With the support of Canadian donors and our partner charities, more than 150 female students in Kandahar are now receiving vital education at the Afghan Canadian Community Center’s Morning Program in Kandahar. This program, provided by the Kandahar Institute of Modern Studies, allows students to receive professional training in a range of high-demand fields, including computing, business, communications and journalism.
A Small Program with a Big Impact
The total yearly cost of the program is $45,000, a figure raised with the support of the Luke Four Foundation, the Cadmus Foundation, and individual Canadian donors. The Canadian International Learning Foundation (CanILF) has pledged to support the Morning Program for the next three years (2013 to 2015), and has successfully raised the first year’s costs. This multi-year commitment will provide a vital source of reliable funding for both the Afghan Canadian Community Center and Kandahar Institute of Modern Studies, providing stability to the students and teachers.
“We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with the Afghan Canadian Community Center,” said Ryan Aldred, President of CanILF. “Their industry-leading training will go a long way toward building local capacity in Kandahar and clearly demonstrating the value of education for Afghan women.”
The Afghan Canadian Community Center has served the women of Kandahar since 2006 and received funding from the Canadian International Development Agency from 2008 to 2012. During this period, the Center successfully trained 2,278 graduates. The students who secured employment as a result of this education provide economic support to an estimated 9,800 residents of Kandahar. The Kandahar Institute of Modern Studies – the Center’s parent organization – is presently funded by a grant from US State Department.
Help Us Keep the Morning Program Running
CanILF Board Member volunteer Erin Collins is raising funds for Morning Program scholarships at the Afghan Canadian Community Center as she prepares to run her first-ever marathon on May 26. Her goal is to raise $1,050 – or a one–month scholarship ($25) for a female student for each of the 42.2 kilometres of the race. To contribute to her campaign and help cheer her on, please visit Erin’s Giving Page here. Donations are eligible for Canadian tax receipts and also count toward our $30,000 annual fundraising goal, which will unlock the next $15,000 matching grant from the Cadmus Foundation.
You can also sponsor Morning Program students through our Adopt-a-Student program for as little as $10 per month. As a Scholarship funders, you will receive a student profile telling you about your student’s interests and plans for the future.