Education against all odds: Job skills open up new world

Afghanistan is one of the world's toughest places to be a woman. Conflict and cultural repression have denied women education, careers, safety and equal rights. But less than a year after opening our INVEST vocational training center to women in Helmand province, more than 900 have enrolled to learn English, computers, sewing, embroidery and calligraphy.

Some are older, illiterate widows who were begging on the street before finding the classes; others, like Shamsiya, are younger and from families who have encouraged their education. All still face threats and uncertainty, but bravely move forward to seize every opportunity they can — and work toward a better future for women in Afghanistan.

Investing in girls makes an impact that transcends generations and borders. See what a girl can do ▸