In a remote mountainous village of Uruzgan in Southern Afghanistan lies the small village of Surkhum, where 8-year-old Rahmanullah takes care of his mother, sister, and younger brother after losing his father a few years ago. His determination to pursue education, despite overwhelming challenges, expresses the spirit of children across his war-torn homeland.
Afghanistan has faced decades of internal strife and instability, leaving countless children in dire need of basic education and protection. As of 2025, it is estimated that 9.4 million children require vital protection services encompassing education, health, and safety. The European Union, recognizing this pressing need, has provided funds to INTERSOS to support vulnerable children in recovering and rebuilding their lives.
Despite his intelligence and curiosity, Rahmanullah’s desire to study isn’t so easy to fulfill. His village lacks a formal school, making even the idea of education a distant dream. “We still don’t have a school in our village,” he said. “Going to the city is impossible, but INTERSOS gives me a home-school. They provided me with notebooks, pencils, and everything I needed to learn.” To address this urgent crisis, INTERSOS has implemented a comprehensive program focused on ensuring that at-risk and out-of-school children receive not only education but also essential health services and psychological support, tailored to their needs. The project includes supporting children in home-school programs in remote villages, distributing school kits containing essential supplies, and offering access to child-friendly spaces and health facilities where children receive both emotional support and medical care.
