Online courses
Running nowLive classes in eleven subjects, taught entirely by volunteers.
- 11 subjects
- 300 students in Round 5
- Live, not pre-recorded
Afghanistan Youth Leaders Assembly
Educate a girl,
transform a nation.
Afghan girls have been shut out of schools and universities. AYLA moved the classroom somewhere the ban cannot reach — a live video call, on a phone, at home. More than 5,000 students have taken a class since.
- 11
- subjects taught live
- 14
- provinces reached
- $0
- charged to a student
- Students join from
- Kabul
- Herat
- Balkh
- Kandahar
- Badakhshan
- Bamyan
- Baghlan
- Ghor
- Ghazni
- Wardak
- Panjshir
- Parwan
- Nimruz
- Takhar
The numbers
What volunteered hours and small donations actually add up to
Every figure below is drawn from AYLA's own published round reports. Where a number comes from is printed under it.
5,000+
Students reached
Afghan students — overwhelmingly girls locked out of school and university — have taken an AYLA course since the online programme began.
Source: AYLA Project Report, May 2025
14
Provinces served
Learners join from across Afghanistan, plus students who have been displaced into Pakistan.
Source: Round 5 report and course evaluations
40+
Free Duolingo coupons
Free Duolingo English Test coupons awarded since 2023, letting students certify their English for university admission.
Source: AYLA Project Report, May 2025
11
Volunteer-taught classes
Subjects ran in Round 5 alone — every one of them taught by a volunteer teacher.
Source: Round 5 report, August 2023
Why this exists
The classroom closed. The students did not stop wanting to learn.
Since 2021, most schools and universities in Afghanistan have been closed to girls. A generation that was in secondary school when the restrictions came in has now spent years out of formal education, with no official route back.
AYLA’s answer was not to campaign and wait. It was to teach — remotely, for free, with volunteer teachers and sponsored data.
- Political
Formal education is closed
Secondary schools and universities are not available to girls. Certificates, transcripts and exam sittings that international applications assume exist are often unobtainable — which blocks students long before an admissions committee ever sees them.
- Economic
Test fees and data cost more than families have
An English proficiency test fee can exceed a month of household income. So can a year of mobile data. Both are prerequisites for applying abroad, and neither is negotiable — which is why AYLA treats coupons and internet packages as core programme costs rather than extras.
- Social
Studying can require permission and cost safety
For many students, attending a class is a household negotiation and, in some places, a risk. Classes are delivered remotely and student identities are protected for that reason — nothing on this site names a current student inside Afghanistan without her consent.
- Technical
Connectivity decides attendance
In AYLA's own course evaluations, the barrier students named most often was technical and time constraints — not the difficulty of the material. Power cuts, shared devices and unreliable networks are the practical reason a girl misses a lesson.
Our programmes
Six ways we keep Afghan girls learning
Free live classes, English test coupons, scholarship guidance, sponsored connectivity, teacher support, and the community work that makes all of it possible.
Duolingo English Test
RecruitingA certified English score is the gate to a foreign university. We pay for it.
- 40+ coupons since 2023
- 4 selection rounds
- Recipients now studying in the US & Europe
Scholarships
Running nowFinding the scholarship is one problem. Filling in the form is another.
- Runs every round
- Applications, essays & documents
- One-to-one review
Digital access
OngoingA class no one can connect to is not a class.
- ~300 students funded in Round 5
- Monthly data packages
- Platform training included
Teacher support
RecruitingVolunteers who are supported come back for the next round.
- Every teacher is a volunteer
- Moderator paired to each class
- Alumnae become moderators
Community & advocacy
OngoingEducation work, and the humanitarian work that makes it possible.
- 100 students at the 2019 peace summit
- Ramadan food distribution
- Reporting & advocacy
Spotlight
A $65 coupon is the difference between applying and not applying.
Almost every international university asks applicants to certify their English. For an Afghan student, the test fee alone can exceed a month of household income. Since 2023, AYLA has partnered with the Duolingo English Test team to hand out that fee for free — and recipients are now studying in the United States and Europe.
Coupons, round by round
- 10
Round 1
10 candidates received coupons; 9 completed the Duolingo English Test.
- 9
Round 2
9 students sat and passed the test with their allocated coupons.
- 20
Round 3
20 applicants passed the test, funded entirely by individual donors.
- 4
Round 4
4 applicants selected through AYLA's competitive application process took the test on donated coupons.
Source: AYLA Project Report, May 2025
In their words
Students, teachers and the team on what a round of classes is like
“From the very first day, it was evident that our instructor was not just knowledgeable and skilled, but someone genuinely passionate about the subject matter.”
Her enthusiasm and dedication were contagious, and it made every session a joy to attend. The AYLA team always created a warm and inclusive learning environment, where everyone felt comfortable asking questions and sharing their thoughts. It was evident that a lot of effort went into tailoring the course content to meet the needs of diverse learners. Your belief in our potential and your encouragement throughout the course truly motivated me to strive for excellence. It has been an incredibly enriching experience, and I am leaving with a wealth of knowledge and fond memories.
“Proficiency in English opens up opportunities for communication, education, and future career prospects.”
As a volunteer teacher of English for the Intermediate Class at the Afghanistan Youth Leaders Assembly, I must express my admiration for the initiative and the impact it is making in the lives of Afghan girls who are deprived of education. In the 5th round of the classes, I have observed significant progress in the English language skills of the girls attending. Despite facing numerous challenges in accessing education, they have shown dedication and enthusiasm in their learning journey. Learning English enables these girls to better advocate for themselves and their communities. It can empower them to become leaders and agents of change, breaking the barriers imposed on them.
“Working together, we overcame challenges, forged new friendships, and brought hope to underprivileged communities.”
I would like to commend the entire team for their exceptional efforts during Round 5 of classes. The dedication and sacrifices made by each member have resulted in a resounding success. Our collaborative spirit, diverse perspectives, and commitment to empowering women have truly made a positive impact. By revitalizing the education system and expanding access to knowledge, we have lit the path for a brighter future.
Get involved
Four things that would help right now
AYLA is volunteer-run, so there are no salaries to fund. What the programme needs is a weekly teaching slot, a month of somebody's mobile data, a test coupon, or an introduction to a room we cannot get into.
Take the next step
One coupon. One month of data. One girl still in school.
AYLA runs on volunteered hours and small, specific donations. Round 5 cost $5,100 and taught around 300 students — that is roughly $17 per girl, per round.