Since 2010 WCH has been working with SDO in Herat, Western Afghanistan. The project we work on is aimed at empowering young people to identify and address problems in their communities and take up a leading role in influencing change. This project is now in its second year and has achieved some outstanding results. The 180 young people provide educational and recreational activities in their communities, including literacy for children and adults. As well as computer skills, English language classes, and sessions on child rights and other key issues.

Learning through sports
With generous support from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) young people from each youth association were trained in organizing sports and games activities. They now organize sessions regularly, both within school grounds and elsewhere. Street working children and other vulnerable groups are involved and the sessions have proved extremely popular. Children and young people learn about teamwork, cooperation, and healthy competition and get a much-needed chance to have some fun.

Legitimacy of youth association
Community elders have supported the associations, involving the youth in local decision-making forums. The government’s local Department of Youth is now doing the same, giving the young people a real opportunity to change things for the better. During 2011 each association will be officially registered with the Government, which will give them further legitimacy within their communities. They are continuing to run a wide range of activities for their peers and other community members and have also identified a number of child rights issues about which they plan to advocate during the year. These include harmful forms of child labour and early marriage, also a focus of the BBC WST project. The associations will also set up listening groups to listen to and discuss the BBC WST programme and SDO together with WCH will support the young people in using what they have learned to try to address these issues in their own communities.

Sanayee Development Organization
SDO is an Afghan NGO founded in 1990. The organization is working in ten provinces of Afghanistan (Kabul, Ghazni, Herat, Ghor, Farah, Badghis, Faryab, Balkh, Kandahar, and Kapisa). In early 2011 SDO had 20 projects ongoing including Community Development, Health, Education and Peace Building. The organization has considerable experience in community mobilization and youth work, which can be clearly seen in the success of the WCH-supported project in Herat.


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