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From 2016 to 2021, I had the privilege of working with the Afghan National Association for Adult Education (ANAFAE)—a pioneering organization dedicated to adult education, vocational training, and skill development across Afghanistan. Since 2005, ANAFAE has been actively supporting education in the country and continues its work today, despite challenges. The organization was funded by DVV International and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany, providing crucial education and training opportunities for hundreds of thousands of students and adults annually.
ANAFAE was established to address a critical need: equipping Afghan youth and adults with the knowledge and skills necessary for employment, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning. Our work spanned 12 provinces, reaching hundreds of thousands of learners annually through:
📚 Adult education programs
🎓 Short courses in various professional and technical fields
🏫 A network of 26 Adult Learning Centers (Volkshochschulen), many of which remain active today
💼 Employment and business development training to create sustainable economic opportunities
Through the years, ANAFAE became a model for adult education in Afghanistan, fostering self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and career growth for students from all backgrounds.
Throughout my journey, I took on various leadership and training roles within the organization:
📌 Project manager of Adult Learning Center (2016 - 2019)
As a Project manager, I was responsible for managing, developing, and expanding Adult Learning Center-4 and later the X-Pert Center-4. Under my supervision, we focused on:
✅ Expanding education programs to meet the demands of students and job markets
✅ Training teachers and instructors to deliver high-quality education
✅ Developing new courses in business, IT, language learning, and vocational skills
📌 Project Manager & Master Trainer for Employability Programs (2020 - 2021)
In my final years at ANAFAE, I served as a Project Manager and Master Trainer for employment-focused programs. I was particularly responsible for Quality Management in employability programs—ensuring that education and training aligned with international standards and effectively prepared participants for jobs, entrepreneurship, and further learning.
Over the years, ANAFAE built a sustainable education model that continued to function even as funding changed. Many of our 26 Adult Learning Centers still exist and operate today—though, sadly, no girls are currently allowed to attend due to recent restrictions on women's education in Afghanistan.
Despite the challenges, I look back with immense pride at the work we accomplished. Together with my colleagues, trainers, and students, we created an educational movement that transformed lives, opened doors to opportunity, and strengthened communities.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all my colleagues and friends at ANAFAE, especially those at:
Adult Learning Center 4 in Kabul
X-Pert International Training & Testing Center 4 in Kabul
All the wonderful colleagues who worked with me and under my supervision
Your dedication, hard work, and passion for education made all of this possible. We did an incredible job together, and I sincerely wish continued success and growth for each of you.
Even though my journey with ANAFAE officially ended in 2021, and the organization has faced difficulties, its impact remains. The knowledge and skills imparted to thousands of students will continue to shape Afghanistan’s future leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
🔹 Education is the foundation of progress—no matter the circumstances, learning will always find a way.
Here are some videos from ANAFAE’s learning centers, showcasing the dedication of our students and trainers and the success of our educational programs and everyone who was part of this journey—thank you. We built something meaningful, and its impact will never fade.
📅 Date: January 15, 2022
✍ Author: Mohammad Akbar Mahmoody
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