Denied an education of any kind under the Taliban, women are now returning to higher education and represent 18 percent of all enrolled university students. The United States supports their endeavors and has reconstructed the National Women’s Dormitory at Kabul University to provide a safe home for female students. The dorm provides housing to 1,100 students and is a major deciding factor for many families living in Afghanistan’s provinces to allow their daughters to study at a public university in Kabul.
Recently, Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne, Coordinator for Development and Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, attended an Eid-ul-Fitr luncheon at the dormitory 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 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 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.”