Children and Youth
An important and a rather innovative piece of our work is with Afghan children and youth who make up of over 50% of the country population and as such an important driver of change. We understand that by working today with the young generation and instilling in them the value of tolerance and democracy, and promoting respect for fundamental human rights will give the country more responsible future citizens and leaders.
A recently published State of the Children report of UNICEF identifies Afghanistan as the most dangerous place for children to grow with the highest infant mortality rate in the world - 257 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Afghanistan today has over 50 percent of its population less than 15 years in age. If the present demographic profile continues, in 10 to 15 years, it is expected that 75 per cent of the Afghan population will be younger than 18 years in age. It is extremely important to stress the sense of urgency to protect Afghan children and youth against the impact of war on their lives and future. If we don't act now we shall lose yet another generation in Afghanistan.
Afghanaid's children's groups promote childrens rights and help girls to avoid underage marriage
For more than five years Afghanaid child peer groups have taught boys and girls their rights (based on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, UNCRC, in an Islamic context). These projects worked to combat the prevalence of underage marriage and the removal of children from school in order to work. Peer groups are also encouraged to spread information about the UNCRC to other children and adults. Afghanaid also provides UNCRC training to the local governance bodies, the Community Development Councils CDCs that Afghanaid helped set up.
The projects also provided education in subjects such as math and give the children the chance to enjoy sport and drama. Afghanaid provides educational supplies to help children who have dropped out of school for financial reasons to return. Health and hygiene training is another important aspect of the project, with Afghaniad providing education and health and hygiene kits to the peer groups.
(To read the UN Convention on the Rights of Children please see the UNCRC.)
Success Stories
Maida Gul, a 14-year-old girl from Sofak Sartapa village, Ghor, was going to be forced to get engaged to a 35 year-old man.
Maida is a member of an Afghanaid child peer group. When the other girls from the group found out about the impending marriage they arranged a meeting with Maida’s parents. They told the parents that Maida was too young to get married and this was not the time for her engagement to what they saw as an old man. The parents replied that they were poor and the engagement was he only way to feed the family.
The girls did not give up. They arranged a small demonstration and visited the family again, this time with the community leaders and a local Mullah. The Mullah told Maida’s parents that what they were about to do was against the law, and as a result they cancelled the engagement.
This is part of the work of Afghanaid's child peer groups, which worked with 1,872 boys and 1,870 girls. Hundreds of communities have been made aware of child rights through United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) training.