A classroom in a village room

The room is heated by a single wood stove. Participants arrive in small groups, take off their shoes at the door and sit in rows on the carpet. A facilitator stands at the front beside a printed banner that names the programme and its funder.

For many women in rural Bamyan, a session like this is the nearest thing to a classroom within walking distance. That proximity is deliberate: ADVO holds sessions close to home so that women can attend without travelling far or leaving children for long.

In line with ADVO’s safeguarding policy, this story names no participants and its photographs are shown only with consent.

Faces blurred to protect participants. Shown with consent.