Afghanistan: The Right to Learn

In Afghanistan, two decades of conflict have not only destroyed the country's bricks and mortar, but have torn its social fabric and created a long-lasting education crisis. An entire generation of Afghans has grown up with virtually no education.

National Geographic Adventure magazine has named the IRC's Khadija Bahram an "Adventurer of the Year" for guiding an educational program that stretches across five provinces in Afghanistan and reaches more than 10,000 pupils. “Her work has saved so many lives,” says IRC deputy director Nicole Walden, “but more than that, Khadija is hope.”

Read Khadija’s story on the National Geographic Adventure Web site >

The cost of deploying one US soldier for a year could build 20 schools -- it could also help 20 more villages rebuild & undermine the Taliban. Nicholas Kristof quotes IRC president George Rupp in his New York Times column.