Afghanistan Youth Foundation

The Afghanistan Youth Foundation (AYF) was established in 2012 by Professor Salar with the core mission of empowering Afghan youth through education, skills development, and civic engagement. Initially launched as a community-based organization in Herat, the Foundation focused on providing educational workshops, leadership training, and cultural programs aimed at equipping young Afghans—both male and female—with the tools to build a better future for themselves and their communities.

Purpose and Evolution

The original purpose of the AYF was to create safe, inclusive spaces where youth could gather, learn, and grow into socially responsible citizens. In its early years, the Foundation conducted in-person seminars, skill-building sessions, and academic mentorship programs in local centers across Herat. However, following the dramatic shift in Afghanistan’s political landscape—particularly after the return of the Taliban to power and the subsequent ban on girls’ education—the Foundation underwent a significant transformation. Recognizing the urgency of the crisis, Professor Salar and his team restructured the Afghanistan Youth Foundation into a fully online platform, expanding its reach far beyond Herat and making its services accessible to Afghan youth across the country and in the diaspora.

Online Expansion and Current Programs

Today, the AYF operates as a comprehensive online educational network offering free and inclusive learning opportunities to thousands of students, with a particular focus on Afghan girls who have been systematically excluded from formal education. The Foundation now includes the following core institutions:
  • Youth School: Provides online primary and secondary education aligned with national and international standards. It serves as a lifeline for Afghan girls who are denied access to schools under the current regime.
  • Youth Academy: Offers advanced academic programs, short courses, and preparatory training in humanities, social sciences, English, and digital literacy, preparing students for higher education and leadership roles.
  • Youth Vocational Institute: Delivers practical, skill-based training in fields such as IT, business, communications, and entrepreneurship, enabling youth to acquire employable skills and pursue self-reliance.
  • Youth University (Online): Functions as a virtual university offering structured academic programs and courses in various disciplines. This initiative is supported by experienced educators from Afghanistan and abroad.
All programs under the Afghanistan Youth Foundation are provided free of charge, reflecting the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to equity, accessibility, and educational justice—particularly for young Afghan women and girls who face systemic barriers.

Impact and Vision

Since its digital transition, the AYF has become one of the largest independent educational platforms in Afghanistan, reaching thousands of students who would otherwise be deprived of any form of academic opportunity. It continues to operate under the principles of non-discrimination, quality education, and youth empowerment, and stands as a model of grassroots innovation in the face of repression and inequality. Through this integrated and adaptive approach, the Afghanistan Youth Foundation is not only addressing a humanitarian and educational emergency—it is also laying the foundation for a future generation of educated, skilled, and conscious Afghan citizens, determined to rebuild their country in the face of adversity.