Three years have passed since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, and the country continues to rebuild after immense conflict and violence. The economic situation remains dire as Afghanistan’s ability to engage internationally suffers and restrictions on a particular section of humanity society increase. 

Bahar Sayedi, JRS/USA Grants Compliance Officer, grew up in Nangarhar before moving to Kabul. He worked for the United States government for 20 years until August 15, 2021, when he and his family evacuated following the U.S. departure. 

 This past summer, Bahar returned to Kabul to see family and visit the JRS Afghanistan team. 

 JRS Afghanistan operates two major programs—education and vocational training—primarily for internally displaced people (IDPs) who lost their homes over the years of violence prior to 2021, but also for returnees from Pakistan and Iran.  

These communities are still working to rebuild their livelihoods: infrastructure, economic stability, and ensure their children’s success. Under the rules of the new regime, women are prevented from participating in several aspects of public life including traveling alone, engaging in the workforce, and attending school past the 6th grade. 

 Both the education and vocational training programs are conducted at JRS Community Development Centers in Kabul and Herat. During his visit, Bahar visited seven centers.  

He was impressed by the students’ focus in the classroom. JRS tutors help bridge the academic gap for students, many of whom cannot attend formal schooling due to the need to enter the workforce and support their families. 

“The tutors integrated art into the math and language classes,” Bahar explained. “The students really enjoyed that.” 

He quizzed several younger students on their reading skills. They eagerly stood up to read aloud from their books.  

On the other side of the Community Development Centers, JRS facilitates vocational training programs to support individuals, particularly women, in their careers, especially through traditional skills. JRS offers courses in carpet weaving, embroidery, crochet, and tailoring. Bahar reflected on the layers of challenges Afghan women face in leaving their homes. “They must take care of everything at home. Leaving, even for just a couple of hours, is incredibly difficult.” 

Women also struggle with obtaining funds for transportation and childcare. Despite these obstacles, the resilience of the women in the JRS Afghanistan community is evident. Bahar noted that several women expressed a strong desire to further develop their skills and create additional sources of income. 

One such woman is Maryam* who, in an article by JRS Afghanistan Country Director Sandesh Gonsalves, originally published by the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, shared her harrowing journey back to Afghanistan. “We fled Pakistan overnight, even without having any money for the journey to Afghanistan,” Maryam shared. “We feared being arrested by the Pakistani police, as I did not have official documents.” Maryam is one of hundreds of thousands of people forced to return to Afghanistan from Pakistan. 

“After our arrival in Afghanistan, life continued to be difficult because we had to live in tents despite the harsh winter,” Maryam continued, “I started working as a domestic helper to provide food for my family. But [the food] is often less than necessary. The uncertainty of how to cover our basic needs grips us every day, as my work in that family is only paid on a daily basis.”  

For families like Maryam’s, putting food on the table and accessing tools to advance in their education and career and incredibly challenging. JRS’s Development Center’s provide support. 

“With this successful model there is great potential and opportunity for JRS Afghanistan to reach more people,” Bahar said. If you would like to support JRS Afghanistan in this work as they continue to rebuild and provide opportunities for forcibly displaced people, consider making a gift today.  

*Name changed to protect safety and anonymity.