Refugee children gain access to education through new project

The project, Back to Learning: Inclusive Education for Crisis-Affected Children in Herat Province, Afghanistan, will be implemented from August 2026 to July 2028. Its aim is to strengthen access to safe, inclusive, and quality education for crisis-affected children in Herat Province, with a particular focus on girls, returnee children, internally displaced children, and other marginalized groups.

“This project is about restoring hope and opportunity for returnee and internally displaced children. Education is a fundamental right, yet many returnee and internally displaced children in Herat are at risk of being left behind. By supporting their access to education, we help them reintegrate, recover, and rebuild their futures. Given the high number of returnees and the ongoing displacement in Herat Province, this project is both crucial and timely,” says Khalid Fahim, Team Leader for Partnerships and Programs at Solidarity Committee.

Through the project, 3,500 out-of-school children – 2,000 girls and 1,500 boys – will gain access to education through temporary learning centres, language and curriculum-adapted instruction, support for transitioning into formal schools, and assistance related to documentation requirements.

The project also includes the recruitment and professional development of teachers, strengthening school structures, and community outreach initiatives to promote children’s – especially girls’ – right to education.

The project is being implemented in partnership with the Afghan civil society organization COAR (Citizens Organization for Advocacy and Resilience).

The total project budget amounts to just over SEK 6.3 million, of which more than SEK 4.7 million is funded by Radiohjälpen/Musikhjälpen (Radio Aid/Music Aid). A further SEK 1.6 million is co-financed by Solidarity Committee through support received from the Swedish Postcode Lottery.