Our Aim
To assess the needs and promote the welfare of
vulnerable street working children and their families in accordance
with basic child and human rights.
The project provides services to create opportunities for developing
life survival skills, basic education, literacy and numeracy, skills
development, vocational training, health education, access to basic
health care and the development of environmental awareness
Our History
Aschiana began its activities in March 1995 in
Shar-I-Naw area of Kabul city to address the needs of children
begging and working on the streets in this area. By 1998 four
centres had been established throughout Kabul and in 2002 a centre
opened for accelerated education for higher aged girls.
Aschiana was also responsible for establishing home based schooling
in different areas of Kabul to provide education to the girls who
did not have the opportunities to seek out education in the centres.
In order to support the families particularly the mothers of the
street working children, programs such as carpet weaving, tailoring,
chicken raising, women’s bakeries and hairdressing were established
for the women, along with education surrounding issues relating to
health, child rights and human rights.
Currently 6 centres exist in Kabul at;
De Afghanan
Shar-I-Now
Khair Khona
Shash Darak
Karte Char
Kote Sengi
With 2004 seeing the opeing of a Vocational Training Centre in Mazar
for 100 students.
To date Aschiana has 2,580 children attending it’s centres. It
also caters for 800 children through it’s street outreach program
for children living in the IDP (internally displaced people) camps
unable to access the centres providing them with basic education,
recreation and health education.
Funding
Centre Based Funding
European Commission
Save the Children – Sweden
The Asia Foundation
Program Funding
Staff Structure
Aschiana management has over 10 years experience and has a dedicated staff of:
Teachers
Social Workers
Centre Coordinators
Health Coordinator
Recreational Coordinator
Education Coordinator
Street Outreach Coordinator
Gender Coordinator
Support Staff
About Afghanistan
The recent history of Afghanistan has been marred by war and civil
unrest. A long and bloody struggle during ten years of Soviet
occupation from 1979 – 1989 saw the deaths of a million Afghanis and
thousands of Russian troops.
Post the Soviet occupation saw the factionalising of the country
which saw the country revert to feudalism. Fighting erupted
between various warlords; and backed by foreign sponsors, this
period saw the rise of the Taliban. After developing
significant political force and power, the Taliban eventually seized
power in 1996. The Taliban controlled most of the country
except for strongholds to the north east held by the Northern
Alliance.
Following the September 11 attacks, a coalition force headed by the
USA invaded Afghanistan and in conjunction with the Northern
Alliance; toppled the Taliban regime.
Geography
|
Area: |
647,500 sq km |
|
Land boundaries: |
China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and
Pakistan |
|
Climate: |
Arid to semi arid, hot summers and cold winters. |
|
Landscape: |
A landlocked country divided by the Hindu Kush mountains
that divide the northern provinces from the rest of the
country. The highest peaks are to be found in the
Wakhan corridor to the north east. |
People
|
Population: |
28,513,000 |
|
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years |
44.7% |
|
15-64 years |
52.9% |
|
|
64 years and over |
2.4% |
|
|
Population growth: |
4.92% |
|
|
Birth rate: |
47.27 births / 1000 |
|
|
Death rate: |
21.12 deaths / 1000 |
|
|
Infant Mortality rate: |
165.96 / 1000 |
|
|
Life expectancy: |
Male |
42.46 |
|
Female |
42.66 |
|
|
Ethnic groups: |
Pashtun |
42% |
|
Tajik |
27% |
|
|
Hazara |
9% |
|
|
Uzbek |
9% |
|
|
Aimak |
4% |
|
|
Turkmen |
3% |
|
|
Baloch |
2% |
|
|
Other |
4% |
|
|
Religions: |
Sunni Muslim |
80% |
|
Other |
1% |
|
|
Languages: |
Pashtu |
35% |
|
Dari |
50% |
|
|
Turkic languages |
11% |
|
|
Others |
4% |
|
|
Literacy |
Male |
51% |
|
Female |
21% |
Government
|
Type |
Transitional |
|
Administrative |
32 provinces |
|
Independence |
19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) |
|
Constitution |
New constitution signed 16th January 2004 |
|
Elections: |
Presidential elections due 9th October 2004 |
|
Leader: |
Leader of the Afghan Interim Authority, Hamid Karzai |
Economy
|
GDP – per capita |
$700 pa. |
|
|
Population below poverty line |
23% |
|
|
Inflation: |
5.2% |
|
|
Labour Force |
11.8 million |
|
|
Sectors |
Agriculture |
60% |
|
Industry |
20% |
|
|
Services |
20% |
|
|
Foreign Debt: |
$8.5 Billion |
|
|
Currency: |
Afghani |
|
|
Exchange Rate: |
47 to the US $ (approximately). |
Timeline
|
1995 |
Established first Drop in Centre in Shar I Naw, Kabul for
street working children. After the success of this
centre a second centre was opened in Khair Khana |
|
1997 |
A third centre was established in Macroyon 3. |
|
1998 |
Fourth Centre established in De Afghanan |
|
2001 |
Opened fifth Centre in Karte Se incorporating home schooling
for girls. The sixth centre was established at the end of
2001 in Kote Senji. |
|
2003 |
Established educational outreach service in Chaman e Babrak
IDP camp. |
|
2004 |
Extended educational outreach service to Demazang IDP camp.
Commenced establishement of Vocational Training Centre in
Mazar-i-Shariff. |
Our History
Funding
Staff
Timeline
About Afghanistan