SOLA opens permanent school in Rwanda for Afghan girls

The School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA) has opened a permanent campus in Rwanda, providing a secure location for Afghan girls to continue their education. The move follows the school's relocation from Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021.

Co-founder and president Shabana Basij-Rasikh led the relocation to Rwanda following an invitation from the East African nation. The group, which includes approximately 250 students, faculty, and recent graduates, initially resumed classes at a hotel before transitioning to the new, guarded compound.

The establishment of this school comes amid deteriorating conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan. According to a United Nations report, approximately 2.4 million Afghan girls are currently excluded from secondary education due to Taliban restrictions that bar girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade.