The Afghan Appeal Fund has provided the money to refurbish a village school in central Helmand that was destroyed and looted by unknown militants in 2008. The school project was overseen by a local NGO and the rebuild was completed in January 2010 to allow the local children to go back to school.

The next project - due completion in September 2010 -  is to add another five classrooms to the school to help accomodate the 600 children in the area who want to go to school.

Rural Southern Afghanistan is one of the most educationally underserved areas of the country. The literacy rate for women in this area over the age of 15 is estimated at just 10%. Schools are few and far between outside of Helmand’s cities, so helping with projects like these has an enormous impact on the small isolated villages.

We regret that we are not able to publish photos or specific details of the school due to security issues - we do not wish in any way to risk the safety of the teachers and children. We hope you understand.