John McLean - Cultural and Academic Development in Afghanistan RAWCS Project
John McLean spoke on Womens Academic & Cultural Development in the Nangarhar (Kamah District/Jalalabad City) Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s education system for girls collapsed under the culture of the Taliban, severely impacting on the education and well-being of women. To enable women of Nangarhar (Kamah District/Jalalabad City) Afghanistan to gain an educational qualification which will enable them to proceed to higher education, active social life and be eligible for International Scholarships.
- The Rotary Club of Carlton is working with former club member Dr Noor Shah Kamawal to help Afghanistan’s young people embrace education and prepare for a democratic future.
- With a medical degree from Afghanistan, and a Masters in Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne, Noor has returned home to become the Health System Strengthening Coordinator and Focal Point with the Ministry of Public Health.
- In his spare time, Noor has initiated the following activities, supported with funds from our club and District 9800, but also with significant support from a private foundation.
- Classes for young village women in the Kama District of Afghanistan have commenced. Traditionally, girls were not educated, but their brothers or fathers support the education of their young women, to encourage further female education and change Afghan society. Within a short time these young women who had not held a pen, were able to write their name and a few sentences.
- A class was started in Jalalabad in which girls under 12 years study basic English, science and computer.
- With increasing computer literacy, a Youth Web-site where the largest proportion of the population could explore democratic values and moral attitudes for a better future. Two teams of young people have been selected to develop the web site. New computers purchased with our funds have been presented to these young people.
- Workshops in Kabul will prepare 1000 University students as ambassadors for democracy who will address eligible electors. Presidential and Provincial Elections next April will determine the future following the withdrawal of troops. This will be particularly crucial for the continued successful development of education programs for women in Afghanistan.