The AEA International School is our latest initiative, formed in 2023 as a direct result of our students requesting formal qualifications in English. Qualifications that could enable them to progress to further education or greater job opportunities, at home or abroad.
A pilot group of 20 students from the Herat Online School currently access regular online classes, following a structured syllabus taught in English, in maths, science and English language. They are currently working towards formal qualifications and we are exploring avenues for formal accreditation and certification in other subjects.
Since the Taliban closed schools and universities, international higher education establishments around the world are offering scholarships to women and girls in Afghanistan. The AEA International School offers mentoring and coaching to students who wish to apply to these programmes and several girls have been successful in securing scholarships to prestigious high schools and European universities and colleges.
The hope, with further funding, is that this school will be able to accept more students in 2025, following the success of the pilot programme this year.
A pilot group of 20 students from the Herat Online School currently access regular online classes, following a structured syllabus taught in English, in maths, science and English language. They are currently working towards formal qualifications and we are exploring avenues for formal accreditation and certification in other subjects.
Since the Taliban closed schools and universities, international higher education establishments around the world are offering scholarships to women and girls in Afghanistan. The AEA International School offers mentoring and coaching to students who wish to apply to these programmes and several girls have been successful in securing scholarships to prestigious high schools and European universities and colleges.
The hope, with further funding, is that this school will be able to accept more students in 2025, following the success of the pilot programme this year.
AEA International School. Our Story.
The AEA International School is managed by Julie Taylor, our Education Manager.
Julie is a fully qualified British teacher with over fifteen years’ experience teaching in top international schools. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, she remembers watching the news and describing it as a 'chilling experience'. Julie had taught online during the Covid pandemic and thought that it would be possible to reach the abandoned students in Afghanistan if there was a way in. This is where Angela Ghayour, founder of Afghanistan Education Action and the Herat Online School, provided the answer.
Julie reached out to Angela via LinkedIn and soon began teaching English to a small group of eager and dedicated girls and boys from all over Afghanistan at the Herat Online School.
She describes the school as a 'large family'. She says: "The school is full of lively students and motivated, passionate and talented volunteers. We come from all over the world and most of us have never met face-to-face, yet we are close, and we care for our students as if they were our own children".
Thanks to funding from an Education Trust in the UK, Julie is able to work part time as Education Manager for AEA and is proud to be working alongside Angela to create an online international programme through the AEA International School. This is our latest initiative, for students in Afghanistan who wish to learn in English and, eventually, acquire internationally recognised qualifications. This will help them to pursue their study or careers overseas, or in a future Afghanistan where they will be equipped to benefit the next generation.
Julie says:
"This is not an easy task. I sometimes feel like I am trying to climb Mount Everest in sandals. Yet every generous donation, and every student success story, feels like I've been given a pair of crampons, a ladder, a rope… and then I look back and see just how far we’ve climbed. Then I feel that nothing can stand in our way."
Julie is a fully qualified British teacher with over fifteen years’ experience teaching in top international schools. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, she remembers watching the news and describing it as a 'chilling experience'. Julie had taught online during the Covid pandemic and thought that it would be possible to reach the abandoned students in Afghanistan if there was a way in. This is where Angela Ghayour, founder of Afghanistan Education Action and the Herat Online School, provided the answer.
Julie reached out to Angela via LinkedIn and soon began teaching English to a small group of eager and dedicated girls and boys from all over Afghanistan at the Herat Online School.
She describes the school as a 'large family'. She says: "The school is full of lively students and motivated, passionate and talented volunteers. We come from all over the world and most of us have never met face-to-face, yet we are close, and we care for our students as if they were our own children".
Thanks to funding from an Education Trust in the UK, Julie is able to work part time as Education Manager for AEA and is proud to be working alongside Angela to create an online international programme through the AEA International School. This is our latest initiative, for students in Afghanistan who wish to learn in English and, eventually, acquire internationally recognised qualifications. This will help them to pursue their study or careers overseas, or in a future Afghanistan where they will be equipped to benefit the next generation.
Julie says:
"This is not an easy task. I sometimes feel like I am trying to climb Mount Everest in sandals. Yet every generous donation, and every student success story, feels like I've been given a pair of crampons, a ladder, a rope… and then I look back and see just how far we’ve climbed. Then I feel that nothing can stand in our way."
Student Story'M’ was 15 years old when the Taliban closed her school. She joined the Herat Online School in 2022 and began learning English.
She is now finishing her high school studies with an online university, and we continue to teach her English and support her every step of the way |
The resurgence of the Taliban brought fear and uncertainty, casting a shadow over my dreams. It felt like everything I had hoped for was slipping away, leaving me feeling lost and hopeless. The weight of this despair was suffocating, and it seemed impossible to find a way forward.
In the midst of my darkest moments, some of my friends introduced me to the Herat Online School. At first, I was thinking it wouldn't make a difference. I had even left the online group we had initially formed. But something inside me urged me to give it a chance.
To my surprise, the Herat Online School became a place of understanding and acceptance. Within its virtual walls, I found a community of like-minded individuals who shared similar experiences and struggles. It was a space where judgement was replaced with compassion and support. This newfound understanding lifted the weight off my shoulders and allowed me to breathe.
I discovered a wealth of knowledge and skills that empowered me to pursue my dreams despite the limitations imposed by the oppressive regime.
What made Herat Online School truly special for me was the happiness and inner peace I found within its digital walls. It provided a sanctuary where I could express myself freely, where my dreams were nurtured, and where I felt a sense of belonging. The bonds I formed with fellow students and teachers created a supportive network that brought joy into my life.
This School is my home and I am happy that I am studying here.
