Save the Children constructed a new school building in the Gurziwan district of Faryab province. This project included the addition of a boundary wall, a five-cabinet latrine, a safe water well equipped with a solar system, and desks and chairs for students.

This newly built school is the first of its kind in this remote village. Prior to this, students had to attend classes in open areas or the village mosque. The school's capacity has expanded significantly, with student enrollment rising from 503 to 683. Now, students enjoy the new school building with classrooms, desks, chairs, safe latrines, and access to clean drinking water.

In addition to the new infrastructure, Save the Children, through its implementing partner JACK, has established a school-based Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centre at the school. This is the first time a preschool programme has been implemented in the Gurziwan district, enrolling 25 girls and 25 boys aged six to prepare them for school. The introduction of this preschool programme has significantly increased parental interest in formal education, with many parents transitioning their children from community education programmes to the new school. Some parents of children previously enrolled in local madrassas are now requesting transfers to the new school.

Shazad*, a 13-year-old sixth-grade student, shared, “Seeing the beautiful school buildings in the city always made me wish we had one in our village. It was our dream to have a proper school with walls, boards, desks, and chairs. Now that we have this beautiful school, we feel very happy. We will do our best to study hard and have a bright future.”

Fazel*, an elder in the community, said, “At my age, I never imagined we would have a real school building in our remote village. It feels like a dream come true. We are very grateful to Save the Children for providing our children with such a safe and well-equipped learning environment.”