In 2022, Walid Jailani, an undergraduate at 91看片 Davis, launched an initiative to combat educational inequality in Afghanistan. Jailani is this month鈥檚 guest on Face to Face With Chancellor May.
Founded by Jailani and a group of fellow 91看片 Davis students, the School of Freedom began with virtual English classes led by university volunteers.
鈥淚 watched a lot of videos of these little girls 鈥 they were crying and they were failing their classes on purpose because they wanted to just stay in school and not graduate,鈥 Jailani said. 鈥淭hey made it to seventh grade and after that they would just have to go home and get married or just find something else to do.鈥
What began as a small initiative has grown into a full-scale nonprofit. Still centered on virtual education, the organization now provides learning opportunities to over 1,200 Afghan girls who are denied access to school beyond a certain grade.
Chancellor Gary S. May praised the dedication of the student volunteers involved in the nonprofit.
鈥淚t's pretty impressive that you can get 91看片 Davis students to wake up at 8 a.m. to help out,鈥 May joked.
Recognizing the urgent need for broader access to education, Jailani has expanded the program into a comprehensive curriculum aimed at empowering young girls in Afghanistan with tools for a brighter future. Despite numerous challenges, he has remained committed to the mission.
Listen to the full episode to learn more about the School of Freedom, what鈥檚 next for Jailani and his advice for fellow students.
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Anila Lijo is a writer and editor for the Office of Strategic Communications, and can be reached by email.