About Jilwa Academy
Jilwa Academy is a nonprofit organization providing free, high-quality online education for Afghan students in grades 7 to 12. Our mission is to ensure that every young person—especially those denied traditional schooling—has the opportunity to learn, grow, and shape their future with dignity and hope.
Why Jilwa Academy?
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, more than 1.1 million girls in Afghanistan have been banned from attending secondary school. As of 2025:
Our Mission
To provide free, high-quality, and inclusive online education to Afghan students in grades 7–12—empowering the next generation with knowledge, resilience, and opportunity, regardless of gender or geography.
Our Vision
A future where every Afghan child has equal access to education, digital learning is a bridge—not a barrier—and knowledge becomes a powerful force for freedom, equality, and lasting peace
What we offer
At Jilwa Academy, we believe that education is a light — and every Afghan girl deserves the chance to shine. As a free online learning platform created in response to the urgent educational restrictions facing Afghan girls, Jilwa provides safe, inclusive, and high-quality academic content for students in grades 7 through 12. Our mission is simple: to make learning accessible regardless of geography, internet access, or circumstance.
Through a combination of online tools, social media channels, and offline resources, Jilwa Academy empowers girls to continue their education on their own terms. Whether she’s in a city with limited connectivity or a remote village with only a memory card, a girl with determination can now access the knowledge, skills, and mentorship she deserves.
To achieve our mission, Jilwa Academy aims to enroll 10,000 Afghan girls in grades 7 through 12 within the first year. We will reach students through targeted online outreach, local community networks, and collaboration with educators and activists on the ground. We are actively seeking partnerships with international organizations such as UNICEF and UNESCO to leverage their expertise and resources in expanding our content and infrastructure. These collaborations will help us ensure education remains accessible despite geographic or technological barriers.
Understanding the challenges of limited internet access in many regions, Jilwa Academy combines online learning tools with offline resources such as downloadable content on memory cards and USB drives, allowing girls in remote areas to continue their studies independently. Our curriculum is carefully developed with input from Afghan educators to ensure cultural relevance and alignment with national standards. In addition to academic lessons, we offer mentorship programs connecting students with female role models to inspire and support their educational journey. Through this approach, Jilwa Academy strives to empower Afghan girls with the knowledge and confidence to build a brighter future.
A personal story
On the morning of September 23, 2021, as I was dropping my daughter Jilwa off to her first-grade class in the eastern part of Toronto, news broke that would shake me to the core: the Taliban had announced that girls in Afghanistan from Grades 7 to 12 were no longer allowed to attend school.
As I watched my daughter walk into her classroom full of joy and curiosity, I couldn’t stop thinking about the millions of Afghan girls who were suddenly and unjustly denied that same right — not because of lack of talent or motivation, but because of a regime that fears their potential. That day, a simple school drop-off became the moment I made a quiet promise to myself: this cannot be the end of their story.
That was the day Jilwa Academy was born — in name, in spirit, and in purpose.
Named after my daughter, “Jilwa” means radiance — the light of knowledge, expression, and hope. Ever since that morning, I have been working tirelessly to bring this vision to life: reaching out to volunteers, developers, and educational experts from around the world — all while raising a young family and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Global Health. It hasn’t been easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.
Jilwa Academy is more than an online platform. It is a movement to ensure Afghan girls keep learning, dreaming, and rising — no matter who tries to hold them back.
Turaj Rais — Founder, Jilwa Academy
One child, one book, one pen can change the world.
Malala Yousafzai
Education activist