan, has made a big progress in the educational field. Thanks to a successful cooperation between Comitato Arghosha Faraway Schools and Shuhada Organisation with the strong support from the local  authorities, on January the 6th, in the village of Dasht-e-Shafid, a girls’ school for 400 pupils was inaugurated. For Arghosha Committee, it was the best way to celebrate 20 years of passionate commitment to education in Afghanistan. It all started in September 2005 with the inauguration of Arghosha School in Kakhdaw village of  Yakawlang district. A commitment that ended up in funding the construction of 16 schools where 10.000 children attended so far, two thirds of them being girls. Thanks to our effort, about 200 teachers have been  enrolled by the State in these schools, and a community of about 60,000 people has benefited so far between the provinces of Bamiyan and Daikundi where we operate.

Authorities holfing speeches at the inauguration ceremony

Present to the ceremony were the provincial authorities, representatives of Shuhada Org, the Afghan charity that supervised the project, students, village elders and relatives of the children. The school was built in 5 months, a record time, as works started in early July 2024. It will host girls from Grade 1 to 6 in 6 classrooms plus an administrative rooms for teachers. Contrary to other school buildings funded by Arghosha, Dasht-e-Sefid lies in a mountainous region relatively lower than usual, about 1600m sl, and enjoys a milder climate in winter time, which helped to get on with construction works until the very end of Autumn. In his inauguration speech, the Governor of Bamiyan province, Mullah Abdullah Sarhadi, spoke about the importance of getting a balance between religion and a modern education. At Arghosha Committee, we are very proud of this achievement as this is the first girls’ school in the whole region. We were particularly pleased to learn that the principal of the School will be a woman teacher, coming from the neighbouring province of Ghor.

Mr Abdullah Raziq Naveed, director of Shuhada Org in Bamiyan province, the head of dept of Education of Bamiyan, some school teachers and willage elders stand in front of the blackboard of a classroom with welcoming and inaugural writings

The head of Bamiyan department of education put the emphasis on the need for the parents to send their children to school. He said that this is an important condition in order to build a wealthier and more prosperous community and strengthen the Afghan society at large. Mr Naveed of Shuhada Org emphasized the committment of its organisation through education that spanned for three decades. A precious presence of passionate and competent people that convinced Arghosha to partner and work together for over 20 years in central Afghanistan.

The billboard commemorating the school and those who made this project possible

At Arghosha Committee we are proud of our achievement that proves that notwithstanding the recent change of Government, our commitment is going on unabated benefitting the young afghan girls. A modern education as it was said is paramount to secure a future to a country that has suffered 45 years of wars and disruptions that hindered its development leaving it as the poorest country of the Northern hemisphere of the World. We genuinely hope that we can continue along this path that will hopefully bring peace and prosperity to all.

The school was built following the strictest specifications and will the best materials available

Finally, we are grateful to all our Afghan friends for remembering our beloved Maria Rosario Lazzati Niada, co-founder of Arghosha Committee and enthusiastic supporter of the cause of girls’ education in the country. We thank everybody fo laying a tumbstone in her memory, stating her love for the country and her commitment. She befriended with many girls and helped them to have a better life.  Let us hope that this commitment will go on for many years to come.