In Focus: Freshta Karim
06 January 2021
In 2018, Freshta Karim launched Charmaghz, a mobile library that visits neighborhoods of Kabul, Afghanistan, to share books and love of learning while fostering opportunities for critical thinking. Charmaghz has now expanded and has four bus libraries, one mobile educational cinema, and 30 staff members. Between 350 and 500 children a day come to the buses to read stories, paint, ask each other questions, learn from teachers and psychologists, and reclaim the childhood that Freshta and her peers did not have.
Freshta spoke with REACH team member Aybahar Qarqeen about what led her to this work, the importance of both educational access and quality learning, and the connection between education and the future of Afghanistan.
What led you to work in the field of education?
One, I find joy in working with children. Second, Afghanistan is one of the youngest countries in the world. Almost half of the population is below 15 years old, yet I see very little being done to support this age group, little attention and investment from a policy perspective.
“It is so important that we take our fate into our own hands and have agency over what we teach our children.”
What connections do you see between education and the future of Afghanistan?
I feel that our young population could be seen as a strength but at the same time as a curse for Afghanistan. First, if we don’t give enough attention to our children and if they aren’t given the right support, then they will remain in a vicious circle of poverty forever. Second, it’s an issue of extremism.
We know that throughout history in Afghanistan children have been used by politicians and politics. Unfortunately, children are misused. So, for me it is so important that we take our fate into our own hands and have agency over what we teach our children.
I see education as a source of support if it is the right quality of education. If we give our children the kind of education that allows them to think critically, then they won’t be used as easily by others. We need to decide what we want to teach, in what kind of system. What economic factors we will consider when teaching our children? How will it help the economy of the country? How will it liberate them as human beings? How will it allow them to use their potential and be who they want to be?
How is the education system in Afghanistan changing to reflect goals of quality and critical thinking?
Facilities have improved, the number of schools have increased, the number of chairs and tables, the number of teachers, and teachers have been better trained. All those logistical issues have been gradually improving but the curriculum and the approach towards learning has a long way to go.
From a policy perspective, I feel that our government has put a huge effort into increasing the number of students going to school. But we often forget to ask whether going to school is equal to learning, which it is not. I think that is where our biggest problem is. Students are giving their worthy time and their parents are so hopeful that their children are going to school, but then most of them are not learning.
The situation is at crisis level. Education has an opportunity cost for each family. Yet when children are going to school, they are not even learning. The government is piloting a new curriculum in 1st to 3rd grade in some provinces and it will be applied next year all across the country. So, I’m hopeful that at least this curriculum will allow some level of literacy for everyone. From there, we can build up.
How is Charmaghz ‘building up’ education, as you say?
Children run to the library with so much excitement. We have designed the library and the interior just for them. We put music for them and give children the right to choose if they want to read stories, play chess, do painting, or play games that improve their mental health.
I have noticed that children love having choices of their own. I love the confidence of children when they say, “I don't want to do this” or “I want to do this.” When we were children, we didn't have many choices, but now that is changing. As we give children the agency and the right to choose, I notice that children are taking so much more responsibility. They have opinions about their community, their society, about their own life, and about what they can do. This is the kind of critical thinking that we love to see in our children.