Afghan Kids Support Hub
Digital Resources for Afghan Refugee Children
NABU
With the goal of providing 25M children with inclusive and equitable access to literacy by 2025, NABU is working to solve the literacy crisis so that every child can read and rise to their full potential.
Read More
Afghan Children's Songbook
The Afghan Children’s Songbook Project strives to revitalize the children’s music of Afghanistan which was almost completely eradicated by the war and oppression that has afflicted Afghanistan for over 30 years
Read More
Fifty thousand copies of the songbook, Qu Qu Qu Barg-e-Chinaar: Children’s Songs from Afghanistan and Awasan See Sana have been distributed to pre-schools, elementary schools and orphanages and traveling libraries across Afghanistan. It has been used both to introduce children to the vibrant music of Afghanistan and also as a basic literacy text.
The Afghan Children’s Songbook Project has now released newly designed visual/digital songbooks with Farsi/Pashto voiceover and English subtitles. You can access the content here.
U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education has curated a collection of educational resources, student and family engagement resources, fact sheets.
Read More
These are to ensure civil rights to education, policy documents, and general cultural and linguistic facts to help guide State Education Agencies (SEAs), Local Education Agencies (LEAs), Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), and other community-based education providers called Keeping the Promise. On the Educational Resources page, materials from Creative Associates International (in partnership with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Education under the USAID-funded All Children Reading Afghanistan) can be found. There is also material from the International Rescue Committee and Pratham StoryWeaver featured. Resources are in Dari, Pashto, and English.
You can access the content here.
Darakht-e Danesh Online Library
The Darakht-e Danesh Online Library for Educators is a repository of open educational resources for teachers, teacher trainers, school administrators, literacy workers and others involved in furthering education in Afghanistan.
Read More
‘Darakht-e danesh’ means knowledge tree in Dari, one of the official languages of Afghanistan.
The open source resources include lesson plans, pedagogical tools, exercises, experiments, reading texts, work books, curricula and other resources for use in Afghan classrooms.
You can access the content here.
SIL International
SIL International developed the Bloom software to help language communities create and adapt reading materials in local languages.
Read More
The Bloom Library holds over 10,000 books that communities can download to translate into their own languages. Bloom is software that facilitates translating the book into their own language, recording an audio reading of the book and then publishing the books in various print and digital forms.
Afghan Children Read was a five-year early grade reading reform initiative. It was funded by USAID and implemented by Creative Associates International, Inc. The project started in 2016 and ended in 2021. You can access the books from this initiative here. In the collection there are 132 books in Dari (Grades 1 – 3) and 209 books in Pashto (Grades 1 – 3).
Some of these stories are also featured in the printed books donated by HP and are being distributed in Virginia, Maryland, and California.
The Global Digital Library
The Global Digital Library (GDL) was developed to increase the availability of high-quality reading resources—reading instruction books and storybooks for leisure reading—in languages children use and understand.
Read More
It is an open-source library for schools and school systems, donor agencies and their partners, publishers, digital distributors and content providers, parents, and children.
The GDL has 104 books in Pashto available here.
Some of these stories are also featured in the printed books donated by HP and are being distributed in Virginia, Maryland, and California.
Education Above All
Education Above All has developed educational resources for continuous learning for the Afghan refugee children in order to support a short-term and quick learning and growth program.
Read More
These cost-free, screen-free resources include: 1) Socio-Emotional Learning Package (co-created with Amal Alliance) , 2) Survival English Package, 3) Flashcards, 4) Games Books, 5) Life Skills Package, 6) Host Country Package, 7) Audio Downloads, 8) Literacy Packages, and 9) Numeracy Packages. Each workbook is designed for month-long learning for 4 to 16 year-olds and can be student-led or supported by volunteers, only requiring basic stationery such as paper and pencils. Instructions are also available in Dari and Pashto. You can find the downloadable material and more information here.
Some of these resources are also featured in the printed books donated by HP and are being distributed in Virginia, Maryland, and California.
Room to Read
Room to Read’s online learning platform, Literacy Cloud, hosts easy-to-access online books, which have been especially developed by children’s authors and illustrators around the world for children in primary school.
Read More
The books are available to download for offline use. Literacy Cloud also hosts professional development videos for educators and children’s book creators on topics ranging from building a habit of reading to what makes a great children’s book.
Curious Learning
Feed the Monster is an app developed Curious Learning that teaches children the fundamentals of reading.
Read More
The goal of the activity is to collect monster eggs and feed them letters so they can grow into new friends. Feed The Monster uses proven ‘play to learn’ techniques to engage kids and help them learn to read. Children enjoy collecting and growing pet monsters while learning reading fundamentals.
Feed the Monster is available in Pashto here, as well as many other languages on Google Play.
Storyvoice
Storyvoice was created through the MIT Media Lab – Refugee Learning Accelerator, designed as a tool to help Syrian refugee students in Lebanon practice reading English, a foreign language used widely in Lebanese schools. Today, this technology is helping children learn to read and practice new languages across the Middle East, Asia, and the US.
British Council
LearnEnglish consists of a variety of courses from all age ranges – from kids to adults. These course have been specially created by the British Council, the world’s English teaching experts.
Read More
Below you will find links to the different courses offered.
Upwardly Global
Upwardly Global is the first and longest-serving national organization that helps immigrants and refugees restart their careers and bring their skills and perspectives into the American workforce.
Read More
Upwardly Global’s innovative skill-building and networking programs coach internationally trained professionals in rebuilding professional careers and U.S. employers in accessing their talents with inclusive hiring practices. To date, Upwardly Global has placed more than 7,500 people, adding $358 million to the economy each year.
The organization has created a specific platform for Afghan Job Seekers that includes the following areas:
- Understanding U.S. Culture and Communication
- Creating an American Style Resume
- Building Professional Contacts
- Mastering Interview Skills
- Exploring Licensing Requirements
The Tent Coalition
The Tent Coalition for Afghan Refugees is a network of diverse companies from across the U.S. stepping up to integrate Afghan refugees, including by training and hiring them.
Read More
As part of the Tent Coalition, HP committed to establishing six HP Learning Studios in Lebanon and Jordan to engage refugee youth in developing skills and help to give refugee students access to the latest education technology while providing adults the opportunity for employment re-skilling.
HP also committed to piloting the HP School Cloud, a new technology which brings open education resources to rural and underserved communities, to improve education outcomes for refugees in Uganda. HP and its partners, including Education Cannot Wait, UNHCR and Learning Equality, will start in 3 schools. Based on the success of the pilot, the commitment may expand to 15 schools in Uganda, impacting approximately 5,000 children, and be scaled to other countries. You can learn more about the initiative here.
Programs
Wondrous Learning Center Neighborhood Festival
Since 2022, Cisco, through the Cisco Systems Global Impact Cash Grants, has been a key partner in supporting the Math Power! Explorer (MPE) IVR activity in Rwanda. Their support has allowed us to reach more children with engaging, interactive math games, helping to build essential mathematical skills and inspire a love of learning in low-resource communities
Wondrous Learning Center Neighborhood Festival
The mEducation Alliance, the Metamorphosis Community Project, and the Eastpines Community Association co-hosted the Wondrous Learning Center Neighborhood Festival.
The festival featured a range of activities and entertainment, including a moon bounce, art activities, games, and juggling. Books were distributed in English, Dari, and Pashto, and attendees participated in planting a butterfly garden on site. Local organizations were also present to share information about community resources, alongside food and refreshments.
Wondrous Learning Center
The mEducation Alliance secured a long-term rental of the Eastpines Community Association building in Riverdale, Maryland, which served as the location of its first Wondrous Learning Center. At this site, the Alliance worked with a network of community stakeholders to support play- and game-based educational opportunities, including S.T.E.A.M. activities and career-building programming, for local residents—particularly refugee families in the surrounding area.
The site was intended to serve as a pilot for activities that could be adapted and integrated into other locations in the United States and globally.
Afghan Youth Math Game Ambassadors
As an extension of the global Math Power! Youth Game Ambassadors initiative, the mEducation Alliance expanded its efforts to support young Afghan refugee guests in the United States. These activities focused on:
Increasing opportunities for joyful play and math learning for Afghan children resettled in the United States;
Training Afghan youth—particularly girls—to serve as math and educational game mentors and facilitators within their communities; and
Introducing a range of low-cost, non-digital educational games, including drawn, print-and-play, dice, chess, board games, card decks, and other tabletop formats.
The initiative included a series of virtual and in-person training-of-trainers sessions and educational game day events. These efforts involved the distribution of educational games, translation of game instructions, and the provision of modest stipends for participating youth.
Events
Webinar Series
This webinar convened more than 50 Rotarians from District 7620 (Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia) to discuss current and potential refugee response efforts, with a particular focus on education. Presenters included representatives from local Rotary clubs, and the Lutheran Social Services National Capital Area and Homes Not Borders, who shared overviews of their ongoing and planned activities.
The session featured a series of brief presentations followed by a question-and-answer discussion exploring opportunities for Rotary clubs and members to strengthen coordination, support, and collaboration. A recording of the discussion is available for reference.
Training of Trainers Webinar - January 20, 2022
The mEducation Alliance held the first in a series of Training of Trainers (ToT) webinars for Afghan mentors and youth mentees. The session focused on showcasing and playing a range of low-cost educational and strategy games that could be used to organize engaging, in-person math game day events.
Facilitators highlighted and explained a selection of games, including those using dice, card decks, and various game boards. The discussion also addressed ways to integrate these activities into existing programs, as well as considerations related to recruiting Afghan youth to serve as math game ambassadors and identifying potential venues for participation.
Game Day with Afghan Refugees - January 22, 2022
Members of the mEducation Alliance Team (Tony, Nicole, and Peter) were thrilled to organize with the Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops an Ed Game afternoon for 20 Afghan refugee kids and youth (ages 7-15) in Maryland (US). The team showcased and distributed three different games that taught the kids various math skills and cognitive skills: Math Dice, SET, and Pre-Chess. It was a creative and fun afternoon filled with lots of curious minds rolling dice, selecting card sets, and learning early steps in playing chess. This training is the first of a series of math game introductions that the team will be hosting.
You can read a personal reflection on the workshop from our very own Digital Scaling Specialist, Peter Joyce, here for additional details and key insights.
Learning About Afghanistan & Meeting the Needs of Refugee Students
Cultivating Trust
Cultivating Trust: How Educators Can Build Relationships with their Afghan Refugee Students guide (author: Zuhra Faizi, Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Graduate School of Education and Lecturer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology) found on Harvard’s Graduate School of Education REACH (Research, education, and action for refugees around the world) website.
She states, “We know educators want to know about their students’ experiences to better support them. As an Afghan-American and education researcher, I draw on my understanding of experiences of students in both Afghanistan and the US to develop a resource that can support American educators to cultivate trust and build relationships with their new students.”
Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services for Afghans
This Practical Handbook for Clinical & Educational Settings was developed by passionate volunteers who integrated information regarding the current resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. with their real-life professional experience. Considerable time and effort have been spent to ensure accuracy. In addition, first generation Afghans in the United States reviewed this material to ensure content accuracy and cultural sensitivity. This handbook is available free of charge.
Authors: Eva P. Stitt, PhD; Freshta Taeb; and Margie Bruce-Miguel
Supported by: Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services; Virginia Refugee Healing Partnership (VRHP); and Virginia Department of Social Services
Switchboard
Switchboard is a one-stop resource hub for refugee service providers in the United States. With the support of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), we offer tools and materials, learning opportunities, research, and technical assistance on resettlement-related topics. The organization released a toolkit for Supporting Afghan Students in Schools & Youth Programs in the United States, which is designed to help educators to:
- Develop a well-rounded understanding of the circumstances of newly arrived Afghan students and their families, including the challenges they may face as they seek to adapt to the American education system;
- Better understand the Afghan educational systems and possible educational experiences of students;
- Name core considerations for working with Afghan students and their families;
- Adopt skills and strategies that may be helpful in working with Afghan students and families; and
- Access information and resources to support their work.
Globe Trottin' Kids
Globe Trottin’ Kids provides quality products and resources to engage kids in
- learning about world geography and cultures
- understanding and appreciating diversity in our world
- becoming kind, caring, and responsible global citizens
Globe Trottin’ Kids has a great resource page on Afghanistan where children can learn facts about the nation, access landscape photos, and explore links of cultural practices. In addition, there are children’s book recommendations on Afghanistan found at the bottom of the page.
Colorín Colorado
Colorín Colorado is a bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners. On the website there is a list called Afghan Voices: Books for Children and Young Adults in which a wide range of Afghan stories and voices are brought to life. While they present a variety of themes and settings, they capture the resilience, spirit, and warmth of the Afghan people. These books can be used to support school and community discussions of current events as they develop in Afghanistan.
Razia's Ray of Hope
Razia is excited when her grandfather tells her there’s a school for girls being built in their Afghan village. At last, girls will have the same opportunity to be educated as boys. Razia knows, however, that she will need permission from her father and her oldest brother, Aziz, in order to be allowed to attend the school.
This book was written by author Elizabeth Suneby and was featured as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Book Club. Reading introduction by Razia Jan (Founder of the Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation) and reading by award-winning actress, Mia Barron.
UNHCR
UNHCR has a variety of resources available for educators who will have refugee children in their classroom. Among them are guidebooks on how to include refugees in the classroom and teaching other students about refugees. You can find a a few valuable examples below.
Brightly Storytime
Brightly has curated a list of children’s books to help students understand the immigrant experience and learn about their new classmates. Brightly is a platform that provides passionate parents, educators, and caregivers with the tools they need — such as tips and advice, book recommendations, Brightly Storytime, which features read-aloud and flip along videos, and more — to keep kids connected to books through every age & stage of life. We take pride in working with a diverse group of contributors, authors, and partners who cover a wide range of topics for readers of all ages in order to cultivate a love of books and reading in children.
I'm Your Neighbor
I’m Your Neighbor Books strives to build a stronger America, one where immigrants are welcomed and where first, second, and third generation Americans truly belong. This work is done by facilitating deep engagement with the children’s books that represent our New Arrival and New American communities. By curating, loaning, and gifting these diverse titles with educational materials, the nonprofit: 1) Starts conversations on modern immigration; 2) Refutes false narratives about communities of color; 3) Creates emotional connections to a vast diversity of voices; 4)Builds the cultural competency of all readers; and 5) Lays the groundwork for cross-cultural communication.
UnidosUS
UnidosUS is the United State’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. Through their work they have created the Progress Report: Defending Equal Access to Quality Education in which they cover various topics as it relates to education and the Hispanic community. They released a piece titled Education Experts Offer Ideas for Accommodating an Influx of Afghan Refugees in Predominantly Latino English Learner Classrooms. In this article, tips are given on how include these new students, a list of resources, and a personal story about an educator who is originally from Afghanistan.
Friends of Afghanistan
Friends of Afghanistan‘s mission is to build and sustain an information exchange about Afghanistan and its people, and to network for their peace and prosperity.
Goals:
- To facilitate peaceful and constructive dialogue about Afghanistan.
- To inform members and the public about Afghanistan issues and organizations assisting the Afghan people.
- To serve as the alumni organization for Afghan RPCVs, staff and friends.
