Excerpt
SUMMARY: It was a very special day for the Zabuli Education Center, located about 100 miles north of Kabul. For the first time, girls in that village graduated from high school. Special correspondent Beth Murphy of the Ground Truth Project reports on the hopes and challenges for students and educators there.
BETH MURPHY, The GroundTruth Project: Winter in Afghanistan signals that the school year is ending. In this village, this unprecedented graduation comes at a difficult time in the country.
RAZIA JAN, Founder, Zabuli Education Center: Today is a very special day for us. It is beyond my thoughts, beyond my dreams that we will be sitting here with our first graduating class.
(APPLAUSE)
BETH MURPHY: This is the first time girls in this village have ever graduated from high school. When the Zabuli Education Center opened in 2008, the villagers wanted it to be a boys school. But attitudes here have changed.
RAZIA JAN: This is our first young woman who get married and she is still in school. And she wants to continue her education.
(APPLAUSE)
MAN (through interpreter): And thanks to the people of this village, who really supported and helped the school. Without your help, this wouldn’t be possible.
RAZIA JAN (through interpreter): And, also, you really helped us. Without your help, this wouldn’t be possible.
MUHAMMAD MALANG ATAYE, Director, Deh Sabz Ministry of Education (through interpreter): It is my duty, and I feel a strong responsibility. These are our students, and they are like my daughters. Coming to this ceremony will help convince them to continue their education, and also help to convince their parents.
BETH MURPHY: This first graduation followed many of the traditions you would expect, parents overcome with pride and lots of time spent reminiscing.
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