In addition to the physical destruction many schools suffered during Afghanistan's years of strife, the Taliban prevented girls over the age of eight from attending school and prohibited women from teaching. By 1999, 92 percent of girls did not attend school. The number of youth and young women who missed out on an education numbers in the millions.

Community reading classes and books for libraries help more girls learn to read - both for school and for enjoyment -a skill and pleasure they were denied for far too long. Photo: M. Lueders/USAID

The building blocks of a reconstructed Afghanistan, therefore, begin with education - rebuilding schools, providing books and school supplies, and ensuring that female students and teachers are brought back into the classroom.

The Sultana Razia Girls' School was closed during the Taliban regime and used as a refuge for their forces. As a result, the school was destroyed and then abandoned when the Taliban fell from power. Photo: IOM-ATI Staff

On November 20, 2002, 5,000 girls walked through the doors of the Sultana Razia Girls' School after being banned for more than six years. Located in Mazar-e-Sharif, the school is one of the largest girls' schools in northern Afghanistan. Photo: IOM-ATI Staff

The restoration was a joint project between the Afghan and U.S. governments. During the opening ceremony, one 21-year-old student said "I want to become a lawyer because I want to bring justice and freedom to Afghanistan... especially for women." Photo: IOM-ATI Staff