--- title: "Educating Girls in Afghanistan: CRS Photo of the Month" description: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been supporting education in Afghanistan since 2003, building community-based classrooms. Now parents can send their children to school instead of to work in the fie --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/14/educating-girls-afghanistan#) # Educating Girls in Afghanistan: CRS Photo of the Month Sep 14, 2016 8:00:06 AM  |  by [Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/catholic-relief-services) [!["Educating Girls in Afghanistan" by Catholic Relief Services for CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/unnamed-5.jpg?width=800&height=533&name=unnamed-5.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/unnamed-5.jpg) Copyright 2016 Nikki Gamer for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) All rights reserved. For many of us, we know our children will start a new school year each September. But for millions of children around the world, this may mark the first year they’ll have access to an education. In Afghanistan’s rural Ghor Province, more than 70 percent of villagers are illiterate. But they want the best for their children, and that means they want to give them a chance to learn. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been supporting education in Afghanistan since 2003, building community-based classrooms like this one, which hosts 30 second-grade girls and boys. Without this classroom, the next school is four miles away—a distance too far and too dangerous for children to walk. Community-based classrooms mean children can feel safe pursuing an education. This makes a big difference, especially for girls, whose enrollment rates increase from 17 percent in government schools to nearly 70 percent in community-based classes. Because of this classroom, parents can send their children to school instead of to work in the fields. This helps the entire community, as children are now even teaching their parents to read and count. Education helps build a culture of peace and stability—something everyone wants for their loved ones. As one mother said after her son returned from class, “I prayed to God that one day my children would go to school. I wish them to be literate, to have a better life.” [Tweet "Community-based classrooms built by @CatholicRelief offer Afghani children a safe education."] See more photos of this classroom and its students here: [In Afghanistan, a Snapshot of Education’s Impact](http://www.crs.org/stories/afghanistan-snapshot-educations-impact). *Copyright 2016 Catholic Relief Services* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F14%2Feducating-girls-afghanistan%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F14%2Feducating-girls-afghanistan%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F14%2Feducating-girls-afghanistan%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Educating%20Girls%20in%20Afghanistan%3A%20CRS%20Photo%20of%20the%20Month) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F14%2Feducating-girls-afghanistan%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F09%2F14%2Feducating-girls-afghanistan%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/CRS.jpg) ### [Catholic Relief Services](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/catholic-relief-services) Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. We are the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a member of Caritas International and the National Catholic Development Conference. Find us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/CatholicReliefServices), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/CatholicRelief), [YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/catholicrelief), [Google Plus](https://plus.google.com/104550074809687046792/posts) and [Pinterest](http://www.pinterest.com/catholicrelief/). ## Related Blog Articles [ Catholic Social Teaching Lesson Plans Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/09/28/catholic-social-teaching-lesson-plans) [ Catholic Relief Services Offers Photos and Stories of Blessed Mother Teresa in Preparation of Her Canonization Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/08/24/catholic-relief-services-offers-photos-stories-blessed-mother-teresa-preparation-canonization) [ Fleeing Boko Haram Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/10/26/fleeing-boko-haram) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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