[Music] [Applause]
there are hundred and thirty million
there are hundred and thirty million girls around the world who are not in
girls around the world who are not in
girls around the world who are not in school today
school today
school today several million of these girls live in
several million of these girls live in
several million of these girls live in my home country Afghanistan like the
my home country Afghanistan like the
my home country Afghanistan like the five-year-old Nabila you just saw as
five-year-old Nabila you just saw as
five-year-old Nabila you just saw as some people debate whether access to
some people debate whether access to
some people debate whether access to education is a basic human right and
education is a basic human right and
education is a basic human right and others doubt there is anything we can do
others doubt there is anything we can do
others doubt there is anything we can do to fix the education problem in my
to fix the education problem in my
to fix the education problem in my country I would like to share my vision
country I would like to share my vision
country I would like to share my vision for a solution but first I want you to
for a solution but first I want you to
for a solution but first I want you to think about the obstacles you had to
think about the obstacles you had to
think about the obstacles you had to overcome to attend school I want you to
overcome to attend school I want you to
overcome to attend school I want you to think about those girls in rural
think about those girls in rural
think about those girls in rural Afghanistan I want you to think about
Afghanistan I want you to think about
Afghanistan I want you to think about Nabila what does it stand between her
Nabila what does it stand between her
Nabila what does it stand between her and an education where does she even
and an education where does she even
and an education where does she even start her fight for an opportunity to
start her fight for an opportunity to
start her fight for an opportunity to learn her battle begins at home she has
learn her battle begins at home she has
learn her battle begins at home she has to convince her male family members to
to convince her male family members to
to convince her male family members to grant her permission to go to school if
grant her permission to go to school if
grant her permission to go to school if she lives in an extended family
she lives in an extended family
she lives in an extended family household that means seeking permission
household that means seeking permission
household that means seeking permission from each of her grandfather father
from each of her grandfather father
from each of her grandfather father brothers uncles and male cousins and if
brothers uncles and male cousins and if
brothers uncles and male cousins and if she manages to get all that she’s one of
she manages to get all that she’s one of
she manages to get all that she’s one of the very few lucky girls in her
the very few lucky girls in her
the very few lucky girls in her community when she begins her walk to
community when she begins her walk to
community when she begins her walk to school she will be verbally harassed at
school she will be verbally harassed at
school she will be verbally harassed at the very least constantly reminded by
the very least constantly reminded by
the very least constantly reminded by strangers that she belongs inside those
strangers that she belongs inside those
strangers that she belongs inside those thick walls that surround her house if
thick walls that surround her house if
thick walls that surround her house if she’s unlucky she will have acid thrown
she’s unlucky she will have acid thrown
she’s unlucky she will have acid thrown on her face disfigurement as her reward
on her face disfigurement as her reward
on her face disfigurement as her reward for simply wanting to go to school when
for simply wanting to go to school when
for simply wanting to go to school when she gets to school she will hear that
she gets to school she will hear that
she gets to school she will hear that her school principal and teachers have
her school principal and teachers have
her school principal and teachers have received letters from the Taliban or
received letters from the Taliban or
received letters from the Taliban or threatening to burn down her school for
threatening to burn down her school for
threatening to burn down her school for presuming to educate girls as her school
presuming to educate girls as her school
presuming to educate girls as her school administration deals with that threat
administration deals with that threat
administration deals with that threat she finally settles into her morning
she finally settles into her morning
she finally settles into her morning classes she’s lucky if even one of her
classes she’s lucky if even one of her
classes she’s lucky if even one of her teachers has basic knowledge let alone
teachers has basic knowledge let alone
teachers has basic knowledge let alone mastery of the subject she’s assigned to
mastery of the subject she’s assigned to
mastery of the subject she’s assigned to teach for instance in Paktika province
teach for instance in Paktika province
teach for instance in Paktika province in southern Afghanistan of the 3111
in southern Afghanistan of the 3111
in southern Afghanistan of the 3111 registered teachers only 16 are female
registered teachers only 16 are female
registered teachers only 16 are female of the 16 female teachers only one has
of the 16 female teachers only one has
of the 16 female teachers only one has graduated high school and five more have
graduated high school and five more have
graduated high school and five more have completed primary education but that
completed primary education but that
completed primary education but that young girl doesn’t know all of this
young girl doesn’t know all of this
young girl doesn’t know all of this she’s happy to be learning something of
she’s happy to be learning something of
she’s happy to be learning something of course being in school doesn’t mean
course being in school doesn’t mean
course being in school doesn’t mean she’s safe during the course of the day
she’s safe during the course of the day
she’s safe during the course of the day she could very well be poisoned perhaps
she could very well be poisoned perhaps
she could very well be poisoned perhaps making it to the hospital in time to
making it to the hospital in time to
making it to the hospital in time to survive this is another common way
survive this is another common way
survive this is another common way opponents protest girls education let’s
opponents protest girls education let’s
opponents protest girls education let’s say she survives all of this and gets
say she survives all of this and gets
say she survives all of this and gets home safely as soon as she walks into
home safely as soon as she walks into
home safely as soon as she walks into the door she has to switch gear and get
the door she has to switch gear and get
the door she has to switch gear and get to work this is the price of being
to work this is the price of being
to work this is the price of being allowed to go to school she has to
allowed to go to school she has to
allowed to go to school she has to compensate for her absence
compensate for her absence
compensate for her absence she must be diligent and attentive in
she must be diligent and attentive in
she must be diligent and attentive in cooking cleaning and looking after her
cooking cleaning and looking after her
cooking cleaning and looking after her younger siblings to prove that she has
younger siblings to prove that she has
younger siblings to prove that she has not gotten any bad ideas at school that
not gotten any bad ideas at school that
not gotten any bad ideas at school that would cause her to act any differently a
would cause her to act any differently a
would cause her to act any differently a small slip-up in her household duties
small slip-up in her household duties
small slip-up in her household duties could cost her schooling and at the end
could cost her schooling and at the end
could cost her schooling and at the end of the day if she has any time and
of the day if she has any time and
of the day if she has any time and energy left if there is light if she can
energy left if there is light if she can
energy left if there is light if she can find the
find the
find the eight corner and a moment to herself she
eight corner and a moment to herself she
eight corner and a moment to herself she might be able to get to her homework
now I must remind you that this is not
now I must remind you that this is not the experience of every single girl in
the experience of every single girl in
the experience of every single girl in Afghanistan but rather a few examples of
Afghanistan but rather a few examples of
Afghanistan but rather a few examples of the kinds of obstacles Afghan girls have
the kinds of obstacles Afghan girls have
the kinds of obstacles Afghan girls have to overcome and in most cases the kinds
to overcome and in most cases the kinds
to overcome and in most cases the kinds of challenges they have to face daily in
of challenges they have to face daily in
of challenges they have to face daily in order to receive an education a recent
order to receive an education a recent
order to receive an education a recent study by the Human Rights Watch shows
study by the Human Rights Watch shows
study by the Human Rights Watch shows that two-thirds of Afghan girls do not
that two-thirds of Afghan girls do not
that two-thirds of Afghan girls do not go to school that is two thirds of girls
go to school that is two thirds of girls
go to school that is two thirds of girls in my home country now picture the same
in my home country now picture the same
in my home country now picture the same young girl in a boarding school
young girl in a boarding school
young girl in a boarding school environment can you imagine the
environment can you imagine the
environment can you imagine the possibilities
possibilities
possibilities suddenly most of the daily barriers she
suddenly most of the daily barriers she
suddenly most of the daily barriers she has faced are removed she has time to
has faced are removed she has time to
has faced are removed she has time to dedicate to her education and her
dedicate to her education and her
dedicate to her education and her development as an individual her hours
development as an individual her hours
development as an individual her hours are freed up to focus on her schooling
are freed up to focus on her schooling
are freed up to focus on her schooling and thanks to the internet she has
and thanks to the internet she has
and thanks to the internet she has access to teachers from all over the
access to teachers from all over the
access to teachers from all over the world she lives in an environment that
world she lives in an environment that
world she lives in an environment that is designed to enable her to reach her
is designed to enable her to reach her
is designed to enable her to reach her full potential and increase her sense of
full potential and increase her sense of
full potential and increase her sense of confidence
confidence
confidence she has shifted from living with the
she has shifted from living with the
she has shifted from living with the reality that her brother’s education is
reality that her brother’s education is
reality that her brother’s education is more important than hers to believing
more important than hers to believing
more important than hers to believing that her education and her future are
that her education and her future are
that her education and her future are equally vital she can move from
equally vital she can move from
equally vital she can move from believing the common narrative that her
believing the common narrative that her
believing the common narrative that her reason for being is to raise a family to
reason for being is to raise a family to
reason for being is to raise a family to believing and knowing that she has the
believing and knowing that she has the
believing and knowing that she has the ability to have an impact in her nation
ability to have an impact in her nation
ability to have an impact in her nation and to make a difference to
and to make a difference to
and to make a difference to understanding that she has important
understanding that she has important
understanding that she has important things to do and that she matters in
things to do and that she matters in
things to do and that she matters in looking at the boarding school model
looking at the boarding school model
looking at the boarding school model from the perspective of a young
from the perspective of a young
from the perspective of a young African girl it becomes evident that the
African girl it becomes evident that the
African girl it becomes evident that the boarding school model is an ideal
boarding school model is an ideal
boarding school model is an ideal solution to the obstacles she faces
solution to the obstacles she faces
solution to the obstacles she faces daily implementing this model could mean
daily implementing this model could mean
daily implementing this model could mean fueling sustainable development for all
fueling sustainable development for all
fueling sustainable development for all of Afghanistan this is why in 2008 I
of Afghanistan this is why in 2008 I
of Afghanistan this is why in 2008 I co-founded the first and only boarding
co-founded the first and only boarding
co-founded the first and only boarding school for girls in Afghanistan Sola
school for girls in Afghanistan Sola
school for girls in Afghanistan Sola school of leadership Afghanistan Sola is
school of leadership Afghanistan Sola is
school of leadership Afghanistan Sola is dedicated to promoting to giving Afghan
dedicated to promoting to giving Afghan
dedicated to promoting to giving Afghan girls access to rigorous education that
girls access to rigorous education that
girls access to rigorous education that promotes critical thinking a sense of
promotes critical thinking a sense of
promotes critical thinking a sense of purpose and respect for self and others
purpose and respect for self and others
purpose and respect for self and others bringing this model of Education to of
bringing this model of Education to of
bringing this model of Education to of to people in Afghanistan has been
to people in Afghanistan has been
to people in Afghanistan has been difficult the idea of a young girl
difficult the idea of a young girl
difficult the idea of a young girl living away is counter to tradition but
living away is counter to tradition but
living away is counter to tradition but I am encouraged by the brave families
I am encouraged by the brave families
I am encouraged by the brave families who believe in their daughters and make
who believe in their daughters and make
who believe in their daughters and make it possible it is so inspiring to watch
it possible it is so inspiring to watch
it possible it is so inspiring to watch the fathers grandfathers and brothers of
the fathers grandfathers and brothers of
the fathers grandfathers and brothers of my students who not only realize the
my students who not only realize the
my students who not only realize the potential in their young woman but also
potential in their young woman but also
potential in their young woman but also advocate for other girls in their family
advocate for other girls in their family
advocate for other girls in their family networks to attend my school today Solar
networks to attend my school today Solar
networks to attend my school today Solar student Sola draws students from all
student Sola draws students from all
student Sola draws students from all across Afghanistan representing all
across Afghanistan representing all
across Afghanistan representing all ethnic groups and religious sects most
ethnic groups and religious sects most
ethnic groups and religious sects most of our students come from rural
of our students come from rural
of our students come from rural Afghanistan where access to quality
Afghanistan where access to quality
Afghanistan where access to quality education is rare in a country like
education is rare in a country like
education is rare in a country like Afghanistan that has been torn apart by
Afghanistan that has been torn apart by
Afghanistan that has been torn apart by decades of conflict SOLAS model is
decades of conflict SOLAS model is
decades of conflict SOLAS model is unique in that it addresses the
unique in that it addresses the
unique in that it addresses the country’s both educational and national
country’s both educational and national
country’s both educational and national concerns in Afghanistan ethnic and
concerns in Afghanistan ethnic and
concerns in Afghanistan ethnic and linguistic differences have prevented us
linguistic differences have prevented us
linguistic differences have prevented us from developing a truly unified national
from developing a truly unified national
from developing a truly unified national identity and Sola is at the forefront of
identity and Sola is at the forefront of
identity and Sola is at the forefront of addressing the
addressing the
addressing the an inclusive educational environment is
an inclusive educational environment is
an inclusive educational environment is at the heart of our mission our
at the heart of our mission our
at the heart of our mission our curriculum and a student life program
curriculum and a student life program
curriculum and a student life program are designed to promote acceptance and
are designed to promote acceptance and
are designed to promote acceptance and respect for all in the next five years
respect for all in the next five years
respect for all in the next five years we aim to expand our model to span
we aim to expand our model to span
we aim to expand our model to span grades six to twelve and houses students
grades six to twelve and houses students
grades six to twelve and houses students from all 34 provinces in the country
from all 34 provinces in the country
from all 34 provinces in the country though risky my experience over the last
though risky my experience over the last
though risky my experience over the last decade has convinced me that it is
decade has convinced me that it is
decade has convinced me that it is achievable at Sola that young girl from
achievable at Sola that young girl from
achievable at Sola that young girl from practica province learns that
practica province learns that
practica province learns that collaboration friendship and personal
collaboration friendship and personal
collaboration friendship and personal growth do not recognize ethnic
growth do not recognize ethnic
growth do not recognize ethnic linguistic and religious bounds and that
linguistic and religious bounds and that
linguistic and religious bounds and that she and her schoolmates share a common
she and her schoolmates share a common
she and her schoolmates share a common love for learning and together will
love for learning and together will
love for learning and together will become responsible leaders of
become responsible leaders of
become responsible leaders of Afghanistan u.s. President Abraham
Afghanistan u.s. President Abraham
Afghanistan u.s. President Abraham Lincoln theorized that the philosophy of
Lincoln theorized that the philosophy of
Lincoln theorized that the philosophy of the school in one generation will be the
the school in one generation will be the
the school in one generation will be the philosophy of the government in the next
philosophy of the government in the next
philosophy of the government in the next my hope is that SOLAS inclusive culture
my hope is that SOLAS inclusive culture
my hope is that SOLAS inclusive culture and philosophy will ultimately lead to
and philosophy will ultimately lead to
and philosophy will ultimately lead to an accepting empathetic stable and
an accepting empathetic stable and
an accepting empathetic stable and peaceful Afghanistan and Ivana son where
peaceful Afghanistan and Ivana son where
peaceful Afghanistan and Ivana son where every single girl like Nabila is able to
every single girl like Nabila is able to
every single girl like Nabila is able to play and learn thank you
play and learn thank you
play and learn thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
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