Anna Barron Billingsley’s article in The University of Mary Washington Magazine entitled “Studies in Courage: With UMW Degrees, Afghan Women Aspire to Effect Change in their Native Land” showcases the work of an organization: The Initiative to Educate Afghan Women.  With a mission similar to Circle’s — to develop a positive future for countries by educating women — IEAW sponsors qualified Afghani women through four years of American university. 

The story of Alaha Ahrar (now an undergraduate at UMW), whose family decided to flee to Pakistan in order to send her to school, gives voice to the education crisis for women in Afghanistan.  Yet, IEAW realizes that a good education for these Afghani women is not enough.  IEAW’s founder, Paula Nirschel, is quoted saying: “The program will fail…if the Afghan women remain in the United States.” IEAW requires that these women return to Afghanistan each summer to help with reconstruction efforts of their home and to return permanently to Afghanistan after their graduation.

Circle of Women, like IEAW, believes that it is not only the duty of organizations like ours to facilitate education for these Afghani women but to then encourage them to help their country in return.  Students graduating from Circle’s school in Wonkhai will be encouraged to return the gift of their education by becoming teachers within the school.  Perhaps sometime in the future, some of Project Wonkhai’s most successful girls could even become qualified to apply for a place in IEAW’s program!