Shabana Nasri never thought she’d step into a newsroom. A journalism graduate from Kabul University, she spent two years knocking on doors, only to be told she lacked experience. Then came a lifeline: a UNESCO-supported training program with TOLOnews that changed everything. "Through this program, we learned the steps of journalism step by step," she says. Today, she reports on economic issues and women’s rights, her voice reaching millions across Afghanistan.

Since August 2025, UNESCO has helped 22,052 people in Afghanistan gain literacy and job skills — 61% of them women and girls. In a country where access to education for women has been severely restricted, these programs are more than classrooms; they’re lifelines. Women are learning to read and write while also mastering practical skills like food processing, vegetable cultivation, tailoring, and using electric sewing machines. One learner said she picked up four skills in just a few months — enough to help support her family. Another said literacy made it easier to understand training materials, showing how foundational learning and vocational training strengthen each other.

The impact goes beyond individual growth. Groups of women are talking about starting small businesses together, stitching clothes and planning futures they once couldn’t imagine. Since 2025, 1,723 girls have completed grades 11 and 12 through alternative education pathways, and 577 women have finished university-level programs — proof that learning can continue, even in the most difficult conditions.

UNESCO’s work isn’t limited to education. The organization has also supported 416 journalists, including 222 women, with training and job opportunities. A hundred women journalists received financial help, and over 170 media jobs were created or preserved. Their stories reach an estimated 22 million people through radio and public broadcasts, keeping communities informed and connected.

At the same time, UNESCO is helping protect Afghanistan’s cultural soul. Teams are monitoring the Minaret of Jam, scanning the Bamiyan cliffs, and assessing the Blue Mosque after an earthquake. These efforts don’t just preserve ancient stones — they create jobs and strengthen community resilience. Even in hardship, Afghans are rebuilding knowledge, dignity, and hope, one skill, one story, one restored site at a time.

The future isn’t guaranteed, but for women like Shabana and thousands of learners across the country, it’s no longer out of reach.