An idea grew out of a need—an idea that today provides children with a safe place to learn and play while giving families new hope. In Badakhshan province, a young woman has established a private kindergarten, taking a step toward children’s education while also showing how initiative and small investments can help respond to the needs of society.
Bahar Ahmadi, a 26-year-old woman who established this kindergarten in Badakhshan, says she has invested 150,000 Afghanis in the kindergarten so far. The kindergarten provides a safe environment and an open space where children can play and learn.
“We established this kindergarten because it was a basic need. We had worked in kindergartens before, and based on the demand from local families, we decided to establish this one because many women need someone to take care of their children while they are at work. That is why we established this kindergarten, so mothers can go to work while their children are properly cared for,” she says.
According to her, although the kindergarten started operating less than a month ago, around 10 to 12 children are currently enrolled. The kindergarten accepts children between the ages of three and six. If more facilities become available, there are also plans to establish a nursery.
She considers lack of a suitable place as one of the main challenges when starting the kindergarten. She says,
“The only major challenge we faced was finding a suitable place, but fortunately, we were able to find one.”
She emphasizes that their goal is not only to take care of children. Education, proper upbringing, and children’s overall development are also important parts of the kindergarten’s program.
Meanwhile, Hamida, one of the kindergarten’s teachers, who graduated from the Faculty of English Literature, says that working with children has brought positive changes to her life and increased her self-confidence.
“Since I started working here, my self-confidence has increased a lot because teaching and working with children makes me happy. The job has also helped me become financially independent, and it is good to be able to earn a good income for myself,” she says.
According to her, every child has different characteristics and behaviors, so teachers use different methods to teach them and contribute to their proper upbringing. She adds that most of the kindergarten’s programs are educational, but lessons are taught in a way that allows children to learn necessary skills through games and group activities.
“About 80 percent of our kindergarten program is educational. If we spend one hour teaching skills through lessons, the rest of the program is done through games,” she adds.
Sajjadullah Bayan, an education expert, says that kindergartens play an important role in children’s mental, social, and emotional development. He says that kindergartens provide an environment where children can interact with their peers and prepare for the next stage of their learning.
“Pre-school education plays a very important role in children’s social and emotional development. One of its important roles is to prepare children for school,” he says.
On the other hand, economic experts consider establishing kindergartens not only an educational activity but also an effective investment in society. Jamshid Yolchi, an economic expert, says,
“Any investment, even a small one, can create jobs. Establishing kindergartens is a form of service, and it can contribute to the country’s economy because every kindergarten needs teachers and other staff. By hiring them, kindergartens create jobs and provide people with an income.”
The kindergarten’s organizers hope that this small but lively space for learning and play will expand with more support and provide more children with opportunities to learn and develop in the future.
Reporter: Raqiba Hamidi
