Welcome to Rawan
RAWAN – the Dari word for “movement” - is a non-profit educational organization committed to empowering young women in Afghanistan. We believe that every woman deserves access to opportunities for personal and professional growth. Through our programs, we strive to address the multiple barriers young Afghan women face in pursuing their educational goals in a context rife with social, economic, technological, and psychological barriers. Although there are many online organizations and international programs working to provide educational options for Afghan women, RAWAN is one of the few that recognizes the complex of circumstances that makes it difficult for Afghan women to take advantage of such resources. What we lack in size, we make up for in individual attention. Indeed, helping our students feel sufficiently confident and qualified to access and personalize the abundance of educational resources currently online is our primary goal.
Our Goal
Our goal is to empower up to 100 young Afghan women with the ability to take advantage of online educational resources. Doing so not only requires confidence in using basic English but also confidence in finding and accessing online programs. This, in turn, requires reliable on-the-ground technological support.
Our Mission
To provide access to high-quality education, counseling, and digital literacy skills through the use of appropriate online platforms, personalized instruction, support and counselling.
Core Values:
At the heart of our work is Respect for the inherent dignity of every human being, Sensitivity to cultural and religious traditions, a Commitment to quality education, and Patience in the face of social and technological complexities.
Objectives
To identify, implement, and monitor the most effective technological tools currently available for online English Language Learning (ELL) as well as online training in graphic design and other marketable technical skills. By enlisting the expertise of professionals in areas such as language learning, computer-facilitated instruction, student assessment, and women’s leadership development, we will create a support team to guide the design and implementation of instructional units suitable for use in non-institutional settings in Afghanistan.
Our Programs
We provide Afghanistan-based online English language instruction to young women aged 16 and above. Because the research shows that learning from other second-language learners is especially effective, our classes are taught by qualified Afghan instructors. Furthermore, an accurate assessment of each student’s current English literacy level as well as an understanding of her personal goals for using English help ensure her personal commitment and our effective assistance.
We offer our students an opportunity to dialogue with same-age college women in the United States. Through such conversation partnering, we hope to provide our students not only with an opportunity to use their English language skills in an informal context, but also to develop friendships with women from a variety of ethnic and national backgrounds.
Reliable internet access is a serious concern in a country where electrical power is intermittent. We attempt to understand and meet the specific technological needs of each of our students. Where needed, we provide, free of charge, smart phones, laptops, battery packs, and enhanced access to internet platforms. Our goal is to have a current technology profile for every student, so her online learning is not hampered by technological obstacles.
Beginning in the fall of 2025, our program plans to include online training in financial literacy and graphic design for qualified students. We are also developing a guide to using AI to personalize one’s use of online learning resources as well as a directory of links to other online English literacy programs, certificates, and university programs.
My Vision
How it all started:
My name is Narwan Nzhat. I graduated from high school in Afghanistan during the Taliban's rise to power, which prompted my departure. In Boston, I completed Year Up, securing a job at an investment firm. Witnessing a video of a distraught Afghan young women denied education ignited a passion in me. I along with my brother and friends, launched a non-profit, RAWAN Organization., aiming to provide education and opportunities for Afghan young women. We've started with English, graphic design, and computer classes, along with counseling and internet access. Our goal is to empower Afghan young women and ensure they have the chance to shine.
At RAWAN, we are driven by a deep commitment to promoting education and empowering young women in Afghanistan. We understand the challenges faced by girls in an oppressive cultural, political, and social system, and we are determined to break down these barriers.
