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Welcome to Rahela Trust

We provide a university scholarship and leadership mentoring programme for talented, underprivileged women in rural Afghanistan – for an inclusive and progressive future society.

Because women + education = positive change.

 

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 An urgent message from Rahela Trust


In December 2022, the Taliban banned women in Afghanistan from working and attending university. As a small NGO, we are able to be agile and flexible to the challenges this brings. 
 Our Founder and Director Rahela Sidiqi has been busy meeting with officials and politicians across the UK and Europe, most recently hosting a conference at Westminster on Monday 16th January, investigating how best the international community can support Afghan women without benefiting the Taliban regime. 
 We have current and past scholars who are making difficult choices at this time. Whilst we are unwaveringly committed to continue supporting them to graduation and beyond, we have also been exploring how best we can continue to work towards our mission of furthering the education of Afghan women in Afghanistan through other means (including remote learning, self teaching, analog technology and more). 
 We aim to keep our supporters informed following internal discussions and sharing the resultant strategies. Please continue to trust the power of small NGOs like ours. 
We have a unique ability to reach people on the ground and implement positive action even in the most challenging of contexts. The Taliban are committing crimes against humanity and we remain steadfast in our belief that justice will prevail.

Watch a message from Rahela Sidiqi here
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To date we have provided 40 young women with higher education scholarships and mentoring.


If we find the funding, we plan to increase this number to 100 women in three years.

Civil Society Workshop

Our Strategic Goals

1. Expand networks of educated and mentored women who contribute to Afghanistan’s positive and progressive development

2. Engage diaspora and ally communities in national development

3. Influence the international community to support the education of women and girls in Afghanistan

4. Strengthen and grow Rahela Trust to increase impact

Rahela Sidiqi 2

Rahela Sidiqi

Rahela is the Founding Director of Rahela Trust. 

She is the former Senior Advisor of Afghanistan’s Civil Service Commission and Senior Social Development Advisor of UN-Habitat Afghanistan. Since 1993, she has worked as a women’s rights activist at the grassroots and policy levels in Afghanistan. 

Read more about Rahela

OUR STRATEGIC GOALS 

  1. Expand networks of educated and mentored women who contribute to Afghanistan’s positive and progressive development
  2. Engage diaspora and ally communities in national development
  3. Influence the international community to support the education of women and girls in Afghanistan
  4. Strengthen and grow Rahela Trust to increase impact

Explore our latest blog posts

 
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Afghan UK Community Event ~ Education & Mentoring for Women in Afghanistan

We’re excited to host, alongside the South London United Nations Association (SLUNA), our next UK Afghan community event. Event details:Date – Friday 1st December 2023Time – 7:30 PM – 21:15 PMLocation – The Community Church, Werter Road, London, SW15 2LLExpect a mix of Afghan and vegetarian food, engaging conversation, and an update on the current context […]

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Call for Scholarship Applications 2023

Announcement in Dari  د راحله  امانت صندق د بورسیه دپاره.                                                   د ښځو ان لاین پوهنتون د راحله ټرسټ یا د راحله امانت صندق سره یو تړون امضا یا لاسلیک کړی د […]

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The Woman & Girls Match Fund 2023

Despite marking two years since the Taliban banned women’s education in Afghanistan, we aren’t giving up hope. Our belief that positive change is still possible has earned us a spot in The Big Give’s Woman & Girls Match Fund 2023. Some key information:  Between Wednesday 11th October to Wednesday 18th October, Rahela Trust aims to raise £5,000.  […]

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2 Years Since the Taliban Takeover

Today marks two years since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan. Our work providing university scholarships and mentoring to women in Afghanistan continues. Afghan women are not deterred from fighting for their rights and they do this in so many ways. Today, alongside our partner The Circle NGO we shine a light on one of our […]

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Afghan Supper Club Cancelled ~ August 2023

We are so excited to share that Cue Point (@cuepointldn), Cue Point Kitchen, and the Leko Collective have joined in collaboration with the team at temper Shoreditch (@temperrestaurant) – part of the temper restaurant group – to bring you the most delicious, intimate Afghan supper club you’ll find in London.  As well as a chance to […]

Annual Lecture & AGM 2023

Rahela Trust’s AGM and Annual Lecture 2023

On Monday 27th February 2023, we hosted our AGM and Annual Lecture at the House of Lords. Talks centred around how women can access education and work in Afghanistan today.  The event was chaired by Baroness Fiona Hodgson of Abginer, CBE, and we had four brilliant speakers including:  – Dr. Davood Moradian (Director of Afghan Institute […]

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