Announcement

Ambassador Wayne Visits National Women's Dormitory in Kabul

Kabul, Afghanistan  | Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Photo: U.S. Mission, Kabul

Ambassador Wayne speaks with Deputy Minister of Education Babury and students about life in the USG-built National Women's Dormitory.

Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne, Coordinator for Development and Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, attended an Eid-ul-Fitr luncheon at the National Women’s Dormitory at Kabul University to mark the end of Ramadan.

Accompanied by Dr. M. Osman Babury, Deputy Minister of Higher Education for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Amanullah Hamidzai, Chancellor of Kabul Education University, Ambassador Wayne toured the women’s dormitory and met with many of the residents. Several were about to graduate and said they were looking forward to working as teachers and translators once they returned to their provinces.

“I am honored to be at the National Women’s Dormitory for this special celebration,” Ambassador Wayne said.  “It is truly wonderful to meet all of the students – who are the future of Afghanistan.  The U.S. Government looks forward to continuing its partnership with the Government of Afghanistan as it seeks to increase higher education for all of its citizens.”

Denied schooling of any kind under the Taliban, women are now returning to higher education and represent 18 percent of all enrolled university students.

The U.S. Government has invested more than $12 million in renovating the dormitory. Built by the U.S. Government in the 1970s, the dorm was never completed because of the civil war and heavy bombings during the Taliban's hold on the country.

The dorm provides residence to 1,100 students and is a major deciding factor for many families to allow their daughters to come from various provinces and study at a public university in Kabul.